Summary Report Flathead Workshop

May 18, 2016
Summary Report
for
TRADITIONS AND SPIRITUALITY IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE
An international workshop with conversations on climate and land use change
for leaders of all faiths in the Crown of the Continent landscape
by the
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
P.O Box 1587, Bozeman, MT, USA (406) 586-8082, sue@largelandscapes.org
Project URL: http://largelandscapes.org/projects/projects/faith-leaders-engaged-landscape-conservation
Hosted by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, thirty-five interfaith leaders and scientists
gathered at the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, Flathead Lake, Montana on April 14-15, 2016 to discuss:
1) ways that religious and spiritual values can inform science in conservation
2) collective actions that faith and spiritual communities in the Crown of the Continent Landscape
can take to address climate change (Agenda Attachment 1).
OPENINGS: WHO WE ARE
Participants (Attachment 2) gathered on Thursday evening
April 14, 2016 at the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp near
Lakeside, Montana on Flathead Lake. They listened to an
insightful presentation from Father Joseph Carver
(Attachment 3), of St. Francis Xavier Church in
Missoula, on the impacts of Pope Francis’s Encyclical,
Laudato Si’, released on May 25, 2015. Workshop
evaluations (Attachment 4) highly commended his
thoughtful presentation and the tone it set for calling for
Creation Care and planetary protection. Laudato Si’ is the
Pope’s second Encyclical and the first one in history
devoted to the environment. “Integral Ecology,” coined by the Pope, creates a new landscape to engage
the immediacy of climate change. The Pope’s question is never “Is the Earth going to continue?” but a
deeper one: “Are we going to continue on the Earth?” Addressing the
climate crisis is a conscious choice and the embrace of common good.
Father Carver also highlighted Conservation International’s new film
“Nature is Speaking”, and Dr. Lynn White’s 1967 thesis “The Historical
Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis,” which initiated the dialogue around
Christian impact on the fate of the Earth. Father Carver recommends that
“we work together in an ecumenical way, in our communities, and as a
whole. It is easy to become overwhelmed on the topic of climate change,
so chose one action and start small.”
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On the following day, Dr. Dan Spencer, Graduate of Union
Theological Seminary and Professor of Environmental Studies at the
University of Montana, opened the workshop with Images for
Contemplation, a photo reflection on the Crown’s unique features –
unique wildlife and plant species, the northern Rocky Mountains, rural
ranchlands, and cultural communities. It is in the context of this iconic
landscape that the interfaith stories and actions will build.
Susan Higgins, Center for Large Landscape Conservation,
welcomed the group and reviewed the agenda and origins of the
workshop, which arose from recommendations of an interfaith focus group (Whitefish, Montana, June
2015), and a landscape-wide survey of faith leaders (conducted November 2015). Both of these efforts led
to this forum for in-depth interfaith dialogue on: 1) climate change action by faith communities in the
Crown landscape, and 2) ways to better ground conservation science initiatives in community and faithbased values. She noted that many faith leaders are seeing shifts in this landscape and the economy, and
that there is a deep interest in building interfaith response using new tools and community involvement.
According to the survey, hurdles to these ideas are funding, useful tools, time (in faith leaders’ already
overbooked schedules), and perceptions of disinterest in communities and congregations.
All participants shared what they hoped to take away from the workshop. The major themes were:
1) identifying tangible areas where faith communities can become involved in visceral action to mitigate
climate change, and 2) improving connections and networking with other faith leaders. They were also
interested in interfaith curriculum development on climate issues, expansion of exemplary interfaith
efforts in local faith communities to the broader region, and building a common language between
faith/spiritual leaders and the scientific community. They recognize the importance of convening diverse
stakeholders and the faiths over the span of the landscape, from Missoula to Lethbridge, to discuss
environmental and land management issues together. Currently, for instance, there is a gap in
representation by faith groups on the Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent Leadership Team
(http://crownroundtable.org/index.htm). From a more theological standpoint, they also want to study how
religious beliefs inform attitudes around climate change, and how to strategically build stronger links
between the faiths and conservation efforts.
OUR SHARED VALUES
To ground the workshop in shared values, Dr. Charles Curtin, Landscape Ecologist, and Reverend
Carol Gallagher, Bishop for Native American Ministries, led a discussion on Where Values
Intersect: What Makes Climate and Land Use Change Relevant in Our Hearts and Minds? Dr.
Curtin recognized that scientific ideals flow from values embedded in faith and spiritual traditions, and
that faith and native leaders are the ones who
can build stories of hope that guide change.
His recent publication,“The Science of Open
Spaces,” contains only 15 pages dedicated to
science – the rest explores shared values. He
feels the intergenerational faith traditions are
the rudder in our collective adjustment to
change. The conservation community needs
the wisdom of the faith community, but often overlooks it even though many values are held in common.
Ultimately, faith communities have the power to bring together individuals, convey ideas, and create
communal action from common ground -- science doesn’t change things, people change things.
Reverend Gallagher explained that native people understand how to live in context and daily honor of all
Creation. They embrace an ancestral tradition of shared community even when, on some cases, only a few
steps away from starvation and poverty. In this tradition, listening is powerful, and values are never given
up when taking action. In her view, ecological justice is implicitly linked to social justice.
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From these ideas, workshop participants discussed shared values. Some highlights:
• Combining value and action is hope-filled, as in the United Nations Agenda 2030 example and its 17
collective sustainable development goals.
• Much of our Christian narrative is founded on redemption (we must leave the Earth to be saved) -our national narrative is based on Manifest Destiny. We need to marry the two narratives.
• Our collective principle is that “It’s all connected,” and we are also about “service.” We need to begin
to “Just do it”; otherwise process becomes product. Intentionality is a rich way to live.
• We should never consider churches and religions as “untapped organizational resources.” In doing so
we “use” them instead of learn from them.
• Listen more to the words of faith leaders connected to the Earth: St Patrick, John the Baptist, Julian of
Norwich, etc. The historical narrative is there, but we must reclaim it. There is theological work to do.
• The real work of faith leaders is not with each other, but with the people who are the climate change
deniers, and the frightened people in the landscape. In this disposable culture, political and economic
issues are incredibly important and faith leaders must actively engage in them.
• Climate change is a scientific imperative; but we have a moral imperative as well. Some practitioners
view religion as a barrier to scientific outcomes. This construct needs to change.
• Reverence of the Earth is common among all religions. When we are in nature, we have close
connections to rhythms of life, spirituality, and God; the faiths come together around environment.
OUR CONTEXT
The Landscape
Speaking on behalf of Center for Large Landscape Conservation Executive Director Dr. Gary Tabor,
Melly Reuling, CLLC Senior Program Manager, presented Gary’s talk entitled “One Large Landscape
at a Time.” Tabor addresses the immediacy of global environmental problems, and the need to respond
as a global community. Our work is to map open space, understand critical areas of impact, and conserve
areas of prime connectivity, like the Crown of the Continent landscape. Stakeholder networking is key to
large-landscape initiatives worldwide. Ultimately, landscape conservation creates operating space for
healthy ecological and human systems.
The Religions
After Reuling’s presentation of the science and conservation context, Dan Spencer presented “Religious
Perspectives on Engagement on Climate Change.” His presentation, as well as Dr. Anne Carlson’s
(below), can be viewed at: http://largelandscapes.org/projects/projects/faith-leaders-engaged-landscapeconservation/. Spencer shared latest findings (by Pew Charitable Trust and others) on response by the
faiths and “nones” (people not affiliated with a formal religion) to climate change. Of unaffiliated
members, 58% are convinced of anthropogenic climate change; only 34% of white American evangelicals
believe that climate change is a problem, or that humans cause it. Not surprisingly, there is consensus
among scientists that climate change is human-induced. Also, most faiths have published on climate
change actions, which Spencer covered in detail. The issue of social justice is mounting, with people who
live in areas of more impact not in the position of generating the impact.
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DEEPER STORIES ABOUT THE ISSUES
Prior to the workshop all participants responded to a survey asking
about the land use and climate issues that most impact their faith
communities. From this feedback, Dr. Anne Carlson, Climate
Adaptation Specialist with the Wilderness Society, focused her
presentation, “Climate Change and Stories of Community
Response: Information About What Matters to You,” on general
climate change trends in the Crown of the Continent landscape, water
quality and quantify (drought), and the increasing incidence of
wildfire. Another concern noted in the survey was over-development, but not addressed here as it is not a
direct impact of climate change. Dr. Carlson also works with the Crown Managers’ Partnership, a group
of agency specialists tracking climate adaptation in this landscape, and the Crown Conservation Initiative,
a group of NGO’s dedicated to using the best available science as the basis for building conservation
strategies, so her data resonates from contemporary Crown-based research.
Climate Change
Key changes in the Crown of the Continent involve shifts in temperature. The Crown has become +2-3°F
warmer over the last century; glaciers are disappearing at an elevated rate, literally disappearing before
our eyes. Climate change exacerbates wildfires, insect-borne diseases, drought and prevalence of
endangered species. With these temperatures shifts, the number of days above 90 degrees has increased
three-fold over the last century, and the number of days below freezing has decreased from 30-44 days to
14 days annually. Carlson noted that communities are adapting to climate change by, for example,
building wildlife overpasses and underpasses to assure connectivity for a multitude of wildlife species as
they move through landscapes in response to changing climatic conditions (CSKT Tribes). To move
forward with these actions takes listening to stories, exploring issues with concern and empathy, and
using climate change adaptations. The group responded that there is large demographic shift in “The Faith
Community” including a decline in Christian ecumenical organizations and a growth in interfaith
organizations. The group wants to mobilize capacity to address these issues now, for spacial response
across this landscape.
Before reviewing the science, Dr. Carlson shares the work of her father, a profession pipe organ tuner.
Hydrology and Water Resources
Regarding water resources, snowpack in the Crown is significantly shallower, and drought is more
frequent. In fact, snowpack now melts earlier, resulting in longer summer drought. The Blackfoot
Challenge in southwestern Montana is a progressive case study for community drought resilience
response, using a toolbox of agreed-upon tools like voluntary drought response, irrigation efficiency, soil
health programs, new cover crops, voluntary angling restrictions, and earlier crop harvests.
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Wildfire
Because of higher temperatures and less water, wildfires will become more frequent, larger and more
severe. Wildfires now initiate earlier in the year, with an 11-week longer fire season on average in the
Crown. Among the many community responses to these changes to date are the development of planning
strategies that avoid building in the ‘fire zone’, and creating defensible space around homes and barns.
Prescribed fires and fuel reduction projects are becoming critical tools to combat this climate impact.
In response to both of these climate-related issues, the faith leaders want to help address large-scale
connectivity and temperature shifts in their communities. Clearly an interfaith response is needed, one
that gets people to bypass disagreements around politics and religion. They agree that the best
transformations occur when people identify their own reality, then act together.
RESPONSE FROM FAITH AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS
The final afternoon session was dedicated to first learning from faith leaders about how they are already
responding to climate change, then to identifying the collective next steps for interfaith leadership
throughout the Crown landscape. In a session entitled, “Moving Toward Hope – Hearing from You:
Case Studies of Faith Communities Working Together for Positive Change,” Dan Spencer invited
Reverend John Lund and Abby Huseth, of Faith and Climate Action Montana, a Missoula interfaith
coalition, to present on their work. This effort works at three levels: in congregations, in communities, in
political change. They organize events in Missoula to involve these three pillars, and conduct
congregational climate change summits to initiate the movement locally, often in helping to push
legislative bills forward.
Betsy Gaines Quammen of the Yellowstone Theological Institute introduced the YTI and its emphasis
as a seminary on world religion and nature. One of its goals is to heal the rift between science and
religion, and ask religious leaders to drive systemic change. People who believe there is hope for solving
a problem are more likely to acknowledge the situation and to take action; talking about issues in stories
will make it all more compelling. She introduced a draft wilderness protection letter from the Institute.
Local case studies by Huseth, Lund and Quammen on behalf of
Faith and Climate Action Montana, and Yellowstone Theological Institute
Using a guided process involving drawing and small group conversation, The Shape of Climate Change
in the Crown of the Continent: The Tools We Need session helped participants identify current
obstacles, resources on hand to help address issues, and tools and resources needed in the coming months
that can best serve faith communities and conservationists: e.g.; webinars for faith leaders, webinars for
scientists on ethics, sample sermons, youth group materials, energy audits, legislative action groups,
celebrations, etc. A summary of group findings:
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Obstacles to Acting
The obstacles to change are not surprising. They include apathy, consumerism, lack of collaboration and
communication, disempowerment and hopelessness, institutional rigidity, ecological fragmentation,
injustice and inequality. Most prevalent is feeling overwhelmed by the gravity of the problem. Other
barriers imposed by religious institutions include white privilege and dualistic theology.
Resources Already in Place to Help
The faiths already have many rich tools for responding to climate crisis, most importantly the ability to
empower and build hope in their communities. The faiths have strong traditions of tithing (the Theology
of Giving), regular gatherings, new young leaders, and shared beliefs coupled with ancient liturgy,
spiritual teachings and practices that reflect a moral imperative. They also own and manage significant
land and resources globally and are organized institutionally in a way that can impact change (e.g.;
Montana Association of Christians; Missoula Interfaith Collaborative, others).
The Tools We Need to Act
A rich set of tools for interfaith community response to climate adaptation emerged from this exercise.
They are not insurmountable. These include actions to build bold transformative leaders, create awareness
campaigns, invigorate a sense of community over self, green the church and congregation, network
interfaith groups landscape-wide, decrease community impact on environment, build outdoor ministries,
impact government policy change, increase congregational and community education and projects, and go
global through partnerships with United Nation and other global efforts.
FROM HERE FORWARD
Findings and recommendations emerged from this workshop including a resounding request to continue
regular dialogue with more interfaith leaders at the table from far corners of the landscape. With the aim
of building faster climate adaptation response, these findings and recommendations include:
Findings
1. Traditions vary in accordance with religious texts, but intent to care for Creation is shared;
2. Religions in the Crown of the Continent inform conservation work about values often overlooked by
conservation movements;
3. Landscape collaborations like the Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent falter without faith
leaders invited there to invigorate citizen science faith groups in landscape conservation goals;
4. Religious thought leaders are now needed more than ever to build landscape and spiritual
connectivity in a time of fragmentation—all to create community hope and an understanding that
human health is inextricably dependent on global health in the face of climate change;
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5. Engaging with and learning from tribes about their sacred traditions, and on their sacred lands, must
be done by invitation and with continued sensitivity and respect; and
6. We have critical decades ahead of us to get work done in areas of immense biodiversity. To help,
virtually every religious affinity has published a statement on climate change. Faith leaders within
Roundtable can actively and significantly bridge gap re: human health implications of climate change.
Recommendations
1. Offer landscape-wide leadership training and listening sessions in faith/science education,
policy, and networking. Offer these forums to help link faith leaders and scientists, including a
web-based clearing house, YouTube webinars, Facebook success stories, e-newsletters, and annual
conferences in host landscapes for faith leaders and scientists on key issues like climate change.
2. Conduct an annual interfaith climate change summit in the Crown of the Continent, to be
replicated to other landscapes; Highlight faith leaders who change our life and how we think; learn
about what other organizations are doing.
3. Expand the tent better in the Canadian portion of the Crown landscape. Partner with other groups
in Canada.
4. Synergize with Faith and Climate Action Montana (excellent local interfaith effort in Missoula)
around expanding landscape-wide capacity and youth engagement. Engage in parallel grant writing
for local and regional efforts.
5. Do the work of connecting ancient liturgy with climate communications tools. Native and faith
communities have rooted connections, with strong values for thousands of years; create messaging
around this.
6. Share skills in congregations and faith communities in workshops/webinars on climate change;
also create more outdoor ministries.
7. Sponsor Crown-wide tours of interfaith thought leaders on climate change and landscape
conservation.
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Attachment 1. AGENDA
TRADITIONS AND SPIRITUALITY IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE
An international workshop with conversations on climate and land use change
for leaders of all faiths in the Crown of the Continent landscape
Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, Flathead Lake, Montana
When: 5:30 – 9:00 pm, Thursday, April 14, 2016
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday, April 15, 2016
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Thursday, April 14
5:30 pm
7:30 pm
Friday, April 15
8:15 am
9:00 am
WHO WE ARE
9:15 am
9:45 am
Dinner
For those who arrive before the workshop, and stay the night
Fireside Discussion on the Pope’s Encyclical
Father Joseph Carver, St. Francis Xavier Church, Missoula
Breakfast
Images for Contemplation
Dr. Dan Spencer, Environmental Studies, University of Montana
Welcome and Introductions, What Got Us Here?
Susan Higgins, Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Where Values Intersect: What Makes Climate and Land Use Change
Relevant in Our Hearts and Minds?
A group discussion led by:
- Dr. Charles Curtin, Landscape Ecologist; and
- Reverend Carol Gallagher, Bishop for Native American Ministries, and
Assistant Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Montana
What values serve as the rudder in our collective adjustment to change in
this place? What are the stories of hope we can build?
OUR CONTEXT
10:30 am
One Large Landscape at a Time: A 6-minute Pecha Kucha
Presentation
Dr. Gary Tabor, Center for Large Landscape Conservation
10:40 am
Religious Perspectives on Engagement on Climate Change
Dan Spencer
11:00 am
Break
DEEPER STORIES ON THE ISSUES
11:10 am
Climate Change and Stories of Community Response: Information
About What Matters to You
Dr. Anne Carlson, The Wilderness Society
On basis of a pre-workshop survey, Anne will review science and community
responses and stories around issues that concern you and your faith
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communities. Based on a survey with you, the things most on your mind include
general climate change issues in the landscape, and especially water quality,
drought and wildfire. Another issue on your mind is over-development.
12:15 pm
Lunch
MORE RESPONSE FROM FAITH AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS
1:00 pm
Moving Toward Hope – Hearing from You: Case Studies of Faith
Communities Working Together for Positive Change
Facilitated by Dan Spencer
Comments invited, including those from:
• All in attendance
• Rev. John Lund/Abby Huseth, Climate Action Montana, Missoula
• Steve Lozar, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, invited
• Yellowstone Theological Institute, Drs. Jay Smith and Betsy Quammen
2:00 pm
The Shape of Climate Change in the Crown of the Continent:
The Tools We Need
Facilitated by Dan Spencer
Using a guided process involving drawing and small group conversation, this
session will help participants to identify current obstacles and resources to
address landscape conservation and climate change issues in the Crown of the
Continent. One outcome will be to develop tools and resources in the coming
months that can best serve faith leaders, faith communities, and conservationists:
e.g.; webinars for faith leaders, webinars for scientists on ethics, sample sermons,
youth group materials, energy audits, legislative action groups, celebrations, etc.
3:15 pm
Break
3:30 pm
Reports Back on “The Tools We Need”
Facilitated by Dan Spencer
FROM HERE FORWARD
4:00 pm
Steps Forward
Facilitated by Dan Spencer and Sue Higgins
5:00 pm
Closing
Meeting packet handouts:
1. Selected Readings and Resource List
2. Fact Sheets on Climate Impacts in the Crown
3. Primer on Religious Groups in the Crown
4. Workshop Participant List
5. Post Workshop Evaluation
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Attachment 2. PARTICIPANTS
"Traditions and Spirituality in a Changing Landscape"
Lakeside, MT, April 14-15, 2016
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
First Name
Last Name
Affiliation
City
State/
Province
David
Andersen
Helena
MT
Kevin
Beebe
Pattiann
Madison
Connie
Anne
Wylie
Joseph
Bennett
Boone
Campbell-Pearson
Carlson
Carr
Carver
Montana Association of
Christians, United Methodist
Pacific Lutheran Theological
Seminary
Episcopal
One Montana, Methodist
Episcopal
The Wilderness Society
University of Montana
St. Francis Xavier Church,
Eureka
Bozeman
Bozeman
Three Forks
Missoula
Missoula
MT
MT
MT
MT
MT
MT
Matt
Collins
Bozeman
MT
Charles
Curtin
Livingston
MT
Kim
Davitt
Missoula
MT
Russ
Ian
Doty
Dyson
Greeley
Lethbridge
CO
AB
Carol
Susan
Gallagher
Higgins
Helena
Bozeman
MT
MT
Abby
Huseth
Missoula
MT
Eric
Roxanne
John
Huseth
Klingensmith
Lund
Bonner
Bozeman
Missoula
MT
MT
MT
Carol
MacIntyre
Missoula
MT
Peter
Metcalf
Center for Large Landscape
Conservation
Center for Large Landscape
Conservation
Roundtable on the Crown of
the Continent
United Methodist
Alberta Environment and
Parks, Anglican
Episcopal Diocese
Center for Large Landscape
Conservation
University of Montana,
Emmaus Campus Ministry
Our Savior's Church, Lutheran
Episcopal
Emmaus Campus Ministry,
ELCA Lutheran
Spirit of Peace, Alternative
Catholic
Our Savior's Church, Lutheran
Bonner
MT
Alyson
Morris
Bozeman
MT
Jayson
Betsy
Nicholson
Quammen
Center for Large Landscape
Conservation
Valley of Christ, Lutheran
Yellowstone Theological
Institute, Buddhist
Missoula
Bozeman
MT
MT
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Melly
Reuling
Lynda
Saul
Jay
Smith
John
Soderberg
Dan
Spencer
Billie
Thomas
Valerie
Webster
Center for Large Landscape
Conservation
Big Sky Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship
Yellowstone Theological
Institute, Christian
United Methodist Church,
Retired Pastor
University of Montana,
Lutheran, United Church of
Christ
Bozeman
MT
Helena
MT
Bozeman
MT
Bozeman
MT
Missoula
MT
Glacier National Park,
Christian
Episcopal priest, interfaith
hospital chaplain, president
MAC (2016)
Whitefish
MT
Bozeman
MT
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Attachment 3. SPEAKER BIOS
Speaker and Facilitator Bios
Traditions and Spirtuality in a Changing Landscape
April 14-15, 2016
Anne Carlson is a Climate Adaptation Specialist with The Wilderness Society,
a nonprofit environmental group that has worked to protect wilderness and
connect Americans to our nation’s wildest places since 1935. She works
on landscape-scale adaptation projects in collaboration with conservation
partners, scientists, tribal communities, agency staff, and the general public
across the Northern Rockies. Prior to joining The Wilderness Society in 2009,
Anne devoted 15 years to the research and conservation of mammal species
across Africa and Southeast Asia with her colleagues at Cambridge University
and the San Diego Zoo. She received Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the
University of Wisconsin, Madison; and lives with her husband and three dogs in
Three Forks, Montana.
Father Joseph Carver, S.J. is from upstate NY and a member of the Oregon
Province of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits). Joseph grew up on a farm in
northern New York, before relocating to the Philadelphia area and then to the
Pacific Northwest. Prior to entering the Jesuits, he worked for 9 years as the
director of a non-profit housing program and homeless advocate. He completed
an MDiv and an STL in Spirituality and Ecology and continues to publish in these
areas. He has worked in a wide variety of areas from professional sailboat captain
to retreat director, as well as a teacher and professor of theology and history for
several years. Currently, he is pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Missoula, MT.
Charles Curtin works at the nexus of science and policy, with a long-term interest in
environmental change, large-scale socio-ecological experiments, and conservation design.
Though working in a diversity of arenas, the bulk of his work has focused on community-based
and large landscape conservation where he helped designed a number of the largest place-based
collaborative research programs on the continent, including the million-acre Malpai Borderlands
conservation area and cross-site studies spanning the Intermountain West. He has also worked
with fisheries policy and co-management through development of the 750,000 square mile
Downeast Initiative in the Western Atlantic and anadromous fish restorations on the coast of
Maine. He has helped establish academic programs in governance and policy design at MIT
and Antioch University with a focus on collaborative approaches to climate change adaptation
and mitigation. Curtin has worked internationally coordinating large landscape collaborative
conservation projects in East Africa, and the Middle East. BS. Environmental Studies, Marlboro
College, Marlboro, VT; MS. Land Resources, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Ph.D. Zoology,
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, PHD is a member of the Cherokee tribe and serves as
Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Montana and as Bishop Missioner for the Bishops’
Native Collaborative. Her most recent writing can be found in Coming Full Circle:
Constructing Native Christian Theology (August 2015). Her most recent book is entitled
Family Theology (2012) and her first book, Reweaving the Sacred (2008), focused on
congregational development. She was honored as a Procter Fellow at EDS and with a
Louisville Institute Grant. She has served as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Newark and
as Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Carol is married to Mark Gallagher
and they have three daughters, Emily, Ariel, and Phoebe as well as two grandchildren,
Lillian and Silas. As the first American Indian female bishop in the Episcopal Church and
the first Indigenous female bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion, Carol shows
her gratitude to God by honoring her elders love and teachings, and by offering her gifts
and skills for Christ’s service and to do justice within and beyond the Church.
(over)
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Sue Higgins has enjoyed the last 30 years of involvement in water resources
management, policy and education in Montana and internationally. She began
her career as water planner for the State of Montana, and water research and
education manager at Montana State University. Sue most recently finished
eight years of project management with The Tributary Fund where she
facilitated research activities, faith leadership exchanges, and species protection
planning in Mongolia, Bhutan and Montana. A trained facilitator, Sue has been
actively engaged in water education and has authored guides for practitioners,
educators and landowners on topics such as wetlands management, streambank
stabilization, and river basin protection. She is the producer of a handbook
and documentary film: “Headwaters to a Continent.” For the Center for Large
Landscape Conservation, Sue was a member of the Roundtable on the Crown of
the Continent staff team, and now manages CLLC’s Faith and the Environment
program and assists CLLC’s Drought Mitigation program. Sue holds degrees in
biology and resources management.
Dan Spencer teaches Environmental Studies at The University of Montana.
He was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, is ordained in the United Church
of Christ, and is a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bonner, Montana.
His teaching and research interests include religion and ecology, liberation and
feminist theologies, ethical issues in globalization, ecological ethics, and ethical
issues in ecological restoration. Born and raised in California, he earned a B.A.
in Geology from Carleton College, Minnesota, and his Masters of Divinity and
Ph.D. in Ethics from Union Theological Seminary, New York.
Gary Tabor is Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Large
Landscape Conservation. Drawing on over 30 years' experience working
on behalf of large-scale conservation internationally in Africa, South
America, Australia and Canada as well as 12 years as a leader within the U.S.
environmental philanthropic community, Gary guides CLLC with a vision
grounded in both science and practice. A conservation scientist and wildlife
veterinarian, Gary’s conservation achievements cross the globe, including
the establishment of Kibale National Park in Uganda and pioneering the
field of Conservation Medicine and Eco-Health. In the West, he co-designed
the Western Governors’ Association Wildlife Corridors Initiative, and cofounded the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, the Roundtable
of the Crown of the Continent, and the Practitioners’ Network for Large
Landscape Conservation. Gary has served as Program Officer of the Geraldine
Rockefeller Dodge Foundation, Associate Director of the Henry P. Kendall
Foundation, and Yellowstone to Yukon Program Director for the Wilburforce
Foundation. Sitting on multiple conservation boards, Gary is a Henry Luce
Scholar and a 2013-2014 recipient of an Australian American Fulbright
Scholar award in Climate Change and Clean Energy. As part of his Fulbright,
Gary was appointed as Honorary Associate Professor at the University of
Queensland, Centre of Excellence in Environmental Decisions. He serves as
one of four NGO leads on the joint US Canada Mexico Landscape Conservation
Cooperation Council. Gary is incoming Vice Chair of the World Commission
on Protected Areas' Connectivity Conservation Working Group.
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Attachment 4. EVALUATIONS, Compiled
Traditions and Spirituality in a Changing Landscape
April 14-15, 2016, Lakeside, Montana
Verbal responses:
Below are responses compiled from hard-copy written evaluations. Near the workshop close, however, a
short debrief session also collected feedback: To sum, all gained from time together, discussions, and
information provided. Many asked for a repeat of the workshop on other topics of interest. Others felt that
the agenda was very good, but packed, and could have used more time for reflection and networking.
Although the diversity of faiths represented at this workshop was not high, there were benefits to going
deep in one tradition in the time allotted.
Written responses:
1. What are the most important insights or takeaways you take from this workshop?
• Knowing we can collaborate. Huge work, information, efforts on climate change. My
congregation needs to learn from and join the effort.
• Really wonderful group of people, really tremendous potential
• Enthusiasm and capacity of participants
• Too many to list; Earth is an integral part of God’s creation
• Mover conservation in even par with people
• The network of faith leaders gathered; realization that Christians (some) really do care about
creation care
• The discussion of the Papal Doctrine
• Really being able to see the spiritual connection that I was lacking.
2. What is your overall evaluation of the workshop? (Please circle one)
Poor Below Average
Average
Good - 1
Excellent - 8
3. What portion or aspect of the workshop did you like the most?
• The speakers. Love the talk by Abby Huseth and John Lund, and Betsy Quammen
• Father Carver; afternoon drawing/vision exercise with Dan
• All good, group exercise
• Father Carver’s discussion; collaborative art workshop
• Father Carver set the tone
• Father Joseph Carver’s fireside chat; visuals of the beauty and awe of the Crown of the Continent;
focusing on this important topic with others in the faith community; Anne’s style of presentation
• Friday morning discussion
• Balance of program – people/information/conversation
• Joseph Carver
4. What portion of aspect of the workshop did you like the least?
• That I missed last nights’ speaker
• N/A
• None
• No complaints at all
• Mixed feeling about the Friday pm exercise
• The picture drawing was ok - I don’t really want to say there was anything negative about it. It
just was the least helpful to me.
5. How could this workshop be improved?
• Summary of evening program given to those of us who did not stay overnight
• More diversity of faiths represented
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•
•
•
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Depending on framing and focus, next year will need some of the same (new participants) and
some redesign (next steps)
I can’t think of any suggestions
More time theologically, though I was able to make the leap
More time
Add and extra day – add some social time
6. If you were to attend next year’s workshop, what focus and/or content would you seek?
• How faith leaders can incorporate climate change movement
• Very specific tangible examples of faith community actions on climate change in the Crown;
more examples of win-win case studies through faith communities
• Follow-up with faith leaders in Alberta to try and stimulate interest/engagement.
• What’s unique about the T/B Crown that can inform out stewardship efforts?
• Political action(s) that faith communities have taken and which were successful/roadblocks. How
can others institute similar action?
• Continue the discussion
• More discussion on belief systems and tangible net steps
• I would like to attend; I don’t know what I would seek
7. Can you suggest individuals/organizations who might be interested in participating in next
year’s workshop?
• Reach out to faith leaders – Did all faith leaders hear about this? I heard about it through my
workplace (Glacier National Park)
• Eva Phillips, Sid Black, Andrew Hume
• We will encourage more people now that we have been
• Broader faith representation
• More tribes – bring together conservation scientists and other partners
• Invite more of MAC (Montana Association of Christians)
8. Additional comments or suggestions (you can write on reverse side if needed)?
• Thank you! Helpful overall! Reach out to faith leaders more.
• I would say that I really didn’t agree with Charles’ characterization of the conservation
community being nearly at war over scarce resources …not my experience at all. Thanks for the
wonderful workshop.
• Some folks at our table did not know what the Crown of the Continent was until the crayon
exercise
• Very pleased with all – happy to go for coffee
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