wfn.org | Oct. 22-23 Toledo Events Focus on Protecting Great Lakes

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

Media Coverage Advisory/For Immediate Release

Oct. 22-3 Toledo Events Focus on Protecting Great Lakes
 
October 5, 2004, Toledo, Ohio -- In response to the growing environmental
threat on waters in the Great Lakes region, the National Council of Churches
USA, in partnership with local faith-based organizations including the Ohio
Council of Churches, has organized a training event in Toledo, Ohio, to help
local church leaders learn how they can help safeguard precious water
resources. 

On Friday, October 22, a reception at Sylvania United Church of Christ will
kick off the Toledo event and include interactive activities and a screening
of the movie "Thirst!," a documentary about water privatization.

Clergy and lay leaders from around the Ohio and Michigan area will attend
"Living Waters," a full-day program at Sylvania United Church of Christ on
Saturday, October 23. The program will begin at 9 a.m. and include basic
information about water issues in the Great Lakes region and how to motivate
and inspire congregations to take action. 

The training, which is based upon a theological framework for understanding
the importance of preserving water resources, includes lunch, workshops,
hands-on demonstration projects, fellowship and a worship service. 
 
"As members of the Christian community we are called to protect God's gift of
water," said Cassandra Carmichael, NCC Director of Eco-Justice Programs,
Washington, D.C. "These training events will help empower clergy and lay
leaders to heed this call to preserve and protect the waters of the Great
Lakes Region."

The NCC's focus on water grew out of a survey conducted in 2003 at NCC's
bi-annual Eco-Justice Conference in Seattle. Overwhelmingly, at a ratio of
2:1, participants in the Seattle conference said the most important
environmental issue for them -- and the one that resonates the most within
their congregations -- is water. The training events were developed to
respond to this congregational need.

There will be on-site registration. For more information about training
events or how to register, contact Cassandra Carmichael at
cassandra@toad.net, 443-822-3720 or download the brochure at
http://www.toad.net/~cassandra/water.htm 

-end-

EDITOR'S NOTE: Media coverage is welcome (registration fees will be waived).
Media contact: Leslie Tune, 202-544-2350 x 11; ltune@ncccusa.org

National Council of Churches
475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
110 Maryland Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20002
www.ncccusa.org