Where Faith Meets Ecology: A Journey from Biology Teacher to Theology Student
Growing up in a generation where discussions of science and faith were often at odds with one another, I often felt tension as a public high school biology teacher. However, the longer I taught high school biology and the intricacies of the cellular processes, DNA, genetics, and ecology, the more I was filled with awe and wonder. I could not compartmentalize my love of teaching biology from my belief in God the Creator who paid attention to the marvelous detail of the DNA molecule to the vibrant coloring of a butterfly. As I transitioned from a teacher to student once again, the Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice (TEFJ) program at George W. Truett Theological Seminary has offered me a framework and language for theology and science to no longer be at odds with one another.
I am grateful for the language of hope in my classes taught through the program's partnership with the World Hunger Relief Farm in Waco. While climate change and environmental issues can quickly cause despair and a feeling of powerlessness, being on the Farm gives me the opportunity to see life thriving abundantly which brings so much hope. From watching baby lambs to harvesting vegetables in the market garden, I have had the experience of being a kid again. With the death of my husband in 2018 from pancreatic cancer, seeds of hope were planted in those years that led me to the TEFJ program. The healing and personal growth that has taken place while in class and with my hands in the dirt are a gift.
The TEFJ program has given me a new perspective in caring for the poor and marginalized. While most are familiar with the command of loving our neighbors as ourselves, this program taught me that creation care is an integral facet of loving our neighbor. Through the lens of regenerative farming, nothing is wasted or disregarded. The respect I have learned about life and death has been integral in my theological and spiritual formation this past year.
Education about creation care in our local communities is vital for change to occur. Churches can lead the charge in educating their congregations. Learning to live locally and sustainably forms relationships that allow our care for creation and care for neighbor to flourish. Experiencing classes at Truett Seminary and the Farm have sparked a new love of learning for me in which I have found hope, healing, and a community I love.