Green and Fair Chapel

“The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.”
—Pope Francis, Laudato Si, 2015, Chapter XIII

Duke Chapel seeks to live out its mission in a way that is ecologically sustainable and theologically just, as a Green and Fair Chapel.

*** See below a listing of events for the Green and Fair Chapel Day on April 6, 2017 ***

Green
Our common home is a gift from God, our Creator. Good environmental stewardship is one way we can enact Jesus’ commands to pursue righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and to be known for our love (John 13:35). Loving stewardship of creation means an awareness of our impact on the environment and a radical commitment to live in a way that protects our shared inheritance.

Fair
The consistent testimony of Scripture is that we worship the God of perfect justice, who condemns oppression of the poor (Proverbs 14:31), and calls us to walk in the ways of righteousness and mercy (Micah 6:8). Modern trade practices often exploit the world’s poorest communities, who are also those most likely to be affected by climate change. A Gospel-oriented worldview sees economic justice for the poor as essential.

Chapel
Being a Green and Fair Chapel aligns with the values described in the Chapel’s Strategic Plan and its mission of bridging faith and learning. It is also consistent with making a priority of collaborating with the wider Duke and Durham communities. We have faith that as we learn of God’s goodness to us, so will we desire to work together to celebrate our common life and bring God’s Kingdom closer in this place.

GREEN AND FAIR CHAPEL DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
All events take place in, or front of, the Chapel
This day of events is a certified Duke Green Event, which means carbon used in putting on the event will be offset by the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative.

April 5
8 p.m.—‘Before the Flood’ Documentary Screening
The screening of Leonardo DiCaprio’s recent film Before the Flood lays out some of the environmental challenges we face in a visual way.

April 6
9-11 a.m.—Green and Fair Chapel Fair
This fair offers free Fair‐Trade hospitality on the Chapel Quad and an opportunity for campus partners and local businesses to promote green/ethical goods and policies. This is part of the Chapel’s drive to be awarded status as a Fair Trade Congregation.

12:30‐1:30 p.m.—Bridge Panel Conversation on Facing the Flood: Faith and Action for the Rising Generation
This Bridge Panel public conversation explores how different disciplines can work together for the same environmental goals during a time of political challenge. The role of faith will be one aspect of our discussion, including the deeper religious or philosophical beliefs that help guide the panelists’ work. Moderated by the Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery, dean of Duke Chapel, the panel includes:

• Ms. Lena Connor, senior MDiv student, chair of Creation Matters at Duke Divinity School
• Dr. Saskia Cornes: farm and program manager at Duke Farm
• Dr. Brian Murray: director of the Environmental Economics Program at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and interim director of the Duke University Energy Initiative
• Dr. Norman Wirzba, professor of theology, ecology, and agrarian studies at Duke Divinity School; senior fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics

This event will be webcast live on the Chapel's YouTube channel.

2:30-3:30 p.m.—Eucharist with Creation Care Theme
A hopeful way to end the Chapel’s Green and Fair Chapel Day that celebrates God’s creation and our work in partnering to steward it well.