Spirit & Nature
Spiritual Resources for Sustainable Living
Presented by
Spiritual Paths Institute, La Casa de Maria,
Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council (CEC)
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Santa Barbara Interfaith Initiative,
California Student Sustainability Coalition,
Institute for Reverential Ecology,
Fielding Graduate University

La Casa de Maria, September 14-16, 2007

FOR INFORMATION CALL 805 695-0104  
FOR REGISTRATION CALL 805 969-5031 or CLICK HERE
SCHOLARSHIP FORM (click here)

Congressperson Hon. Lois Capps Michael Potts, CEO, Rocky Mtn. Institute Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Ph. (Christianity) Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Ph.D. (Judaism) Shaikh Kabir & Camille Helminski (Islam & Sufism)

Pravrajika Vrajaprana (Hinduism) Don (Four Arrows) Jacobs, (Native American) Mike McGinnis, PhD & Sharyn Main Ed Bastian, Ph.D., (Buddhism & Moderator)

Purpose

This program will help environmental activists to:

• reflect on and renew their original calling, and share personal stories;

• explore spiritual sources, and messages that support environmental activism;

• be refreshed and regenerated to continue their work;

• develop authentic and effective partnerships with the faith communities;

• examine how to balance the attitude of the environmental warrior with an enduring intention of compassion, unity, education, and cooperation

This program will help spiritual teachers and clergy to:

• examine and present the spiritual sources for environmentalism within their traditions;

• explore the similarities and distinctive features of these;

• formulate a contemporary spiritual messages encouraging environmentally sustainable practices for their constituencies;

• develop practical ways to apply spiritually-based environmentalism in their churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, and traditions.

This program will help environmentally concerned global citizens to:

• integrate and apply their spiritual values to solving a critical issue of our time;

• explore environmentalism as a form of spiritual practice;

• become environmentally spiritual change agents within their communities.

• Develop spiritual wisdom and practices that are supportive of environmentally sustainable life-styles.

THE PROGRAM

The program will begin Friday evening, September 14, with an introductory presentation by two of our speakers to set the tone and agenda for the weekend. Saturday’s sessions will alternate short plenary presentations with small group discussions and experiential sessions where spiritual leaders and environmental activists can join in deep, transformative dialog. Sunday morning will include a panel discussion and an inspirational closing InterSpiritual/Environmental session to be designed by our spiritual and environmental leaders. This program will help create a deeper sense of community, nurture those who are on the “front lines” of environmental activism, and create new partnerships and alliances.

REGISTRATION COST

Full conference with shared room - - $395.00
(Call for possible single rooms)
Full conference in dorm -- $325.00
Full conference as communter -- $280.00

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE - CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

Rates include five meals, Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch.

To Register, call 805 969-5031 or click here for www.lacasademaria.org.

Relevance to the Santa Barbara Region and the World

The CEC and the City of Santa Barbara are world leaders in the development of strategies, tactics, and policies for environmentally sustainable practices. The “Fossil Free by 33” plan will require active participation by Santa Barbara County’s private, non-profit, and public sectors and communities. Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is a world leader on the forefront of environmental technologies and practices to stem the rise of global warming.  Arguably, one of the critical sectors for success will be the faith communities and churches whose leaders are often active participants and agents for change. These organized faith communities, along with “spiritually unaligned” communities, are important voices in the movement for environmental sustainability. This program will identify the foundational spiritually-based teachings and practices that promote environmental behavior. Dialog between the spiritual teachers, clergy, and environmental activists will help reveal effective motivational practices, metaphors, analogies, stories, and scriptures, and to deepen their future work together.