Online Zoom Forum: Laudato Si - on care for our common home: Spiritual, Social, Ecological, and Policy Perspectives.
Date: Wednesday 16 April 2025.
Time: 7pm-9pm (UK time).
Event Description:
Format: There will be four talks, each of 15 minutes, followed by discussion among the speakers and the chair, followed by Q & A.
Chair:
Simon Barrow:
Bio: Simon Barrow is a writer, commentator, educator and researcher with wide experience in politics, public issues, media, organisational change, ethics and religion/beliefs. He was director of the think-tank Ekklesia from 2005-2024. His book Britain Needs Change: The Politics of Hope and Labour's Challenge, co-edited with Gerry Hassan, was published by Biteback in November 2024. His latest book is Beyond Our Means: Poetry, Prose and Blue Runes (Siglum, January 2025) and will be followed by Against the Religion of Power: Telling a Different Christian Story (Ekklesia Publishing, September 2025).
Speakers:
Dr Jennifer J. Wilhoit:
Title: Spiritual Ecology in Practice: Everyday Expressions of Caring for Our Common Home.
Description: Using a short excerpt about love from Laudato Si as the basis of my talk, I will outline simple ways we can apply an interdisciplinary Spiritual Ecology approach to caring for our shared home, Planet Earth. We will look at practices in the areas of compassion, education, consumption, and creativity.
Bio: Jennifer J. Wilhoit, Ph.D. is a Spiritual Ecologist, published author, interfaith practitioner, hospice volunteer, as well as the founder of TEALarbor stories and the groundbreaking Spiritual Ecology Training Program. She compassionately supports people’s creative and healing processes by drawing from nature’s wisdom. Jennifer is a long-time active member of the global compassion, interfaith (ongoing speaker at the United Nations’ World Interfaith Harmony Week and Parliament of the World’s Religions), and gratitude movements. In 2024, she had the honor of interviewing the Vatican’s Rev. Dr. Joshtrom Kureethadam about Laudato Si and The Ten Green Commandments for the Charter for Compassion. www.tealarborstories.com
Dr Jessica Christie Ludescher Imanaka:
Title: Ecological Conversion in Contemplation and Action.
Description: This talk will invite us to consider the spiritual transformation that Laudato Si' enjoins upon us. We will focus on the concluding chapter of Laudato Si' called "Ecological Education and Spirituality" where Pope Francis exhorts us to engage in processes of ecological conversion. Such conversion, or metanoia, entails a reorientation of the heart in ways that will lead to changed lifestyles and mindsets. The fruits of such conversion will be joy and love in the integral ecology of our common home.
Bio: Dr Jessica Christie Ludescher Imanaka is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Management and Philosophy at Seattle University where she teaches courses in business ethics, spiritual business, ethics, philosophy of the human person and an honors course on crises in contemporary thought. Jessica's research spans a variety of subjects with an especial focus on Catholic Social Thought. She has published several journal articles on Laudato Si' and is currently co-authoring a book dealing with this encyclical. Jessica serves on several boards, including The Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at Seattle University. She is married to a Shingon Buddhist monk from Japan who leads a sangha called Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple. The couple has engaged in numerous inter-religious dialogues and activities.
Dr Dominic Wilkins:
Title: Trying to Make Laudato Si' Take Place.
Description: My research draws from various encounters with U.S. Catholics who have sought to emplace their Care for Creation. In this talk, I will discuss some of the challenges involved in trying to move Laudato Si’ from bookshelves and pulpits to everyday lives and landscapes, a shift which is perhaps the greatest sticking point for those committed to socio-ecological justice, peace, and joy.
Bio: Dominic Wilkins is Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Colorado College and the Assistant Managing Editor at the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture. He holds a PhD and MA in Geography from Syracuse University, as well as a BA in religious studies and environmental studies from Colgate University. His empirical research largely focuses on assessing efforts to see Laudato Si' and other Catholic environmental teachings materially take place among Catholics and the institutional Church. Results from prior projects have appeared in scholarly journals including Progress in Human Geography, Environmental History, and Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space. Based upon ethnographic research while embedded within a Catholic intentional community in West Virginia, Dominic's current book project critically examines Catholic efforts to imagine, teach, and achieve socio-ecological justice across Appalachia.
Colette Joyce:
Title: Our Common Home is Like a Sister With Whom We Share our Life (LS,1).
Description: This presentation will explore the idea of a family sharing a common home which Pope Francis puts forward in the opening paragraph of Laudato Si’, unfolding the poetic language of St Francis, and using examples from our lived experience of taking care of creation in the Diocese of Westminster. I will also address the fruitfulness of joint campaigning activity with our multi-faith partners.
Bio: Colette Joyce is the Justice and Peace Co-ordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster (covering North London and Hertfordshire in England.) She leads on environment and climate issues for her Diocese and convenes the Southern Dioceses Environment Network, which brings together participants from seven other Dioceses. She is on the Campaigns Advisory Group for CAFOD and is a trustee of Faith for the Climate. She is a long-term trade union representative for the Faith Workers Branch of Unite, with an abiding interest in promoting good interfaith relations.
An archive recording will be made for the EICSP archive.
NB: There will be no refund if you cancel your booking.
Cost: By Donation:
Contact: Neill Walker, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Here are the bank transfer details:
Account Name: Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace
Bank: Bank of Scotland
Bank Address: Edinburgh Royal Mile Branch
Account Number: 06131159
Sort Code: 802000
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The IBAN number:
GB70 BOFS 8020 0006 1311 59
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BOFSGB21168