Creation Care Retreat 4.0February 27 - March 1, 2026

Creation Care 4.0 was built on the story of Jesus, who Mary mistook for a Gardener at the empty tomb. “Woman, why are you weeping?” When Jesus’ calls her by name, Mary knows that he is the risen Lord and calls him “Rabbouni” or Teacher. (John 20:11 - 16). As Creator, God is the ultimate Gardener, tending God’s creation and inviting humans to join in stewardship through Creation Care.

Our keynoter was Rev. Clayton Summers, Resident Minister and Caretaker of Walter Scott Camp & Learning Center, the Disciple camp serving the Christian Church in Illinois-Wisconsin. He shared some of the  Creation Care components that have helped reduce long term costs, like energy audit implementation, strategic replacement of energy efficient infrastructure, a 10kW solar array, transitioning from electric power to geothermal heating and cooling, composting and the use of goats to help with ground maintenance. He also helped us think creatively about the currencies we have for implementation that go beyond money, including relationships, truth sharing, time, place, wellness and gracious leadership.  

Participants included more than 56 adults and youth representing 14 Disciples congregations in North Carolina and Virginia, and ranged in age from 12  to 70+.  Some arrived Friday afternoon to tour the Tuscarora landfill, operated by Coastal Environmental Partners (CEP), which serves all of Pamlico, Craven, and Carteret counties, with waste disposal, recycling, and yard waste compost services and products. CEP also donated a truckload of high quality compost that was used to feed and replenish the Camp’s rose beds and raised flower and herb gardens.  Somer Peede, outreach coordinator for CEP and member of Vanceboro Christian Church also spent time helping folks understand what smart waste management looks like and how each of us can play a part.  She talked the talk and walked the walk by offering to come back on Monday to pick up our recycling and any left over oyster shells since the Grantsboro Recycling center was closed on Sunday.

Retreat goers also learned more about Creation Care efforts already in place at Camp Caroline.  The Living Shoreline protects our fragile coastline, and provides critical habitat for aquatic communities.  

Our pollinator garden, “the Bluebird Cafe,” provides critical nourishment for pollinators and birds in what otherwise can be a food desert.  

 Our newly installed bottle filling stations and water fountains in the Lee Building will save an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 plastic bottles annually and prevents plastics from filling our landfills.

The Retreat also provided time for summer camp directors to meet.  With Regional Youth Minister, Rev. Courtney Cartwright, they met to plan for summer camps, considered more deeply how to integrate creation care education and practice, and nature based crafts more fully into camp.  

The day of learning culminated in participants setting goals for implementation of creation care actions in their homes,  congregations and at Camp Caroline.  Among other comments, participants shared that they would:

●      “Help camp directors put together a curriculum that includes composting service learning and creation care.”

●      “Integrate Creation Care into our children’s ministry … and integrate it into the week I am directing camp this summer.”

●      “... work on expanding communication channels around Creation Care.”

●      “Begin taking actions I can personally direct – plant pollinator gardens on my property and improve selection of plants…”

●      …”plan on talking to church about not using as much styrofoam product.”

Before Saturday’s Seafood Feast and musical celebration, retreat participants celebrated the formal recognition of Camp Caroline as a Green Chalice Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In July of 2025 our Regional Assembly confirmed it commitment for Camp Caroline to be a Green Chalice ministry and called “all Disciples to stand together in Christ’s name—studying, planning, and acting with faith—to accomplish these goals, trusting that, by God’s grace, we will embody expanding ways to love God and our neighbors – both human and non- human.”  Creation Care 4.0 is but one way we seek to help congregations and individuals across North Carolina lean in to this calling.

The Creation Care Retreat Planning Team gives special thanks to Bethany Christian Church men (CMF) and women (DWM), and Pastor Rev. Amanda Moore for all they did to make our Seafood Celebration at the Creation Care Retreat an amazing success.  The hauling, steaming, shucking and serving of oysters and shrimp was amazing! 

The wonderful breads, salads, dessert, hot dogs, sides and more provided nourishment and joy for the more than 50 people who enjoyed the meal, including our musicians from the Dynamic Gospel Blenders who had to cut their meal short and took some home after their concert.   Their Clean Team was a dream and even repurposed the oyster shells.   The seafood celebration for the Retreat was only possible by the generous donation of time and resources by the good folks of Bethany Christian Church.

We give glory and thanks to God for the wonders of creation and the gift of his son, Jesus Christ. We also give thanks to the Christian Church in North Carolina, the Carawan/Horne Fund, and the NC Green Chalice congregations whose financial and in-kind support allowed us to offer the event at no charge to Regional Leaders and participants under 40, and at a low cost to all participants. Special thanks also to our keynoter, Rev. Clayton Summers, our worship leader, Rev. Natalie Chamberlin, our youth leader, Josie Ragland, our group facilitator Jasmia Small-Jarrett, Bishop Rev. Valerie Melvin (Regional Minister), Rev. Courtney Cartwright (Associate Regional Minister), Leslie Hanning (Camp Manager), and our Creation Care Team, Rev. Annell George-McLawhorn, Rev. Penny Ziemer, Rev. Beth Burton-Williams, Rev. Jamie Haddock, Rev. Phil Jones and Cathy Cralle Jones.