Brian Frick is the Associate for Camp and Conferences Ministries with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has been involved in camp and conference ministry since high school. For the past ten years, Brian has served as program director of Johnsonburg Center in New Jersey, Westminster Woods in California, and Heartland Center in Missouri.
Camp and conference ministry compliments and partners with other ministry aspects of our church to foster faith development and reflection. As our communities and our church changes, our ministries need to grow and adapt with creative and emergent programming and leadership to meet new realities.
These blogs entries, though varied, are intended to spur thought and conversation around the opportunities and challenges before us.
Here I sit in Kansas City airport. Waiting for a flight to Atlanta for the Big Tent conference. It reminds me every time how big my carbon foot-print has become since taking this position. Already have almost enough air miles on at least two airlines for free flights but can't but wonder how much carbon I'm spewing in my travels.
My dilemma is not unlike that faced by other professionals working jobs that require "face time" and travel but want to care for the earth. With the amount of CO2 I'm creating, I would probably have to replant about 1/2 of the Amazon to offset it - I exaggerate of course! But even if I put my car on blocks, got rid of my heating and electric, and stopped exhaling CO2, I could not make up for it.
What's the alternative? Do I need to travel so much? I do lots through email and phone. Are there more trips I could cut out or more people who are local who I could train to staff exhibits such as the one at Big Tent?
The answer is elusive but I'd love to hear what others think. What others have tried. How others have reduced their reliance on CO2 in transportation.
I'd love to take the train, drive or bike but the time required just doesn't fit into my schedule.
Just musings here but something I think of often.