We are engaging ministry in a time of multiple ecological collapses. Some have happened, some are happening in real time, and many other collapses will unfold in the future. Whether we acknowledge these or not, we and those we do ministry with are living with the compounding traumatic wounds of this existential crisis to our souls and communities. Creation was God's first good gift to us, and yet, how are we relating to it? How are our individual and shared spiritual lives and work responses to this foundational gift? Our faith tells us that God acts first in grace-filled love, and we respond. What is the nature of our response?
Drawing from some of the basic practices of regenerative agriculture, Shannan Renee Vance-Ocampo's thoughtful prose explores how to engage in renewing, foundational practices for our spirits as we engage in ministry leadership during ecological collapse. This is not a how-to book on "growing your church" or being saved from the grief, anxiety, and emergencies of today, but an opportunity to go back to the original ecological Story found in the biblical narrative and in theological traditions. Vance-Ocampo skillfully connects these pieces to personal faith formation, illustrating how, together, these interconnected movements can change the reader's larger journey in ecological reconnections and leadership to welcome the transforming movement of the Spirit. Interwoven throughout the book is Vance-Ocampo's own personal ecospiritual storytelling, alongside theological reflections and resources.
