The one-woman show, produced and performed by Tevyn East, is touring faith communities and institutions of higher learning across the United States in 2011. Written in collaboration with Ched Myers, renowned biblical scholar and teacher, this show is about the interconnection of faith, ecology, and the global economy.

Weaving biblical and personal narrative, dance, song, music, and a touch of economic theory, “Leaps and Bounds” wrestles with the driving factors of our ecological crisis while awakening the imagination to a new way of living with and relating to Earth.

With foot-stomping songs, playful humor, daring dance sequences and vulnerable honesty, this show will draw the audience along a compelling journey, ultimately articulating a feeling of hope.

The daughter of two Presbyterian (USA) ministers, Tevyn East has spent most of her adult life developing original works of dance theater as well as teaching dance, organizing workshops and other cultural events in Charlottesville. While she appears on the stage alone, “Leaps and Bounds” is the result of a collaboration among many talented individuals.

East conceived of “Leaps and Bounds” while working with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, an organization addressing the root causes of injustice, accompanying the vulnerable and marginalized and speaking truth to power in the heart of the United States capitol.

A full list of collaborators, themes and project resources is available at www.affordinghopeproject.org. Resource material about sustainable alternatives and faith-based initiatives are made available at each show.

Admission is free; a free-will offering will be taken.

For more information, call 540-432-4360; email: theater@emu.edu.

Willis Jenkins, assistant professor of social ethics at Yale Divinity School

Willis Jenkins, assistant professor of social ethics at Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., will speak on “Environmental Ethics and Christian Theology,” 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 in the Suter Science Center auditorium.

Dr. Shelly L. Thomas, assistant professor of biology at EMU, and Dr. Kenton K. Brubaker, professor emeritus of biology at EMU, will respond to Jenkins’ presentation.

Jenkins received a BA degree from Wheaton (Ill.) College and MA and PhD degrees from the University of Virginia. His research focuses on environmental ethics, religion and sustainable development, and moral theologies. He has taught at UVa. and at a rural campus of Uganda Christian University.

Jenkins has significant international experience in community development initiatives, was co-founder of the Episcopal Young Adult Service Corps, and served on the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on World Mission, 2000 to 2006.

He has published articles in the Journal of Religion, Environmental Ethics, Anglican Theological Review, Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion and the Journal of Lutheran Ethics.

“Our speaker will describe several major problems in environmental ethics, some of the ways that theological traditions approach those problems and how traditions may be changing in this contemporary encounter of faith and sustainability,” said Roman J. Miller, Suter Endowed Professor of Biology at EMU.

The seminar, co-sponsored by the Shenandoah Anabaptist Scientific Society, is open to the public free of charge. Refreshments will be served 15 minutes prior to the presentation.

For more information, contact Dr. Miller, 540-432-4412 or email millerrj@emu.edu.

Matt Frei, chief Washington, D.C., correspondent for the BBC, interviewed President Loren Swartzendruber on creation care from an Anabaptist perspective for a BBC production about Christian response to global warming; the program will be aired internationally later this month.

It’s a hot topic generating heated debate.

EMU President Loren Swartzendruber added to the conversation with a message on global warming and the care of God’s creation, Friday morning, Apr. 13.

, which followed the regular chapel service in Lehman Auditorium, were recorded by Matt Frei, chief Washington, D.C., correspondent for the London-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The event opened with the singing of an a cappella hymn, “God of the Fertile Fields” (Brethren-Mennonite Hymnal #360).

Swartzendruber believes the BBC contacted him because he was among 86 Christian leaders who signed a statement concerning this issue.

“Some Christian leaders have made public statements suggesting global warming is not a reality or is a hoax/conspiracy and the BBC wants to compare responses of various Christian leaders/groups,” the president said.

‘a Theological Issue’

“I believe this is a scientific and theological/moral issue,” the president said. “We are called to be good stewards of God’s creation, and we are invited to make every effort to reduce the impact of our lifestyle choices on this phenomenon for the sake of the entire world and our future children/grandchildren.

“The projections from many leading scientists are currently quite dire, particularly for the poorest populations in the world,” Swartzendruber said.

“A report from the (IPCC) says, with at least 90 percent certainty, that global warning is man-made and will ‘continue for centuries’ – unless we take actions to slow or reverse the trend.”

“What have we lost if we make changes now for a cleaner environment, even if we should ultimately learn that the projections have been made in error?” the president stated. “If we ignore some very obvious signs, however, or avoid the tough issues, and we are wrong in that direction, millions of us and our descendants will suffer awful consequences.

Excerpts from Swartzendruber’s address and an interview will be broadcast as part of a BBC news report on global warming later this month on the BBC television and radio network to an audience estimated in the millions.

The complete text of the president’s message is available at .

You may also read more about .

President Swartzendruber is available for further interviews on this topic. Contact EMU marketing and communications:

Andrea Wenger, director
Phone: 540-432-4348
Cell: 540-560-2237

Jim Bishop, public information officer
Phone: 540-432-4211