You may not know the Rev. Jerry Cappel’s name, but if your parish has been using the diocesan vestry devotionals or the creation-focused prayers for Advent, you know his work and ministry.
Cappel is the director of The Center for Deep Green Faith, whose offerings blend study (biblical and otherwise) with contemplative practice to deepen people’s faith and commitment to living responsibly on the earth. The organization is currently working with the diocese’s Creation Care and Environmental Justice Commission and with other dioceses across the church.
“Deep Green Faith is about formation: how can churches be educators of a green faith?” Cappel said. In Southern Ohio, the center has helped lead a year of seasonal worship and provided teaching resources, building on the commission’s work. Resources for Epiphany and Lent are soon to follow, and, after these worship resources, prayers and class materials are piloted in the diocese, a full set of materials for the liturgical year are planned for summer 2023.
“Many people want to work toward increasing the number of recycling bins available. For me, it’s more important to change the way we pray first,” Cappel said.
“An outdoor kid,” by his own description, Cappel began college as a wildlife biology major, switching to religion partway through. “I always felt bifurcated, with one foot in the created world and one foot in the church,” he said. That ability to walk both paths has formed his priesthood.
In his role as environmental coordinator for Province IV, which comprises dioceses in the southeastern United States, Cappel synthesizes the work being done at the Center for Religion and Environment at the University of the South (Sewanee) and its School of Theology with the efforts of local congregations and individuals.
“Faith empowers rather than hinders,” Cappel said. “This is not just activism: it is as much about faith as environment. We must see the disease within faith as well as environment – one helps heal the other, balancing attention on needs of creation and needs of faith. This is mutual, reciprocal work.”
Cappel and Catherine Duffy, cochair of the diocesan commission, lead a monthly meeting of network members from Provinces IV and V which is open to anyone. Links to a newsletter and more information about the work of the environmental network for Province V are available on the website: provincev.org/creation.
