Sacred Earth Sacred Action
A Climate Science and Spirituality Conference
Saturday, February 8th, 1:00-7:00 PM MST
Sacred Earth, Sacred Action (SESA), brings together environmental scientists, theologians, poets, and faith leaders to inspire meaningful change within communities of faith and activism in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
In person and live-streamed.
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About the Event
Grow With Us
Sacred Earth, Sacred Action focuses on the ways that Colorado communities are impacted by climate change and how elemental wisdom can deepen our collective resilience in the face of the challenges we face.
This one-day, hybrid event creates a powerful opportunity for community leaders to explore the intersection of climate science, spirituality, and justice. Funded by a Climate Science in Theological Education Grant from the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER), SESA is designed to equip current and future ministers and community leaders with the knowledge and tools to integrate climate science into their work.
Join us as we deepen our collective ability to take justice-driven and spiritually-rooted actions to care for the places we call home for this generation and those who will follow.
Keynote & Special Guest
Camille Dungy
Keynote
Planting Restorative Love: Some Spiritual and Practical Reasons to Rewild a Garden
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Session 2
Religion scholar Dr. Timothy Beal in conversation with Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber
Event Schedule
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 1:00-7:00 PM
1:00-1:15 Check-in
1:15-1:30 Welcome + Opening Ritual
1:30-2:25 Session 1 | Where Science Meets Mysticism
Environmental scientist Dr. Heidi Steltzer in conversation with Dr. Albert Hernández.
Have you ever thought ‘that’s so cool’ when you heard something wonderful about our planet? And then thought, how do scientists know that? And also thought, but there’s so much more. As we open our exploration of Sacred Earth, Sacred Action, we’ll reflect together on how we know what we know through science and mysticism. And ponder what if these are ways of knowing to be woven together, spoken out loud, and included when we take action to address the climate crisis and many related environmental woes.
2:25-2:40 Break
2:40-3:35 Session 2 | Composting Christianity: The Bible, the Anthropocene, and Cultivating Earth Creatureliness
Religion scholar Dr. Timothy Beal in conversation with Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber.
How have the Bible and Christianity contributed not only to climate crisis but also to the denial of our own finitude as a species? How might they be reimagined in ways that can help us break through that denial and find hope — deep hope, as opposed to shallow optimism — on the horizon of environmental collapse?
3:35-3:50 Break
3:50-4:45 Elemental Wisdom Workshops – choose 1
Our workshops draw upon the wisdom of the 4 elements: earth, air, water, and fire. Our presenters bring a wealth of knowledge related to caring for Earth and local communities that are finding ways to mitigate climate change and create more resilient futures. Choose a 1-hour workshop to bring new ideas and skills back to your community’s climate justice efforts.
EARTH | Ramon S. Parish – Naropa University and Sacred Earth
AIR | Janel Apps Ramsey + Thomas Weiler – Together Colorado Climate Justice Committee
WATER + FIRE | Rev. Kelly Dignan – UU Ministry for the Earth
4:45-5:30 Reception sponsored by the Iliff Women’s Alliance
5:30-6:15 Keynote: “Planting Restorative Love: Some Spiritual and Practical Reasons to Rewild a Garden”
Camille Dungy, Colorado poet and author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden
6:15-6:45 Conversation with Camille Dungy facilitated by Heidi Steltzer
6:45-7:00 Sending Ritual
Conference Presenters
Registration
Registration costs are kept low thanks to the generous support of our funders.
Grant Funding
This event is generously funded by “The Climate Science in Theological Education” initiative. This is a project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program. The project provides grants to seminaries to engage climate science and climate change in the context of theological education and ministry. Iliff is proud that Dr. Amy Erickson has received this grant as part of her commitment to integrating climate science into theological education. Integrating science into seminary education and events will encourage interest within seminaries and surrounding communities about the relevance of science to theological education, and will produce a growing number of religious leaders equipped to help their congregants find answers to science-related questions.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. The nonprofit is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. Building upon its mission, AAAS established the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program in 1995 to facilitate communication between scientific and religious communities. For the latest information and news about AAAS DoSER and the Climate Science in Theological Education project, visit AAAS.org/DoSER, ScienceReligionDialogue.org, and ScienceforSeminaries.org.
The Everding Lecture: Continue the Conversation
On the Tuesday following the SESA Conference, join Iliff School of Theology for the Winter 2025 Everding Lectureship featuring Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture Emeritus at George Fox University/Portland Seminary and the former Director of Intercultural and Indigenous studies.
Event Details
- Tuesday, February 11, 2025
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM MDT
- Iliff School of Theology Shattuck Hall
Women's Alliance: A proud supporter of Sacred Earth, Sacred Action
The Women’s Alliance at Iliff is a dynamic group of volunteers that includes Board members, faculty, administrators and staff, alumni and community members. Founded in the mid-1990s, its original purpose was to connect Iliff to the wider community and make the school’s resources available through public lectures, conferences and workshops. Its focus continues to be on issues of importance for women and on uplifting a wide variety of women’s voices and expertise. All members of Iliff and the public are welcome to participate in the programming and work of the Alliance.
In 2008, the Alliance broadened its mission to include financial support for women through the establishment of a scholarship. The scholarship embodies the Alliance’s belief in the transformative power of theological education for women and for the communities they seek to serve.
The Alliance is proud to support the Sacred Earth, Sacred Action Conference and the work of Dr Amy Erickson. The Conference embodies the Alliance’s commitment to bringing deep intellectual research to bear on the most profound political and spiritual issues of our day and continues the recognition of the importance of women’s voices in addressing the challenges that confront us.