This course invites participants to deepen their biblical, theological and scientific understanding of God’s call to care for creation and work for climate and environmental justice for all people.
Participants will learn how to speak about the deepening climate crisis with love, and take active steps toward environmental justice, both personally and with others in their congregations and social settings. Participants will also be equipped to help lead it in their own contexts, through in-person or Zoom settings.
Both course materials and conversations will share the joy of encouraging resources and connections with many other climate justice efforts, especially, but not limited to, those springing up within the United Methodist Church.
In addition to Blackboard interactions, one optional Zoom meeting may be held, scheduled with learner input, during the second week. The meeting will not be recorded.
Learners must obtain the book: Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action edited by Pat Watkins, in the updated 2023 edition.
This course has been approved by Discipleship Ministries as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. It provides the required 10 contact hours.
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
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Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 2
Price: $70
CEUs: 1.0
Required books: Yes
Blackboard: Yes
Zoom: Yes, optional
Certification or Series: Yes (Lay Servant Ministries)
Read course description for details.
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About the Instructor
Rev. Beth Galbreath is a United Methodist deacon. She has been active in the environmental and renewable energy movements since the early ’70s, and chaired her city’s first Sun Day celebration in 1978. She is an active member of the Illinois Solar Education Association, a longtime solar and conservation advocate, and a wilderness canoeist and organic gardener. Beth is also a member of the Northern Illinois Conference Net-Zero Committee (econetnic.org), and its education team leader. She and her husband, Jim, own their own solar electric system which feeds not only their home but their all-electric car, and she’s always looking for new steps to take toward a lifestyle of “net-zero carbon emissions.” Their congregation, Compassion United Methodist Church in Brookfield, Illinois, also is powered by its rooftop solar array.
Past Learners Said…
“Shortly after my Mountain Sky Conference voted to establish a Green Team in every church throughout the conference, I joined the Green Team Outreach (GTO) group to help spread the word within my district. Shortly thereafter, I received an email from BeADisciple announcing the new course offering “Loving People and Loving the Planet,” and I thought it would be a great resource for the work ahead–I was not disappointed!”
“This course is invaluable in learning just where we are in the struggle to redeem our earth from the damage we are doing to it. There is something for every person and every church. I highly recommend it.”
