"Ecology, Theology and Feminism: In Conjunction or in Conflict"

WHEN: Thursday, April, 1998 at 8:00 PM.
WHERE: Peterson Hall at UCSD.

The speaker is Joan Chittister, OSB.

Joan Chittister is a Benedictine—from that historical 1500 year old monastic tradition. Joan Chittister is also a woman with a powerful voice and an urgent agenda for this century and our troubled times in the church. Unafraid to challenge, unafraid to share her vision, unafraid to urge on the faint-hearted, she charges her listeners to be not just Gospel consumers, but Gospel producers. A scholar, a poet, uniquely individual, and yet completely member of her religious community, historically rooted and beyond "current," she is a woman of vision in the tradition of her name-sake and all the prophetic women and men who led people and formed church over the centuries.

If weary of the pallid spiritual searches that abound tday and offer only a New Age romp, then it is time to allow Chittister to rip open your horizons and expose you to a vision in which you must take up your own role. If the church is really "one, holy, catholic and apostolic," then she insists that this tradition and vision be united with integrity.

Chittister speaks and writes as a spokeswoman for and to religious orders; she has spoken for Call to Action, written as a columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, and attended the Fourth UN Conference on Women in Beijing speaking with women of the world on human rights, on responsible control ove rmatters related to woman's sexuality, on issues of poverty and property, education for girls and women everywhere, economic independence for women, protection of refugees, reforms to save the environment from the ravages of mismanagement and abuse. She speaks with "a voice of compassion and a certain controlled rage against indolence."

But she also has a charm. She tells us the truths we need to hear with story, humor, literature and scripture. She speaks from her lifelong integration of faith, scholarship, work and prayer.

Chittister works on the premise that what we do or fail to do about ecology depends on what we think about ourselves and relate to what is around us. How can, in fact, theology, ecology and feminism finally inform each other? This lecture challenges feminism to seek a true partnership with care of the earth, a balance of its gifts, and an integrity of relationships.

No one comes away from this woman without being spiritually and politicallly rearranged. Joan Chittister is a woman to be reckoned with.

A Benedictine of Erie, Pennsylvania and formerly its Prioress Executive Director of Benetvision: A Resource and Research Center for Contemporary Spirituality. Widely published and noted nationally and internationally as a lecturer. A social psychologist, communications theorist and teacher on all educational levels She holds a doctorate in speech communications theory from Penn State University and has been recognized by several universities and national organizations for her work for justice, peace and equality for women in church and society. She is an elected fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University

Her books include:

For further information call Pat Buczaczer, 452-0285

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