Past Events

PLTS Commencement 2023 Highlights

May 20, 2023 11am Pacific Time
Highlights from PLTS’ 2023 Commencement Ceremony including Address from The Rev. Dr. Donna Allen, Center for Climate Justice and Faith Video, and Sending from Dr. Ray Pickett.

Cultivating Climate Justice: Tools, Hope, Theology & Spirit

March  10-13, 2023 

The Ants & The Grasshopper Film Screening and Q&A

Film Screening of The Ants and the Grasshopper on February 6 at 5pm PT. Online and inperson

February 6, 2023 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET

The Center for Climate Justice and Faith and Lutherans Restoring Creation hosted a screening of the film The Ants and the Grasshopper followed by a Q&A session with Director Raj Patel on February 6, 2023. More than 200 people joined the screening either in-person at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA or online. If you are interested in hosting a screening of the film please contact sarahberg@plts.edu.

Learn more at antsandgrasshopper.org

PLTS Founder's Day "The Planet You Inherit: A Re-Founding Catalyst" Keynote Speaker Larry L. Rasmussen

November 3, 2022 6pm Pacific Time

Voltaire (1694-1778) said the “three things exercise a constant influence over the minds of [humankind]: climate, governance, and religion…That is the only way of explaining the enigma of this world.” This PLTS Founder’s Day Lecture looks at each of these three – climate, governance, and religion – to ask whether today’s planetary emergency requires re-founding our way of life.

Holy Voices: Gender Inequality & Climate Displacement

Thursday, March 31, 2022 7 – 8 pm ET

Gender and climate are profoundly intertwined, and women bear the brunt of the impacts of both sudden and slow-onset climate disasters. On the final day of Women’s History Month, join an important conversation on the intersection of climate displacement, gender inequality, and forced migration.

Watch the recording here

Fireside Chat with Carl C. Anthony


February, 2022

The Center for Climate Justice and Faith hosted a virtual fireside chat with Carl C. Anthony. A revered a social and environmental justice leader, Mr. Anthony is the founding director of Urban Habitat, one of the country’s first environmental justice organizations and the author of The Earth, the city, and the Hidden Narrative of Race.

Mohrenweiser Lecture Series: Climate Justice, Health and Wellbeing


December 3, 2021

Dr. Manoj Kurian will discuss how climate change is threatening human health and well-being, and the ethical and moral imperative for action. The lecture also will delve into preparedness and prevention; mitigation and adaptation; and recovery from the loss and damage already sustained. The discussions will encourage reflections on how we can be accountable and take responsibility — as individuals, congregations, communities and nations.

Dr.  Manoj Kurian is a medical doctor from Malaysia and the Coordinator of the WCC-Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. Following his postgraduate training in Community Health in India, he worked for seven years in church related institutions in different parts of India. From 1999, he directed the ‘Health and Healing’ programme at the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva until 2012. Following this, he managed the Policy and Advocacy work of the International AIDS Society. From 2015 apart from Coordinating WCC-EAA, he also Coordinates WCC’s Section on ‘Ecological & Economic Justice’ and is the focal person responsible for Asia. He is also an Adjunct Faculty at College of Public Health, Kent State University. He is a published author, poet and artist.

This event is co-sponsored by the PLTS Mohrenweiser Endowed Lectureship and the PLTS Center for Climate Justice and Faith.

The lecture is free but registration is required. Registered participants will receive information about joining the Zoom webinar prior to the event.

Download PDF of event listing 

SoC 2021: A home for all? Intergenerational Dialogue


June 3, 2021

This international and intergenerational webinar introduces the 2021 Season of Creation, the annual month-long ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for creation. Together, the ecumenical family around the world unites to pray and protect God’s creation.

Faith and Frontline Call to Action: Good Trouble for Climate Justice. A Consultation on How to Address the Climate Emergency


April 19, 2021

A virtual non-governmental side event, taking place during the week of the Leader’s Summit on Climate hosted by the Biden Administration. This event highlighted and called for the inclusion of the voices, ideas, and expertise of frontline and faith communities alongside career politicians as we collectively and collaboratively move to address and implement climate solutions. The PLTS Center for Climate Justice and Faith co-sponsored this event.

Read more from Living Lutheran (ELCA magazine)

Climate Change, Gender Justice, and the Power of Art: Dance


April 23, 2021

The Center for Climate Justice and Faith partnered with the Graduate Theological Union’s Women’s Studies in Religion and Center for the Arts and Religion departments to talk about climate justice and gender justice through the lens of the arts. San Francisco Bay Area dancer, KJ Dahlaw offered a reflection on their practices and led us in gentle movement of our own.

Sacred Earth, Sacred People Day of Action: Lutheran Wave of Prayer


March 11, 2021

As part of the GreenFaith Sacred People, Sacred Earth Day of Action, The Center for Climate Justice and Faith partnered with the ELCA, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, Lutherans Restoring Creation, and the Lutheran World Federation, organizing the Lutheran community worldwide to join together in praying for climate justice.

Download the flyer and prayer (pdf)

Climate Change, Gender Justice, and the Power of Art: Poetry


March 8, 2021

The Center for Climate Justice and Faith partnered with the Graduate Theological Union’s Women’s Studies in Religion and Center for the Arts and Religion departments to celebrate International Women’s Day. Renowned poet and public intellectual Dr. Gabriella Gutierrez y Muhs offered a reading of her own poetry, and then guided us in writing and thinking exercises of our own.

Founders’ Day Launch of the Center with Bill McKibben


September 16, 2020

In celebration of launching the Center for Climate Justice and Faith, Bill McKibben addressed the theme, “Climate Justice, Radical Justice, and Divestment: The Call of the Church” at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary’s 2020 Founder’s Day.