| Tangier Island: A Case Study of the Application of Stewardship and Ecology
Objective:
To study what happens when the Truth of Scripture is combined with ecological principles to influence
human attitudes and actions toward God, neighbor, and the Creation.
References:
Link to Summary Article -- Emmerich, Susan Drake. 2000. Praxis of the Kingdom: Bible-Grounded Environmental Stewardship as a Ministry of Reconciliation. Creation Care 11: 4-9, 15.
Ancillary Sources: The following documents, some of which are referenced in the "Summary Article" above, provide more detailed background material on the Tangier Island case and the Covenants developed by the men and women. You may wish to print them for your notes: 1. Summary of Tangier Waterman's Stewardship of the Chesapeake (TaSC) 2. History of TaSC 3. The Watermen's Stewardship Covenant 4. Women's Stewardship Pledge and Covenant (Inspired by Testimony of the Men) 5. Fishing in Living Waters -- Partnership between Watermen and Mainland Farmers 6. Short Position Paper on Reconciliation (J.E. Silvius)
Discussion Questions:
1. Thesis: (Note: Present your preliminary answers to parts a. - d., then expand after reading article.) a. What (do you think) is included within the sphere of "God's Kingdom?" According to Susan
Drake Emmerich's interpretation of Scripture, what is included in this sphere? a. What (do you think) is included within the sphere of "God's Kingdom?" According to Susan
Drake Emmerich's interpretation of Scripture, what is included in this sphere? b. In what sense does if follow that Christians are to be ministers of reconciliation in conflicts between
"environmentalists" and local resource-dependent communities?
c. To what extent if any does this definition of Christian reconciliation set a broader agenda than the
.................agenda which is currently being addressed by Christ's followers in the present dispensation?
d. What relationships were renewed as a basis for true biblical reconciliation on Tangier Island?
2. Describe the ecological, religious, and political factors that greeted the author when she began her
doctoral research on the island, in 1997?
3. What are the primary causes of conflict which Susan Drake Emmerich identified?
4. Outline the steps that were taken to bring reconciliation between the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and
the watermen. | 