Let’s Talk! EcoActivist conversations with Paul Santmire.

Paul talks with Lisa E. Dahill, the Miriam Therese Winter Chair for Transformative Leadership and Spirituality, Director of the Center for Transformative Spirituality at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. They discuss the vulnerability of getting barefoot in the Eucharist, poetic gifts in the paw prints of bears, and viewing Bonhoeffer through an ecological lens.

In this episode, Paul talks with Pastor Panu Pihkala. Panu shares a grounded and centered theology of hope through meaning, and when prompted offers advice to Pastors and parents about how to help parishioners and children alike deal with eco-anxiety, or "climate anxiety."

Kiara Jorgenson, Assistant Professor of Religion and Environmental Studies; Director of Environmental Conversation at St. Olaf College joins Paul in the latest “Let’s Talk!” conversation. They discuss the importance of place-based vocations, the essential value of relationships, expanding intersectional backgrounds of students, Christian mystics, attention, joy, climate anxiety, deconstructing evangelical Christianity, Jürgen Moltmann, Joanna Macy’s The Work that Reconnects Us, Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights, H. Richard Niebuhr’s Responsibility Ethic, Erik Erikson, Wesley Wildman, panentheism, and paradox.

In this Let's Talk (the youtube series), Paul talks with author, educator, and environmentalist Bill McKibben. Referencing McKibben's latest book, "The Flag, The Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at his Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened", they discuss McKibben's personal roots and his entry into the world of activism, concluding with solid, even inspired, advice for mainline Protestant churches.

Simon Halkano, a graduate of the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary's Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith program, shares with Paul about his work with youth in his church, the tree planting initiative he leads, as well as the concept of ubuntu and its role in bringing ecotheology to his community.

Professor Amy Carr, Lutheran theologian, acting in this recording as a theological journalist, interviews ELCA elder, Paul Santmire. This video is well suited for faith-led ecoactivists not familiar with Paul's writings, as well as those who are curious to learn more about his theological thinkings. The conversation flows from Paul's background learning with Paul Tillich, talking with Karl Barth, considerations of gnosticism, nature theology, gospel and law theology, and how Christians and other people of faith are uniquely positioned to address the climate crisis. Many thanks to Professor Carr for her curiosity and her time!

In this recording, Paul Santmire talks with Phoebe Morad of Lutherans Restoring Creation and the Center for Climate Justice and Faith about ecojustice activities among the Lutheran grassroots.
Executive Director of Lutherans Restoring Creation https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/
Coordinator of Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith at the Center for Climate Justice and Faith https://centerforclimatejusticeandfaith.org/

In this "Let's Talk!" Paul Santmire connects with the Reverend Shede Habila, Pastor at the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (West Africa) about the challenges he faces, what it is like *living* liberation theology, and how he finds support.
The Reverend Shede Habila is also a young climate justice activist who recently completed a Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith (virtual) at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary; in that program, he drafted a sacred action project entitled, "Climate Action and Mitigation, Sustainability Initiatives.”
One of the biggest challenges he faces is the funding to actualize the project. He seeks funding opportunities and donors to support his work. Please contact him shedehabila1122@gmail.com with any questions or leads for funding support.

Theologian-activist (Paul Santmire) meets pastoral activist (Pr. Nancy Wright), both committed to ecological justice. Listen to the conversation... hear about water -- and a steel plant...