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Center Supporters Called to Care for Creation
All those experiences, plus considerable reading on the matter, contributed to his belief that humans are called to care for creation. “I know in the gospel of Matthew it talks about caring for the lonely and the poor and those in prison,” he says. “I always believed that someday he was going to say, ‘Did you care for my beaches, my trees, my environment?’” When Battles and his wife, Ruth, moved to Salisbury two years ago, he decided to support the efforts of the Center for the Environment. “It has given me a chance to do something concrete with John (Wear) and the staff,” he says. He was deeply involved in the recent conference on Faith, Spirituality and Environmental Stewardship. “My sense is that that conference tapped into a need that I think can grow,” he says. “I think it will open the door to many more forays into the world of creation care.” A Meaningful Cause Joyce Goodwin, retired professor, and her husband, Joel, a retired physician, have been concerned about environmental issues for some time. They know the importance of making wise decisions now so future generations can enjoy the quality of life they deserve. The Goodwins have been involved in the activities of the Center for the Environment for years. The lectures have been of particular interest to them, and they have offered their gifts of time and money to ensure that the Center has successful fund-raising events. Both are active in the planning and orchestration of the Ugly Bug Ball. “It’s great fun,” Joyce says, “and you feel that you’re doing something meaningful when you spend time working for this cause.” Joel Goodwin’s family has placed a priority on the environment for years. His daughter was in charge of recycling for her sorority at UNC-Chapel Hill before serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger and entering medical school. “You see people like the Stanbacks who are living examples for us,” Joel says. (Fred, Alice and the late Elizabeth Stanback are longtime benefactors of the Center for the Environment and other environmental causes.) “They are outstanding individuals, and you can’t help but fall behind the leader.” The Goodwins see evidence of the Center’s influence even in the city government’s choice of environmentally friendly vehicles. “A lot of good things are happening here and we’re excited about being a part of it,” Joyce says. Forward-thinking Organization
Rankin’s volunteer efforts have concentrated in the area of land conservation with the Piedmont Land Conservancy for a number of years. It was through this work that she was introduced to the Center for the Environment. “These are organizations that I will remain connected to as long as I am able in order to do my part to support a sustainable community,” she says. “I am grateful that they have been established here by forward-thinking leaders in the Piedmont.” Impressive Educational Tool Susan Smith, Center for the Environment volunteer, first became acquainted with the Center during an Earth Day celebration. Drawn to the sustainable building tucked away in the college campus, she learned just how important it was as an educational tool when she and her husband, Hayes, became more involved with Center activities. “It is important because it offers education not only to Catawba College students but to our community and beyond,” she says. “It hosts speakers, on a variety of topics, in the evening when more people are able to attend.” She was particularly impressed with the recent conference on Faith, Spirituality and Environmental Stewardship because it reached scores of people who might not have attended a purely environmental forum. “The conference speakers encouraged us to be good stewards and gave us practical tips that we can implement in our homes, workplaces and places of worship,” she says. |
The Rev. Dr. Robert Battles’ interest in the environment started back in the ‘60s when he was a young pastor in Bridgehampton, New York. He and others were concerned about beach erosion and ground-water pollution by pesticides and herbicides. “During that time I had funeral services for two babies under two years of age who lived in the midst of farmlands where the sprays probably contributed to their demise by cancer,” he says.
Missy Rankin, immediate past president of the Piedmont Land Conservancy Board of Directors, feels that North Carolinians are fortunate that the Center for the Environment is in the state. “As we face increasing challenges to the health of our communities, we must have organizations we can turn to for leadership in solving unprecedented environmental problems,” she says. “This is a global issue that needs local answers, and the Center for the Environment will continue to offer up those answers. We all benefit greatly from its efforts to educate us.”