ST. LOUIS – The Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) luncheon and annual awards took place June 19, led by recently elected Moderator Dennis Testerman, with Jimmie Hawkins as guest speaker. The event quickly became a deep discussion on the environment of the church, and its relationship with the rest of the world.
After a brief “hello” from co-moderator Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Testerman commenced the luncheon with an excerpt from a Jean Vanier book, “Community and Growth”:
“A wedding is one of the great celebrations. It is a time when all that is most divine seems to meet all that is most human in joy… but there is always an element of sadness in celebration. We cannot celebrate without alluding to it, because there are people on this Earth of ours who are not celebrating, who are despairing, anguished, starving, and mourning. That is why all celebration, which is like a great ‘Alleluia’ and song of thanksgiving, should end with a silence in which we remember before God all those who cannot celebrate and who are in pain today.”
Sue Smith, vice-moderator of PEC, introduced Jimmie Hawkins, the director of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness. Hawkins was a recent prisoner of the Metropolitan Police Department after being arrested outside the U.S. Supreme Court building for demonstrating as part of the Poor People’s Campaign.
Hawkins stressed that Presbyterians need to “reclaim the way to be Christian. … America’s heart needs to be softened.” He said that the church must hold off on drawing people into the sanctuary, but rather take the sanctuary to the streets. “The church believes in justice, but then does not promote advocacy … love them where they are because you can’t leave them where they are,” he said. He did note, however, that he’s become aware of a new energy in the church, inspiring people, especially the youth, to become involved in social justice issues.
Hawkins insisted that “we’ve got to get back to the biblical Jesus.” He recalled a minister he’d seen at a recent March for Our Lives rally: “He had his robe on, his collar and his stole. And he walked throughout the crowd, holding a peace sign, talking about love with a smile on his face.” Hawkins then witnessed a woman stopping the minister and thanking him for his presence. Hawkins went on: “We are disciples of Jesus. We are not disciples of John Calvin. I love John Calvin, but we are disciples of Jesus.” He closee like a teacher asking his pupils to complete his sentence: “So. We are going to be nice Presbyterian … radicals.”
The William Gibson Eco-Justice award (which recognizes individuals with laudable environmental efforts based on faith) went to Pam McVety, who has worked on the restoration of the Florida Everglades, and was named as “one of four most important 20th century female environmental leaders in government in Florida.” She hails from First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida, where she transformed her congregation to be carbon neutral, so that “they get 100 percent of their energy needs from the sun.” Her pastor sent in a rave of a letter of recommendation, stating, “She is devastating – in the nicest Christian way.” McVety was electric in her acceptance speech, displaying her zeal in proclaiming “when the synapses stop connecting, I’ll be done.”
The Restoring Creation Award, which goes to religious organizations involved in outstanding environmental work, went to Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC) and was received by Ken Covacs, their representative. IPC endeavors to unite congregations and communities in keeping the Chesapeake Bay Watershed’s soil bountiful and water crystalline.
The Emerging Earth Care Leader award, available only to people ages 18-30, honors those who display extraordinary promise as pavers into the future. Sarah Ogletree, although not present due to a school-related Trail of Tears tour, was awarded. Jane Laping, coordinator for PEC, described a passionate and dedicated young woman who has an uncanny ability to “verbalize her love for creation and make that connection with faith.”
by Devin McCormick
