Hope for Creation Conference offers numerous presentations

St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, Whitworth's Office of Church Engagement, Gonzaga University's Center for Climate, Society and the Environment, Terrain and The Fig Tree are sponsoring "Hope for Creation" Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23.

The Conference is designed to share a vision of hope for creation; showcase local caretakers of the region's air, water and land, and renew Spokane's leadership on environmental care, launched by Expo '74.

It starts at 9 a.m., Friday, at the Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave.

Whitworth theology professor Jonathan Moo will speak on "Creation Care: Bridging Science and Faith." 

Other speakers are Gloria Flora on biochar from fuel-rich forests; WSU's Aaron Esser on adaptations to dryland wheat agriculture; Kurtis Vaagen and Erik Makinson on ecologically sound forest management practices.

On Friday afternoon and Saturday morning there will be discussions on such topics as the Pope's encyclical Laudato si', personal and corporate responsibility for environmental care, maintaining health under environmental stress, tree planting in Spokane, creation care as told in Gospel of Mark and from a Native American perspective.

Included in the Friday afternoon discussions at 3 p.m., is an Interfaith Panel, discussing eight holy days that coincide this spring and their teachings related to creation care.

The day concludes with a 4:30 p.m., Healing the Earth vigil, organized by Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience.

Saturday's program begins with Twa-le Abrahamson of the Spokane Tribe speaking on the clean up of land despoiled by the Midnite Mine, followed by University of Idaho post doctoral student Kelsey Bryant, speaking on sustaining the 21st century forest carbon sink, and two sessions by students on their concerns for the future environment.

From noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, is a street fair with exhibits by local faith and secular groups who care for the land, an art exhibit, live music and food trucks.  

Saturday afternoon are talks by Kara Odegard on Spokane's Sustainability Action Plan, and William Youngs, professor of history at Eastern Washington University and author of The Fair and the Falls on "Expo '74, The Environment Then & Now."  

The Conference concludes with participants recommending ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Spokane's Expo '74, the first World's Fair dedicated to the environment. 

For information, call 838-4277, email jcwallingford@gmail.com or visit whitworth.edu/hopeforcreation.