Emerging Issues

Emerging Issues highlights contemporary actions of the FSPA. This section addresses topical issues where the congregation has recently increased its involvement.

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul revels in the wonder and beauty of the natural world in the following poem. Click here to read poem.

Exploring Ecospirituality

The FSPA ecospirituality committee facilitates the implementation of two parts of the FSPA Direction Statement which focus on the awareness that humans are interconnected with all of creation, that God is the primary course and power within all creation, and that all of creation is sacred and holy.

To learn more about ecospirituality, read these essays.

Villa Gardens: 'Field of Dreams' - by Sister Anita Beskar

Plastics: An Environmental and Health Concern - by Affiliate Mary Ellen Dunford

Corn-based ethanol is not 'green' - by Affiliate Carolyn Klein

Local farmers restore consumer connection to Earth - by Betty Daugherty, FSPA

Organic gardening calls for relationship with nature - by Karen Flottmeier, FSPA

Language of ecospirituality shapes our worldview - Anita Beskar, FSPA, explains the language of "ecospirituality."
Lights done right: Quandry of when to shut off lights answered - Reprinted from the November issue of Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, with permission, explains when turning off lights save energy.

Ecospirituality movement explores options for earth-friendly living - Betty Daugherty, FSPA, describes recent FSPA actions to encourge greater reverence for God's creation.
Diversity reveals manifestations of God – Paulynn Instenes, FSPA, uses contemporary sources to illustrate that understanding our diverse universe helps us to see God. Artwork by 7th grade students from St. Luke School in Plain, Wis., demonstrates the diversity concept.
Ecospirituality of Green Living - Lucy Slinger, FSPA, examines the intersection of spirituality and sustainable living. The 'three R's' of right relationships provide simple questions to provoke a conversion in your life.
Moment of Grace - A personal reflection by Betty Daugherty, FSPA, on whether we have the imagination needed to take care of the Earth.
Ecospirituality: Discovering the spirit in ecology - Earl Madary, affiliate, explores ecology and the creator's love of pizzazz.
Investing in the Earth's Future - The FSPA congregation has begun to generate electricity from their steam plant in a process known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP). With CHP the steam that is created to heat nearby buildings is recycled through a conversion process which produces electricity. The electricity produced is three times more efficient than power created by an electric utility. This means fewer emissions and less pollution.

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