Outdoor Worship in Times of Climate and Nature Crisis course
This course will explore the practice of worshipping outdoors, and how it might fit within parish/benefice life. We will consider why this is something we might do as Christians, how it connects with people in our community who are concerned about the environmental crises, and how it helps us to engage in environmental good practice as we grow in love for God’s creation. We will be outdoors at times* whatever the weather, so bring your waterproofs!
Session 1: This will explore nature connection in the Christian tradition, looking both at nature connection in wider society and at what the bible has to say about our connection with non-human creation.
Session 2: We will look at different forms of outdoor worship, with a particular focus on Forest Church and engagement with the Agricultural year, exploring creative ways of celebrating Plough Sunday, Rogation, Lammas and Harvest.
Session 3: We will spend some time in an act of outdoor worship, as well as taking some time to explore the practicalities of leading worship in this way.
Session 4: The final session will look at how outdoor worship might connect with other aspects of a church’s mission and ministry.
*possible exception for very torrential downpour!
About the course leaders
Cate Williams
Cate’s work for the Diocese of Gloucester includes supporting local churches with Eco Church, and working with central staff towards silver Eco Diocese and our 2030 carbon net zero goal. The work with local churches ranges from informal networking gatherings in coffee shops, to training days such as on ‘Carbon Awareness’, and developing resources for school/church partnerships. She also teaches as an Associate Tutor for Cuddesdon: Gloucester and Hereford.
Before joining her current team in Gloucester, initially with a broader focus combining pioneering, environment and social responsibility, she was a vicar in Middlesbrough and Milton Keynes. She has a PhD in missiology that engaged with Forest Church and other forms of pioneer ministry.
Jo Neary
As Team Vicar/Pioneer Priest in the Beaminster team in the Diocese of Salisbury, Jo works with the church, schools and community to explore discipleship, to offer hospitality, to plant and sustain rural fresh expressions, to develop work with children and young people and to speak about and address rural poverty. Jo previously worked as part of the Diocese of Salisbury Rural Hope project seconded to Sarum College as Rural Tutor and now splits her time between Sarum College as Tutor in Rural Mission and Ministry and her parish post in Beaminster.
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