EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Five, Number Five May/June 1996 REPORTS FROM A WORKSHOP ON CHRISTIAN ECOFEMINISM Christian Ecofeminism is About Caring for the Whole In early March a small group of people at the Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Center in West Virginia spent a weekend deepening their understanding of themselves and their relationship to the Holy Spirit and to Earth. Co-sponsored by the Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community and NACCE, this workshop on Christian Eco-feminism was led by Verle Headings and Emily Headings of Rolling Ridge, and Eleanor Rae of the Center for Women, the Earth, the Divine. The group examined such concepts as Intrinsic Value, the interdependence of all of creation (illustrated in a centerpiece of bead and string, the web of Indra), and a theology of "enoughness" that is Earth-honoring. Participants enjoyed simple meals and walks in the cold weather to listen to non-human members of the Earth community. They shared their experience of listening as well as poetry, prayer, New Testament scripture and other readings in a closing worship service on Sunday. From Eleanor Rae, Center for Women, the Earth, the Divine, 114 Rising Ridge Rd., Ridgefield CT 06877; 203/ 438-3867; and from Pennie Kinsey, Arlington VA. Ecofeminism is Needed for Ecologically Sound Decision Making. Verle Headings writes: Through video, lectures and visual models we explored the essential relatedness among life forms as being important to good decision-making. Images throughout our Scripture — Creation, Wisdom, Spirit, and Jesus as nurturing and caring — are essential context in the shaping of word and instrumental action. Divorcing word and action from their full contextual significance, which requires caring and feeling, yields the images of egotistical self aggrandizing behavior, seeking short term gain, and destruction of life forms. From Letters To Members and Partners, April 1996, Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community, Rte. 2, Box 314, Harpers Ferry WV 25425; 304/ 728-8563. Home     Table of Contents