By Ann Leaman
Ohio Conference
Resource Advocate

This month I would like to highlight a number of resources related to the environment.

MCC

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has gathered a set of resources related to the environment and climate change, all available at https://mcc.org/mcc-climate-change.

The introduction to this collection says, “Our partners say changing weather affects almost every aspect of their lives. But why is the climate changing? And how is climate change impacting vulnerable people, farmers and the planet’s water supply?”

The resources include a selection of fact sheets which explore questions such as “How is climate change affecting farmers?” Also included are videos and MCC news stories that explore how the changing climate is affecting people around the world who are connected with MCC programs.

International perspectives

The environment is also a focus of the April issue of Courier, the publication of Mennonite World Conference. This issue includes several articles from around the world focusing on creation care, with Anabaptist authors from Zimbabwe, Canada, Colombia, France, and Indonesia. To download a copy of this issue, go to https://bit.ly/April2023Courier.

Conferences

Two upcoming conferences also will focus on the environment. In July the Anabaptist Climate Collaborative, Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Creation Care Network are offering a one-day Youth and Young Adult Climate Summit. This event will take place July 7 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, immediately following MennoCon23. This gathering is intended for youth and their chaperones, as well as young adults up to age 25.

The keynote speaker for the Youth and Young Adult Climate Summit will be Talitha Amadea Aho, author of In Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People in a Climate Crisis. To learn more or to register for this event, see https://bit.ly/2023ClimateSummit.

On Sept. 28-30 Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, will host the Rooted and Grounded Conference on Land and Christian Discipleship. Participants can attend in person or virtually.

The theme of this year’s Rooted and Grounded Conference will be “Pathways through Climate Doom: Resistance and Resilience.” The conference will examine theological, biblical and pastoral care responses to climate doom. How do people of faith combine active engagement and deeply rooted hope?

Keynote speakers will include Kaitlin Curtice; Leah Thomas, PhD; and Jackie Wyse-Rhodes, PhD. See ambs.edu/rooted-and-grounded for more information or to register.