WATAC joins the call for Ecological Conversion

11 September 2020
Image: Josh Blanton/Unsplash.

 

WATAC, the activist and advocacy organisation Women and the Australian Church, have announced the third topic in their popular bi-monthly series of interactive webinars which provide theological formation to women across Australia while building community.

Guests, Jacqui Remond, co-founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) and the former director of Catholic Earthcare Australia and Di Rayson, an eco-theologian and Bonhoeffer scholar, will address the topic Acting now: Laudato si’, eco-theologies and advocacy.

Currently, Jacqui is working with the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Development as Assistant Coordinator of the Ecology Taskforce and Australian Catholic University designing an online program ‘Preparing the Future: Living an Integral Ecology’. Jacqui worked with the Archdiocese of Brisbane to enable a system-wide response to Laudato Si’. This included facilitating the formation of the Archdiocesan Laudato Si’ Steering Group, a three-year project with one school to become a Laudato Si’ exemplar and instituted an ‘Energy Reduction and Management Plan’ initiative across all 140+ schools and offices with Brisbane Catholic Education.

Di lectures in eco-theology at United Theological College of Charles Sturt University (CSU), and in ethics, epistemology, and policy at The University of Newcastle. Di is an Adjunct Fellow of the Public and Contextual Theology Research Centre of CSU and describes herself as a public theologian. She has published on climate change and the Australian bushfires from theological perspectives and appears on ABC radio to discuss religion and ethics. Di’s upcoming book is titled Bonhoeffer and Climate Change: Theology and Ethics (Lexington 2020) and she has a chapter in Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church (SCM Press 2020).

President of WATAC, Andrea Dean said “Pope Francis asked that a whole year be earmarked for deeper engagement with Laudato Si’, the environmental encyclical released five years ago. The call to ecological conversion has made some impact. WATAC supports the call for greater action. I believe that the conversation between Jacqui and Di will inspire us to act now on behalf of the poor and the environment.”

WATAC Presents is on 14 October from 6 pm to 7 pm (AEST). Register via the website (www.watac.net.au) to participate.

Established in 1984, Women and the Australian Church (WATAC) is an incorporated organisation committed to a Church characterised by equality.

With thanks to WATAC.

 

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