Seminaries page

Hello! My name is Megan Gustafson. I am currently a Master of Divinity student at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.  As the “host” of the “Seminaries” for the Lutherans Restoring Creation page, I will be adding stories of hope and inspiration from seminaries across the nation.  It is also to be used as a resource for seminary students to learn how to be leaders in caring for creation. 

This ELCA seminary section’s goal is to prepare leaders for the ELCA who will offer care-for-creation leadership in ELCA congregations and other institutions and in their communities and the larger world. We seek to:

• Provide eco-resources and ideas for the full life and mission of seminaries.
• Sponsor an LRC Seminary Networking group.
• Offer news, highlights, and stories of seminary events and developments.
• Link with other like-minded groups.

Please join us as partners to help to make this happen! And, keep checking back below as we are currently adding to this list.

Studying Resources:

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Larry Rasmussen’s Lecture for the Bonhoeffer Lectures in Public Ethics at Union Seminary

Voices from science, ethics, and theology on Eco-Reformation. Veni, Creator Spiritus! An Ecological Reformation Veni, Creator Spiritus! Once a World Council ...
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Lutheran Study Guide to Pope Francis’ Letter on Climate Change

This is a four week study intended for church adult education, college, or seminary classrooms. The study takes up the theme ...
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Food – Faith – Farming

Since there are so many members of our ELCA community who live in agricultural areas and we all depend on ...
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Ecological Christianity Through The Ten Commandments

The 1st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What is this? We are to fear, love, and trust God ...
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Ecological Christianity Through The Creed

The 1st Article, on Creation I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. What is this? I ...
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Ecological Christianity Through The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven. What is this? With these words God wants to attract us, so that we come to ...
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Ecological Christianity Through The Sacrament of Baptism

I. What is Baptism? Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead, it is water used according to God's command and ...
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Ecological Christianity Through The Sacrament of the Altar

What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under ...
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Ecological Christianity through Luther’s Small Catechism

We marked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with the occasion of Martin Luther writing his 95 Theses. For those ...
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What Can We Do?

AFFIRM: Personally, with your church council, or entire synod, review our ELCA's 1993 call to action and commit to engaging in ...
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This is Church and You Are Needed Inside & Out

Watch this message from our churchwide leaders and fellow members across the country who recognize the tough, uncomfortable work of ...
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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 ...
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Congregational Covenant and Organizing Kit:  An Overview

The purpose of this kit is to enable you to have a basic program and organization to function as a ...
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17 Ways to be an EcoPreacher

by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade Here are 17 ideas excerpted from my book Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology and the Pulpit (Chalice Press, ...
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*Carbon Pricing: Suggested Resolution for 2021*

The Board of Directors of Lutherans Restoring Creation has unanimously endorsed the resolution (see here) adopted by Upper Iowa River ...
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Companion Sites

Lutherans Restoring Creation greatly appreciates the volunteers who keep the following resources updated. We are also blessed to have a ...
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Lenten Resource: Carbon Fast Calendar

Lutherans Restoring Creation encourages you to try one new practice every day that may prevent further desecration of God's good ...
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Connections Call: What is Our Response?

As part of our Connections Calls, we get to hear feedback from representatives who work in various expressions of the ...
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Lutheran Responses to Fossil Fuel Dependency

Some of us bemoan the fact that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has not committed to entirely divest from ...
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Tools for Talking and Listening

Being church together doesn't have to mean we have one mind.  Listening to the Holy Spirit within each of our ...
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How Do We Truly Commit to the Earth Charter?

During the 2019 Churchwide Assembly the ELCA voted to officially sign onto the principals of the Earth Charter.  For a ...
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Covenant with Creation Adapted for Spanish Speakers

We hope that the Pacto Congregacional de Cuidado para la Creación will be useful to support Spanish-speaking congregations to reflect ...
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Tools for Grassroots Advocacy: Full Spectrum

On our April 2020 Connections Call, we lifted up numerous ways we can represent what the ELCA's Creation Care stance ...
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Johan Bergh: Luther as Environmentalist

Download, read, and share widely this brief reflection from active disciple, Dr. Johan Bergh.  In his piece, published in the ...
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Creation reorientation: Liturgy to Reconcile People and Planet

(Click here to download this document.) Created by Bridget Jones in 2018 as part of her Masters of Divinity program ...
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Awakening to God’s Call to Earthkeeping

Download this free resource for a non-politicized, easy to follow path to help connect faith, eco-theology and the community we ...
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Planning and Carrying Out Green Events

Guidelines for Ecologically Responsible Events Prepared by Pilgrims Caring for Creation Pilgrim Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN in response to ...
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A Theology of Liturgy in a New Key: Worshiping With Creation

Thanks to David Rhoads,  Paul Santmire, and Norman Habel who share here their Chapter 2 of "The Season of Creation: ...
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Ways to Integrate Creation Care in your Lenten Practices

As we prepare for the season of Lent, share these resources with your Bible Study group, Worship committee, Church Council ...
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The Nature of Things: Rediscovering the Spiritual in God’s Creation

Edited by Graham Buxton and Norman Habel Forward by David Rhoads With contributions by David Rhoads, Paul Santmire, Celia-Diane-Drummond, Heather ...
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How to Make Your Seminary Greener:

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Water discipleship tool for Congregations!

Vermont Lutheran Church partners with Interfaith Power & Light to Share the Various Ways to Revere Water: In 2018, Vermont ...
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*Carbon Pricing: Suggested Resolution for 2021*

The Board of Directors of Lutherans Restoring Creation has unanimously endorsed the resolution (see here) adopted by Upper Iowa River ...
Read More

Companion Sites

Lutherans Restoring Creation greatly appreciates the volunteers who keep the following resources updated. We are also blessed to have a ...
Read More

Lenten Resource: Carbon Fast Calendar

Lutherans Restoring Creation encourages you to try one new practice every day that may prevent further desecration of God's good ...
Read More

The Green Foundation of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg

Geothermal Comes to the Battlefield By Delaney Schlake (M. Div Middler, Trinity Lutheran Seminary) 150 years ago, the Lutheran Theological Seminary ...
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How Do We Truly Commit to the Earth Charter?

During the 2019 Churchwide Assembly the ELCA voted to officially sign onto the principals of the Earth Charter.  For a ...
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EPA’s Energy Star Congregation’s Guide

The United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies ...
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Eco-Resources for Your Synod Gatherings

What can YOU do to get congregations in your area thinking about Caring for Creation as part of church? 1 ...
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Ways to Integrate Creation Care in your Lenten Practices

As we prepare for the season of Lent, share these resources with your Bible Study group, Worship committee, Church Council ...
Read More

The Nature of Things: Rediscovering the Spiritual in God’s Creation

Edited by Graham Buxton and Norman Habel Forward by David Rhoads With contributions by David Rhoads, Paul Santmire, Celia-Diane-Drummond, Heather ...
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Creation Care Congregation: Personal Discipleship Ideas

Discipleship at home and work: “Love your neighbor” Personal Covenant with Creation: Plan a worship service in which members can ...
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Checklist for Energy Savings Room by Room

Overall Home Energy Saving Measures Efficiency Heat/ AC: Install high efficiency ENERGY STAR-rated furnace and air conditioner, at least at ...
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Living the Change: A Tool Connected to Many Faiths

GreenFaith has helped pull together leaders from various religions across the globe to recognize our common concern for the planet ...
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Lutherans Restoring Creation’s YouTube channel & playlists

Visit our Youtube Channel to see "liked" videos, uploaded videos, and playlists.  Or scroll through our playlists linked here: ...
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Growing a garden church from food scraps and compost

We turned an empty lot in L.A. into an edible sanctuary. by Anna Woofenden (shared from Christian Century magazine) When I moved ...
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Creation Care Congregation: Building and Grounds Ideas

Building and Grounds: “The church as an alternative community” Energy Stewards Initiative. LRC program for congregations to reduce your energy ...
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Action Plan Ideas

The goal is to make a difference by transforming attitudes and commitments and by embracing concrete actions that reduce human ...
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Creating An Action Plan

Action Plan Guidelines 1. Explore our action plan ideas: Consult the Manual and the websites/ resources listed with each item ...
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Green Teams

How to create a “Green Team” with your congregation: 1. Formation. A green team may come into existence in a ...
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Certificate in Climate Justice & Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

Announcing a new, non-degree eco-justice learning program with Lutheran theological foundations and on-going nourishment from a cohort-based model to ensure ...
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Tools for Talking and Acting on Climate with Faith-based Language

Blessed Tomorrow's Moving Forward Guide ecoAmerica helps leaders from the local government, the public health sector, and faith-based cohorts figure ...
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Energy Stewardship

Lutherans have had a tremendous history with being good energy stewards - but we have a LONG way to go.  ...
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Green IT

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) at Muhlenberg College has been on the forefront of campus sustainability initiatives. Not only ...
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Valparaiso University shares tips about how to reuse plastic bags!

When one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved! ...
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Within Limits: Remember the Sabbath

Jim Martin-Schramm Luther College Chapel October 7, 2011 Exodus 23:10-12 (or 31:12-17) Within Limits: Remember the Sabbath Our reading this ...
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Coming Home To Earth 

by Mark Brocker As a young Norwegian Lutheran teenager in rural Wisconsin, Brocker lay awake one night worrying whether he ...
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