Franciscan Peace Center Hosts Webinar on Urban Ecospirituality with Dr. Rachel Wheeler

The Franciscan Peace Center is hosting a special webinar titled “Faith in Transition: Engaging Francis' Life for an Urban Ecospirituality” on October 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM CDT. This virtual event, held via Zoom, coincides with the Feast of St. Francis and explores the concept of urban ecospirituality. Dr. Rachel Wheeler, Associate Professor of Spirituality at the University of Portland, will present and facilitate a discussion on how the teachings and life of St. Francis of Assisi can inspire a renewed ecospirituality for urban living. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

As more than half of the global population now resides in cities—a number expected to grow throughout the 21st century—the need for a healthy ecospirituality is more critical than ever. Dr. Wheeler's presentation will draw on the transition town movement and less well-known stories from St. Francis' life to develop an urban ecospirituality that fosters creativity, compassion, and sustainability within urban environments.

Dr. Wheeler is the author of three books, including Desert Daughters, Desert Sons: Rethinking the Christian Desert Tradition, and Ecospirituality: An Introduction. Her latest book, Radical Kinship: A Christian Ecospirituality, will be released on September 24.

The newest book addressed these questions: What does it mean to live in harmony with all of God's creation? How might our spiritual practice contribute to the healing of this place we call home, and to our own healing along the way?

Rachel Wheeler offers compelling testimony for the value--and the life-giving power--of "rewilding."  The book provides readers with both theoretical foundations for understanding a rewilded Christian spirituality for the twenty-first century and practical strategies for rewilding our own lives.  The frameworks she constructs bring Christian spiritual tradition back to its deepest foundations not only as a product of human culture but as one shaped in large part by Christians in relationship with other-than-human members of the Earth community.

The event is co-sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network, the Sisters of St. Francis (Dubuque, Iowa), the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Charity BVM Leadership Team, and the Sisters of St. Francis (Rochester, Minnesota). It is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Interested participants can register at the following link: Register Here.

The Franciscan Peace Center, established by the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, provides meaningful programming that addresses systemic issues integrating spirituality with the mission of promoting nonviolence and advocating for social justice, including immigration reform and human rights. For more information, please visit: www.ClintonFranciscans.com