Green Zone and Web of Creation cont.

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC)
Chicago, Illinois

LSTC also maintains the Web of Creation, created in 1995. "The Web of Creation is a place of information and of action. We hope that those who visit the site will find the resources to make a change in their homes, workplaces, or congregations," says Lord, a Web of Creation staff member. Among many, some of the current projects of Web of Creation include an Online Green Congregation Program, a two-year pilot project for greening congregations in Chicago and Wisconsin, the development of a Lutheran Earthkeeping Network of the Synods, and adapting Australian church materials for American congregations on “Season of Creation” (a four-Sunday liturgical cycle held before the commemoration of St. Francis and World Communion Sunday).

Students entering the MDiv or MA programs at LSTC may opt for an emphasis in environmental ministry. In the emphasis, the student meets quarterly with a covenant group and the emphasis director, takes at least one environmental course (such as Environmental Ethics or Nature and the Bible), conducts field work, writes environmentally-themed papers/projects for 3 or more other courses, and completes a senior project. LSTC Professor David Rhoads, also Director of the Web of Creation, supervises various aspects of creation care on the seminary campus, including the environmental emphasis program. He can be contacted for more information about any of the environmental programs at LSTC at drhoads@lstc.edu.