Earthkeeping and Justice

An OMA-UCC  Event Held at Camp Fowler October 7-10

OMA member and Board Chair, Kent Busman hosted the first of what OMA hopes will be an annual Earth Keeping and Justice Retreat, set in the Autumn splendor at Camp Fowler. This was a time to experience the environmental care that has been the priority of this camp, and to understand how our camps and ministries in all our conferences are crucial in forming a faith based on love of creation, love of neighbor, and love of children. Through worship, conversation, communal meals, and playing in the great outdoors, participants engaged in deepening their faith of belonging and connection to the earth and all God’s creations.

Spending our time reflecting on the Genesis story, sharing other stories and songs from camp, and hearing from speakers who voiced their love of our planet and concern for her future, Outdoor Ministry must have a place at the table within our conferences and wider UCC to shape a faith filled with belonging and connection that takes root in the outdoors as it did in The Beginning.   

We are grateful for the participation of Rev. David Lindsey, Transitional Conference Minister at the MN Conference and Rev. Brooks Berndt, UCC Minister for Environmental Justice. May they share their experience with other conference ministers and national staff so that we can grow our faith together in local churches, Outdoor Ministry, Associations and Conference, and National that speaks to Creation Justice and our need to live into the responsibilities we have been given to love and care for our Living Earth.