Seminary for a Day – First Unitarian Portland
Last weekend, Rev. Sofia Betancourt, Assistant Professor of Unitarian Universalist Theologies & Ethics, gave the keynote address at First Unitarian Portland’s Seminary for a Day on Saturday, January 26. Her keynote, titled “From Liberal to Liberation: A Theological Response to Climate Disruption,” took on some large, interconnected questions on liberal theology, liberation theology, and earth justice, such as:
- How are we called to reengage the largest questions of our living in the service of liberation?
- How do we discuss and invite others into faith work that can sustain and galvanize us in the face of collective moral questioning, allowing us to invest in greater justice in our world?
During her address, she discussed common binaries that come up when talking about oppression. These binaries exist all around us. When searching for some of these harder to find dualities, she quotes environmental philosopher Val Plumwood: “look for anything that is described as inherently better than something else as a red flag for logics of domination.”
Rev. Betancourt also held an afternoon workshop titled “Ecowomanism and Earth Justice.” This workshop explored Ecowomanism, environmental knowledge drawn from the lived experiences of women from the African diaspora. Through a wide variety of voices including those of activists, scholars, and grassroots organizers, workshop participants engaged what this approach asks in terms of earth justice and environmental degradation and explored how we might integrate such wisdom into the wider environmental canon.
On Sunday, January 27, Rev. Betancourt performed a joint worship service with SKSM grad and First Unitarian Portland minister Rev. Bill Sinkford.
Click here for the full keynote address.
Click here for the Q&A time with Rev. Sofia Betancourt.
For more photos from Seminary for a Day and Sunday service, check out our Facebook album.
