Religious traditions often speak of the rhythms of agricultural life along with the rhythms of faithful life. Sacred teachings carry a long history of understanding the food that comes from the earth as a gift from a benevolent creator. As we enter into an era of a changing climate, we face important questions: how will our crops perform in an altered climate? How can we produce food in ways that protect the health of the earth? What is the role of faith communities as our climate shifts? Join us to learn how our religious traditions can help to point us in the right direction.

This conference will bring together people of faith from diverse backgrounds in Nebraska to consider the connections between faith and farming in the face of our changing climate. Our keynote speaker is Doug Dittman, farmer at Branched Oak Farms, owner the new Hub Café in Lincoln and Soto Zen practitioner. He will speak about how his religious perspectives have informed his care for the land, and vice versa. Attendees from all faith backgrounds are welcome, as our goal is to encourage mutual learning, support and understanding.

A catered, zero-waste lunch from The Hub Café will be included, giving attendees the chance to interact with one another and to build new relationships for future collaboration. The day will conclude with a closing plenary session to articulate the day’s themes and to highlight ongoing efforts in which people will be invited to participate.

Schedule:

8:30-9:00am Registration

9:00-9:15 Welcome - Rev. Kim Morrow

9:15-10:15 Keynote Address- Doug Dittman

10:15-10:30 Break (with refreshments)

10:30-11:20 Breakout Session 1

1. Sustainable Agriculture in Nebraska - William Powers, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society

2. Talking about Climate Change in Your Congregation - Rev. Kim Morrow, Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light

3. Climate Change Impacts to Nebraska - Bryce Anderson, Senior Ag Meteorologist, The Progressive Farmer

4. Renewable Energy Solutions on Nebraska Farms - John Hansen, Nebraska Farmer’s Union

11:20-11:30 Switch Rooms

11:30-12:20 Breakout Session 2

1. Religious Foundations for Healthy Stewardship of the Land  - Rev. Bonnie McCord, Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light

2. Supporting a Local Foodshed - Tim Rinne, Nebraskans for Peace 

3. Carbon Sequestration through Soils - Dr. Humberto Blanco, Associate Professor of Soil Science, UNL

4. Understanding the Bee Pollinator Crisis - Dr. Doug Golick, Assistant Professor of Entomology, UNL  

12:20-1:30 Lunch & Legislative Update

1:30-2:30 Closing Plenary with Doug Dittman and Rev. Kim Morrow

Co-sponsors include:

• the United Methodist Peace with Justice group
• the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ
• Nebraska Sierra Club
• Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society
• Nebraska Farmer's Union
• Center for Rural Affairs
• Nebraskans for Peace
• Nebraska League of Conservation Voters

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kim Morrow at kim@nebraskaipl.org.

Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light is a non-partisan, non-sectarian organization that seeks to facilitate the faith community’s response to climate change through education, programs and advocacy. We are part of the national Interfaith Power & Light network.