When the leaders of the Caring for Creation Conference decided to stop holding the event at Lake Junaluska, a Methodist conference and retreat center in western North Carolina, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Buckhead decided it would take on hosting it.
The conference, scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, will include tours of the Atlanta Beltline, talks on green building, the Gippy Awards, workshops on sustainability and worship services. Christian environmental advocates Matthew and Nancy Sleeth are the keynote speakers.
“Peachtree Road recognizes the importance of caring for the Earth as part of our call as people of faith,” said the Rev. Leslie Watkins, an associate minister at the church. “We actually have taken the Earth as one of our mission fields. It’s an easy bridge. We also have a nice facility we have access to and have good hotels and restaurants nearby.”
Organizers of the conference are expecting at least 50 to attend. In addition to the Beltline tours, only two other events will take place off the church’s campus. The Gippy Awards ceremony will be at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta in Midtown. The honors are a play on words for GIPL, which stands for Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, a Decatur-based nonprofit that helps houses of worship become more environmentally friendly and honors people and houses of worship that are stewards of creation.
