Faith, Earth, and Action
AUGUST 25, 2025
McCormick’s Certificate in Environmental Leadership and Ministry
In collaboration with Faith in Place, McCormick Theological Seminary recently completed the latest offering of our Certificate in Environmental Leadership and Ministry—a program designed to equip faith leaders with practical tools and theological grounding for sustainable, justice-centered ministry.
This interactive, cross-disciplinary program brings together students, clergy, and community partners to explore the sacred connection between faith and the environment. It invites participants to imagine new ways to lead with ecological responsibility, spiritual depth, and bold innovation in their own contexts.
As part of the final project, students engaged in on-the-ground learning and site visits across Chicago to witness real-world examples of environmental ministry in action. Here’s a look at a few inspiring highlights:
🌱 Reimagining Church Kitchens for Economic Empowerment
In Austin and Lawndale, students visited Incubator Kitchens housed within local churches. While many church kitchens sit unused most of the week, these congregations have transformed their spaces into commercial-grade kitchens, compliant with health codes and open to the community.
These incubators are now hubs for:
Culinary and hospitality arts job training programs
Start-up food businesses led by community members
A model of how sacred space can meet local economic need
🥕 Community Gardens as Sacred Practice
Another site visit took students to the Stone Temple Community Peace Heritage Community Garden, located in a neighborhood impacted by food scarcity. Staffed by volunteers from both the congregation and surrounding area, the garden is open-access and free to all.
More than just growing food, the church also hosts:
Gardening and cooking demonstrations
Educational workshops
Opportunities for neighbors to connect and learn together
This is environmental justice as relational ministry—meeting physical needs while cultivating community.
🌼 Freedom Square: An Interfaith Vision for Creation and Justice
The final stop brought participants to Freedom Square in Lawndale, a collaborative project between Stone Temple Baptist Church and a formerly local Jewish congregation.
This vibrant public space includes:
An amphitheater for performance and gathering
A pollinator garden, flower stand, and children’s play area
A bike rental station and an art gallery that features the work of local artists
Open space structures ideal for Jewish Sukkha Festival observance
A pond currently under construction
Together, these features form a space of beauty, memory, and activism — a living symbol of interfaith collaboration and community-led transformation.
The Call to Environmental Ministry
At McCormick, we believe that caring for creation is a sacred act — a vital part of justice-rooted leadership and prophetic ministry. Through the Certificate in Environmental Leadership and Ministry, participants are equipped not only to understand environmental challenges, but to lead transformative change in their own congregations and communities.
Stay tuned for future offerings of the certificate, and learn how you can be part of a growing network of leaders who see the Earth not just as a resource—but as a reflection of divine love and shared responsibility.
To be notified of the next offering, join our Certificate in Environmental Leadership & Ministry Information List.