On February 19, 2007, “TheoEcology” began to come to life, a singular moment in the great arc of time . “TheoEcology” will emerge from many sources. It is forever organic and dynamic, a never-ending process which includes us all.

Dr. Cornel West emphatically calls everyone, individually and collectively, to what he proclaims better than anybody -- DI-A-LOGUE! Dr. West also reminds us of our responsibility to stay true to our deep and vital “prophetic” tradition...focused on “The Least of These.”

The ITC has the opportunity to participate in a creating a beautiful new “dance”, demanding intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence of ourselves, engaging in a “give-and-take” with each new synthesis nourishing the next. We will wrestle with the discomforts of disagreeing. We will rejoice in discovery. And we will move forward together, uplifted and sustained in the spirit we have nurtured here for almost 50 years ...welcoming the world, one person at a time.

On March 9 and 10, and March 30-31, 2007, the ITC's planning grant made possible for the ITC to host two “charettes” with world-class leaders gathering on the campus from across the country, crossing disciplines and national borders. ITC's Provost, Dr. Wimberly, defines a charette in our context as, “an imaginative, creative, and brainstorming process of key thinkers from inside and outside of ITC, fleshing out a detailed design for approaching ‘TheoEcology'.”

Everything the ITC did with the two inaugural charettes was to be guided by ITC's Ninth Strategic Goal. Participants interacted with ideas already bubbling up from across the institution, including those generated February 19 and going forward. Visiting participants included philosophers, theologians, scientists and academics who would work together closely with members of The ITC community.

On March 9 and 10, we will grapple with the challenge to take a beautiful neologism – “TheoEcology” -- and instantiate it. What does “TheoEcology” MEAN? How do we embed that meaning across the curriculum, into our lives, across our institutional relationships? How do we make sure it is rigorous and flexible and open enough to enable “the least of these” to lead us ? Assure that it encourages learning and laughter and joy along the way to the new Eden that this world so desperately needs?

March 30 and 31, we welcomed a rich assortment of environmentalists, churchpeople, scholars and practitioners. We focused on “TheoEcology” physically. We built from what we already have done and learned, went as far as our imaginations could take us in thinking about buildings and gardens, open spaces and open communities, our need for nutritious food and clean air and minimal uses of energy, respectful uses of water and plenty of sleep? These are all stewardship issues. And not one of them is static. In short, how do we “get it right”... right here.

Both charettes included a reception -- open for everyone to come meet and greet and interact with our distinguished guests, both Friday evenings, from 5:30 to 7:00, in the Costen Center on campus.

Finally, we are at the headwaters of many streams which will come together as a mighty river. One of them gives me particular pleasure. Our Lead Team envisioned a ‘TheoEcology' Resource Center ” here on campus. We have in hand our very first contribution to that Resource Center -- four deeply relevant volumes -- given in memory of Douglas Shaw. Before his untimely death, Doug vigorously challenged destructive land use practices in his hometown, and won.

“TheoEcology” is for all people -- especially “the Least of These” whom Jesus of Nazareth loved so well. It can provide humanity with the strength and wherewithal to follow the West African Proverb, I first heard from one of my heroes, John Lewis — “When you pray, move your feet.”  The path to a new Eden is ours to create at The ITC, in the heart of the Atlanta University Center , in the heart of Atlanta , GA , home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners. It will emerge not from Harvard, not from Princeton or Yale, not from Chicago . It will be a magnet to the world from the Interdenominational Theological Center – the ITC -- the home of “TheoEcology”.