{"id":3327,"date":"2016-01-19T13:53:02","date_gmt":"2016-01-19T21:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/?p=3327"},"modified":"2016-01-19T13:53:24","modified_gmt":"2016-01-19T21:53:24","slug":"pastoring-at-the-crossroads-of-science-and-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/pastoring-at-the-crossroads-of-science-and-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastoring at the Crossroads of Science and Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Laura Baumgartner, member of University Temple UMC in Seattle and candidate for ministry, shares how an internship at Earth Ministry is giving her new opportunities to witness on behalf of God\u2019s creation.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Cross-and-stars-tourne-ver-lunivers-Vanil-Noir.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3335\" src=\"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Cross-and-stars-tourne-ver-lunivers-Vanil-Noir-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: Vanil-Noir\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Cross-and-stars-tourne-ver-lunivers-Vanil-Noir-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Cross-and-stars-tourne-ver-lunivers-Vanil-Noir-730x1024.jpg 730w, https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Cross-and-stars-tourne-ver-lunivers-Vanil-Noir-107x150.jpg 107w, https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Cross-and-stars-tourne-ver-lunivers-Vanil-Noir.jpg 856w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/a>By Laura Baumgartner\u00a0<br \/>United Methodist PNW Conference News\u00a0<br \/>January 19, 2016\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The intersection of science and faith is a deep and abiding passion of mine, particularly as my life has me living in both spheres. I\u2019ve been a member of University Temple United Methodist Church for 14 years, and I\u2019ve been high school chemistry teacher for 24. In particular, I\u2019m called to explore how I can speak into what is sometimes a void between religion and environmental advocacy as I work toward a Master of Divinity at Seattle University and toward ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n<p>Because I want to find out what ministry takes place in the space between these two areas of human experience, I sought out an internship at Earth Ministry. And though there\u2019s a lot of office work and routine tasks, it has been a joy to me to see how the best environmental science is expressed in faith values in the real work of climate protection.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m learning to find my way as pastor at this crossroads. In fact, I often think of myself as collecting the tools that I\u2019ll need for ministry as I prepare for what the Spirit has in mind for me. With the love and support, and generally good tolerance of my congregation at University Temple, I\u2019ve developing the skills of pastoral care and administration. Working at Earth Ministry is helping me develop other skills: I have spoken truth to power. I can find words to express the injustice that is done when people of color bear the first and most devastating effects of environmental disasters. I can witness the story that unfolds when unlikely partners find they share the same planet and must work together.<\/p>\n<p>For many generations, organized religion has been part of the force that has taught humans to act as if we are not a part of Creation, through language suggesting that we somehow claim power over Creation. However, working at Earth Ministry, I realize the power that comes from knowing our part in Creation. Grace comes even to religious organizations when we speak up for those who can\u2019t speak themselves, like Northwest salmon, our beautiful boreal forests and even Earth\u2019s atmosphere. Climate change is one of the huge global problems facing humans that can\u2019t be solved by either religion or science alone. Instead a faithful approach to decision-making in the public arena needs all of us, scientists and faithful alike. All of our expertise, talent, and passion are required of us.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3329  alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Oil-Hearing-Laura-e1453239337424-300x139.jpg\" alt=\"Anacortes Oil Rally\" width=\"315\" height=\"146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Oil-Hearing-Laura-e1453239337424-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Oil-Hearing-Laura-e1453239337424-1024x473.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Oil-Hearing-Laura-e1453239337424-150x69.jpg 150w, https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Oil-Hearing-Laura-e1453239337424.jpg 1746w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/>In my classroom and in my church, I am often challenged to articulate what can be done about the water, air, or soil pollution problems that face us. One student angrily told me that we should just pave over the entire planet and start over because we\u2019ve messed up so badly. It\u2019s easy to fall prey to such grief and despair. In going to rallies, press conferences, hearings, and other events, as well as doing the ongoing planning work with the team at Earth Ministry, I\u2019m learning what it takes to steward a community through challenges that feel overwhelming. I\u2019m learning to say, \u201cMy faith compels me to speak out\u201d when that is the case. I\u2019m learning that it is in community where we have real successes and share the resolve to right our wrongs. I have witnessed those for whom the church is a scary place working side by side with those who find their home in church, for the sake of the Creation, as part of Creation. That is the power of our faith. That is the power of our God.<\/p>\n<p>If you are new to the work of Earth Ministry, you can find out more about the work that we do or <a href=\"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/\">sign up for our email distribution list<\/a>. To use your own voice to speak out against proposed fossil fuel expansion, related to climate change, <a href=\"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/comment-on-north-americas-largest-proposed-oil-by-rail-facility-2\/\">make a comment by January 22 on the Tesoro Savage Oil Terminal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/pastoring-at-the-crossroads-of-science-and-faith\/\">Click here<\/a> to view the original article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Laura Baumgartner, member of University Temple UMC in Seattle and candidate for ministry, shares how an internship at Earth Ministry is giving her new opportunities to witness on behalf of God\u2019s creation.\u00a0 By Laura Baumgartner\u00a0United Methodist PNW Conference News\u00a0January 19,&#x2026; <\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/pastoring-at-the-crossroads-of-science-and-faith\/\" class=\"more-link wp-block-button__link\"><svg class=\"svg-icon th-fill-current\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" focusable=\"false\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M13 9l3 3m0 0l-3 3m3-3H8m13 0a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\" \/><\/svg> Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pastoring at the Crossroads of Science and Faith<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-news","category-press-clip","category-uncategorized","comments-off"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3327"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3337,"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3327\/revisions\/3337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}