Local events to examine religion's role in protecting the environment

GAINESVILLE - An interfaith service and public forum in Gainesville next month will focus on the roles of science and religion in protecting the future of the planet. They are scheduled for April 13-14.<br /> <br /> Attorney Frank Armstrong, who came up with the idea, grew up in the South during the civil rights movement. He said he noticed that things didn't really turn around until churches got behind the movement. <br /> <br /> "I have formed the belief that until the churches get behind environmental ethics that we will not make much headway," Armstrong said.<br /> <br /> Armstrong added he hopes people will come away with a better understanding of environmental ethics.<br /> <br /> "We rarely discuss it and I hope that it (the events of April 13-14) will bring it to the forefront."<br /> <br /> Among the issues to be explored at the sessions: <br /> <br /> *Water shortage, climate change, energy costs, population explosion, forest destruction, air and water pollution<br /> <br /> *What will be our moral compass as we wrestle with these issues? Who can we rely upon for correct information? What values will we call upon to make personal, family level, regional and global decisions regarding these and other environmental issues? <br /> <br /> These are questions posed by the field of environmental ethics, according to organizers. <br /> <br /> "I hope it will encourage all of us to learn about environmental ethics, not only in educational institutions... but also in our churches," Armstrong said.<br /> <br /> An interfaith service at 7 p.m. April 13 will take place at Gainesville's First United Methodist Church. The service will feature music, liturgy and a message delivered by noted environmental theologian and philosopher Dr. Holmes Rolston III of Colorado State University. <br /> <br /> A public forum will be held at 7 p.m. April 14 at Gainesville's First Presbyterian Church. Panelists will be Rolston, Dr. Bryan Norton of Georgia Tech and Dr. Bill Coates, pastor of First Baptist Church on Green Street, with Rev. Mike Freeman moderating. <br /> <br /> For more information, contact Lavon Callahan at 770-535-1976 or [email protected].

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/208029