Faith, food, environment and the arts

This week I’m just coming back to work after a couple weeks of vacation in Vancouver. It was a different kind of vacation because I decided to audit a two week theology class at Regent College, on the campus of the University of British Columbia.

I was attracted to Regent for a number of reasons. First, it’s in Vancouver, and Vancouver in July is quite wonderful. Second, Regent brings in a lot of great lecturers and students from all over the world for the summer sessions. Third and most importantly for me, Regent has a great reputation for integrating faith with all aspects of life, including public life and work, which I’ve talked about a lot, but also in all our daily activities, in some ways that did not really occur to me before.

Right from the start it was evident that Regent thrives on building community, among the student body, but also between students, staff and faculty. The importance of building community is something we at CPJ and other faith-based organizations consider to be necessary as part of our faith. Communities are important in order to support, care for and love others as we serve and love God. At Regent this takes place through daily chapel services, public events in the afternoon and evenings and by eating lunch together several times a week.

Sharing a meal provides a wonderful opportunity to get to know people better. Three times a week Regent staff prepare an inexpensive meal using organic foods and mainly locally bought ingredients. The care that goes into each preparation is important for building the community and it really had an impact on me. Not to mention things like supporting local farmers and saving transportation costs and fuel line up with creation care. Until recently, this kind of idea never really crossed my mind.

After lunch we would often continue chatting or walk around the grounds at the college. While sitting outside one afternoon, I noticed the unique windows over the Regent Library below. When I asked one of my friends about them she told me they were solar panels, and the energy collected in them was used to light the library down below. Again, this was something I never really thought about before, but it shows the care and detail that goes into Regent’s design.

Finally, after lunch I sometimes would go upstairs and check out Regent’s own Art Gallery. Art as well as music can be an expression of beauty. The arts are celebrated at Regent, as a demonstration of ability, but more importantly, a way to worship and serve God. Much of the collection at the Regent gallery is an expression of God’s love and sacrifice in Jesus Christ, as well as expressing the beauty of such love. The love of music is also celebrated through various classes and daily chapel services.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend the summer school program.