Climate Pastoral Care Course

Faith communities are equipped with their own traditions and tools that can help us face the climate emergency. Learn more about the physical, emotional, mental health, and spiritual impacts of the climate crisis and how to address them through the practice of pastoral care in this new thirteen-module course.

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Course curriculum

1. Welcome
  FREE PREVIEW
2. Acknowledgement of Country
3. Structure of the Course
  FREE PREVIEW
4. About the Authors
5. Disclaimer
6. Bible Use
7. Acknowledgements
8. Investing in Your Learning Journey
9. Foundational Knowledge
1. Part 1: Climate Change and Mental Health
1. Introduction to Module 1: An Introduction to Climate Mental Health Issues
2. The Crisis of Climate Change
3. Climate Change Impacts on Mental Health
4. Case Study: Farmer Suicides in India
5. Review Questions
6. Social Media Task
7. Journal Prompts
8. Recommended Reading
9. Extension Resources
10. References
1. Introduction to Module 2: Pastoral Care for Climate Anxiety
2. What is Climate Anxiety?
3. Pastoral Care for Climate Distress
4. Climate Anxiety as Adaptive
5. Caring For Yourself
6. A Word about Hope
7. Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder
8. When to Refer to Professional Help
9. Case Study 1: "Sophie"
10. Case Study 2: Ash Sanders
11. Review Questions
12. Social Media Task
13. Journal Prompts
14. Recommended Reading
15. Extension Resources
16. References
1. Introduction to Module 3: Pastoral Care for Ecological Grief
2. Bring What You Already Know
3. Reflection Questions
4. Ecological and Climate Grief
5. Solastalgia
6. Case study 1: A Mountaineer
7. Case study 2: Grieving for Snow
8. Case study 3: Drought distress
9. Case study 4: Jessica's Story
10. Review Questions
11. Journal Prompts
12. Social Media Task
13. Recommended Reading
14. Extension Reading
15. References
1. Assignment One: Praying with Ecological/Climate Anxiety and Grief
1. Part 2: Climate Pastoral Care for Key Groups
1. Introduction to Module 4: Race-Conscious Climate Pastoral Care
2. Consequences of Climate Exceptionalism
3. Climate Change: An Imperial Legacy
4. An Intersectional History and Approach
5. Case study: Blood in the Soil
6. Review Questions
7. Social Media Task
8. Journal Prompts
9. Recommended Reading
10. References
1. Introduction to Module 5: Pastoral Care for Peoples of the Land
2. Listening to Indigenous Voices
3. Climate Impacts on Indigenous Peoples
4. Reckoning With History
5. Lifeways, Worldviews, and Relationship to Christianity
6. Considerations for Providing Culturally-Aware Climate Pastoral Care
7. Case study: Water is Life
8. Review Questions
9. Social Media Task
10. Journal Prompts
11. Recommended Reading
12. Extension Resources
13. References
1. Introduction to Module 6: Climate Pastoral Care and Natural Disaster Response
2. Disaster Response
3. Faith Communities and Disasters
4. In the Aftermath
5. Case Study: Creation at the Crossroads
6. Review Questions
7. Social Media Task
8. Journal Prompts
9. Recommended Reading
10. Extension Resources
11. References
1. Introduction to Module 7: Pastoral Care for Climate Migrants
2. Overview of Climate Change and Migration
3. Challenges that Climate Migrants Face
4. Pastoral Care for Climate Migrants
5. Case study 1: Joshua
6. Case study 2: Sarah
7. Review Questions
8. Social Media Task
9. Journal Prompts
10. References
1. Assignment Two: Pastoral Care Plan
1. Introduction to Module 8: Climate Pastoral Care for Climate Activists & Scientists
2. The Nature of the Work
3. How Can We Help?
4. Case Study
5. Review Questions
6. Social Media Task
7. Journal Prompts
8. Recommended Reading
9. References
1. Introduction to Module 9: Children and Climate Pastoral Care
2. Children and Climate Emotions
3. Climate Anxiety in Young People
4. How can Parents and Pastors Help Kids with Climate Anxiety?
5. When to Seek Help
6. Notes for Those Providing Pastoral Care to Young People (Including Children)
7. Pastoral Care for Those Unsure About Having Kids
8. Case Study 1: Young Mum
9. Case Study 2: Australian Pastor (female)
10. Case Study 3: Australian Pastor (male)
11. Case study 4: Young Man
12. Case Study 5: Teenage Girl
13. Case Study 6: Birthstrike
14. Review Questions
15. Social Media Task
16. Journal Prompts
17. A Sunday School Activity
18. Recommended Reading
19. Extension Resources
20. References
1. Part 3: Climate Pastoral Care and the Church
1. Introduction to Module 10: How to be a Good Pastor to Climate Anxious People
2. Introductory Video 1: Rev Radhika Sukumar-White on Climate Pastoral Care in Practice (5:30)
3. Introductory Video 2: Rev Ian Ferguson on Climate Pastoral Care in Practice (4:15)
4. Seven Steps to Being a Good Pastor to Climate Anxious People
5. 1. Address the Isolation
6. Suggested Activity
7. 2. Preach and Pray About Climate Change
8. 3. Be Aware of Climate Mental Health
9. 4. Green Your Church
10. 5. Teach Ecophilic Theology
11. 6. Talk to Young People About Science and Faith
12. 7. Encourage Your Congregation to Spend Time in Nature
13. Three Extra Steps to be a GREAT Pastor to Climate Anxious People
14. Case Study 1: Rev Scott
15. Case Study 2: Anne Lamott
16. Review Questions
17. Social Media Task
18. Journal Prompts
19. Recommended Reading
20. Extension Resources
21. References
1. Assignment Three: Sermon or Public Talk
1. Introduction to Module 11: Climate Denial and Dealing with Congregational Conflict
2. Preaching and Teaching About Climate Change
3. How to Talk About Climate Change
4. Climate Denial
5. Congregational Conflict
6. Case Studies
7. Review Questions
8. Social Media Task
9. Journal Prompts
10. Recommended Reading
11. Extension Resources
12. References
1. Introduction to Module 12: Addressing Unsustainable Theologies
2. Why Theology Matters
3. Unsustainable Theology One: God Will Save the Earth From Climate Change
4. Unsustainable Theology Two: God Will Never Flood the Earth Again
5. Unsustainable Theology Three: Climate Change is a Punishment From God
6. Unsustainable Theology Four: God is Going to Destroy the Earth, so Environmental Destruction Doesn’t Matter
7. Unsustainable Theology Five: Caring for Creation is a Distraction from the Gospel
8. Theological Reflections on Jesus’ Instruction Not to Worry
9. Case Study 1: Pacific Disaster Theology
10. Case Study 2: Global Warming, God and the "End Times" Survey
11. Review Questions
12. Social Media Task
13. Journal Prompts
14. Recommended Reading
15. Extension Resources
16. References
1. Introduction to Module 13: Hope, Agency, and Community
2. Hope
3. Agency and Community
4. Case Study 1: Greta Thunberg
5. Case Study 2: Rachel
6. Review Questions
7. Social Media Task
8. Journal Prompts
9. Recommended Reading
10. Extension Resources
11. References
1. Assignment four: Conversations
1. Introduction to A Hopeful Turn
2. The Mine and the Snow Geese — A Story for our Time
1. Final Reflections on the Course
2. Congratulations!
3. Sending Out
4. Join Our Alumni!
5. Evaluation Survey
1. Appendix 1: Ecotheology Perspectives
2. Appendix 2: List of Helpful Organisations
3. Appendix 3: Rituals of Grief for the Community of Life
4. Appendix 4: Collaborative Climate Pastoral Care Resource List

About this course

$200.00
Thirteen Modules of Exclusive Content
Four Learning Comprehension Assignments
Certificate of Completion

Testimonials

“Congratulations on this terrific piece of work, you have done a great job of distilling literature from many sources to produce a well constructed and thoughtful course.”

Dr. Sally Gillespie

“I think it is marvellous that this resource is being developed and will be accessible to lots of people. Thank you for your passion and vision in helping to develop it, and for asking me to be a small part of it.”

Rev. Elizabeth Raine

“What an amazing amount of research and gathering you did to put this course together. I've done a couple other groups and this has a feel of real expertise and depth.”

Melissa Carlson, student

“I think it is fabulous - Module 8 is wonderful with such great references. I hope it is…well received.”

Carol Ride, Psychology for a Safe Climate

“What wonderful resources! There is SO MUCH here!”

Rev. Dr. Barbara Allen

Course Launch Webinar

Hear from a panel of experts, including Dr. Sally Gillespie, Rev. James Bhagwan, Rev. Doug Kaufman, and Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho. Co-sponsored by Waterspirit and Common Grace.

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