Tag Archives: About Us

About Us

Katrina Martich

Katrina Martich is a speaker, trainer, and consultant, who helps organizations find holistic approaches to today’s environmental challenges. To this task she brings over twenty years of practical experience as an environmental engineer in public and private sector positions.  In addition to running her own environmental consulting company, Katrina has been an adjunct instructor for The University of Texas at Arlington and completed an internship with the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy.  Katrina grounds her approach to environmental challenges in the justice tradition of the Abrahamic faiths, with a focus on personal and business practices that allow all people and life to thrive in this world.

Katrina has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Auburn University and a Master of Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.  She is a consecrated deaconess by the Lutheran Diaconal Association, a licensed professional engineer in Texas and New Mexico, and a Certified Professional in Sediment and Erosion Control.  Katrina serves on the ELCA Sustainability Table and as a LRC Green Shepherd within the Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod.  She lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband and three rescued cats.  In her spare time, Katrina volunteers at an equitherapy facility and enjoys hiking, working in the yard, and watching birds.

To discuss ways Katrina can be of service to your congregation, email her at contact@katrinamartich.com

Worship

Let All Creation Praise! – companion site

Our ecumenical companion site, www.LetAllCreationPraise.org ,   is maintained by long-time supporter and fellow Lutheran restoring creation, Nick Utphall.     This site is an online library of commentaries, hymns, worship samples and devotions which speak to a wide variety of Christian faiths.  Rev. Utphall is pastor at Madison Christian Community in Wisconsin. Check out their site for more testimonials of working together to celebrate all of God’s gifts.

About Us, Building/Grounds, Energy Savings

Energy Stewardship

Lutherans have had a tremendous history with being good energy stewards – but we have a LONG way to go.  There is a broad range of steps to be taken that all make progress in the long run for the environment and for a congregation’s budget.  Our houses of worship can either be a beacons of sustainability to our neighbors or a draw on the community’s power  – what does God call of us?

  • Find out if there is an Energy Steward you would like to contact within our ELCA networks in facilities and investments who could give you advise by looking at our Map (click here).
  • Explore the FREE EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager program (which has more Lutherans registered users than any other denomination – so far). Check out (click here) their entire pdf guides here for free.
  • Be inspired by reading about stories from the ELCA realm who have had great experiences saving energy while freeing up more money to be used in other ministries!
  • Reach out to your local utility and/or regional Interfaith Power and Light for insight as to local support for energy savings and alternative choice options.

 

Eco-Reformation Speakers Bureau

The Eco-Justice Reformation Working Group is comprised of ELCA theologians, pastors, laity, and teachers committed to stand for ecological justice as a denomination in our actions and in our witness, in our identity and in our mission.

We are convinced that more than ever we are seeing planetary degradation that is threating all life on Earth as we know it and causing extensive disruption and dislocation in human communities. The most vulnerable among us are at the greatest risk with the least capacity to cope.

At the same time, we are convinced that the biblical and pastoral vocation to which God calls us in this time is for “the care and redemption of all” that God has made—all as a response to the grace given in creation, in the power and presence of the risen Christ, and in the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.

We saw that the 500th anniversary of the Reformation was a time to call for a reorientation of our denomination to address the ecological crises we are facing as a planet. As Bishop Eaton has asserted: “The present moment is a critical one, filled with both challenge and opportunity to act as faithful individuals and churches in solidarity with God’s good creation.” We believe that the ELCA as a whole can and must fully embrace creation care at the heart of God’s mission on every level—as individual members and as organizations of the church.

To this end we are seeking to provide resources to use as a way to incorporate and promote eco-justice ministry into the life of the church. One of these resources is a Speakers Bureau. This Speakers Bureau has been gathered to represent a number of informed leaders in the ELCA capable of serving as conference speakers, panel participants, and workshop leaders for events sponsored by congregations, synods, seminaries, ministeriums, colleges, and other agencies of the church.

We hope that you will find the following Speakers Bureau information helpful in planning events which promote eco-theology and that foster an eco-Justice reforming of the church.

(This information can also be downloaded in either a PDF version here or a Word version here)