| Committed to attaining
justice for both land and people in rural areas
of Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Illinois, the Churches’ Center
for Land and People (CCLP) is an ecumenically sponsored
network of churches, organizations, and individuals
working to integrate spirituality, stewardship,
and sustainability for the common good. CCLP is
centrally located in the tri-state area at the
Sinsinawa Mound Conference Center, an eco-spirituality
retreat center run by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters,
who practice ecological stewardship on their 450-acre
campus through sustainable farming and ecological
land management. Through volunteer ad hoc committees,
CCLP organizes projects, programs, events, gatherings,
and campaigns that not only bring people together
around common concerns, but also help them address
these concerns. In doing so, CCLP provides an important
network of support for rural churches, organizations,
families, and individuals. Seeking to revitalize
rural ministry, CCLP offers workshops, retreats,
and resources for clergy and lay leaders about
issues pertaining to rural life and land focusing
particularly on support for family farming and
new alternatives to corporate-controlled marketing.
In addition to distributing its newsletter, Clippings, five
times a year, CCLP provides educational materials
created by its study groups on topics relating
to ecological stewardship, sustainable agriculture,
ministry, justice, and spirituality from a rural
perspective. Currently CCLP supports study groups
on earth stewardship, ethics, and rural spirituality.
In addition to sponsoring the “Rural Plunge” program,
a day-long curriculum for raising awareness about
the connections between land and people in agricultural
settings, CCLP organizes conferences on rural life
and rural ministry that bring together farmers,
clergy, lay leaders, educators, advocates,
service workers, and organizers. In October of
2002, CCLP
sponsored its fourteenth Rural Life Gathering called “Passion
for Rural Life: From Heart to the Public Domain.” The
topic of the October 24, 2003 Gathering was “Amplifying
Our Voice.” |
| Christianity |
United States of America
(Wisconsin, Iowa, and
Illinois) |
| 1989–Present |
In March of 1989, forty leaders from churches
and organizations of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois
met in Sinsinawa to discuss the effects of the
farm crisis on rural communities and to consider
how best to address the needs of these communities.
With an able Steering Committee, these leaders
established and incorporated The Churches’ Center
for Land and People. Through Sponsors and participating
members (churches, organizations, and individuals),
the Center has provided programs, forums, and outreach
in a wide variety of rural settings since its founding.
At present, CCLP is making a special effort through
annual “days for study and organizing” to
help denominations establish on-going task groups
to focus on rural life and concerns.
|
| “CCLP fosters unity and hope in a spirit
of renewal, earth stewardship, justice, and shared
commitment. We serve as a voice for rural perspectives
and concerns in our churches and society.” |
| CCLP is sponsored by twenty church judicatories
and religious orders of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois.
It networks with grassroots organizations and institutional
programs with similar concerns. |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
Churches’ Center
for Land and People
P.O. Box 40
Sinsinawa, WI 53824-0040
Ph: 608.748.4411, Ext. 805
Fax: 608.748.4491
E-mail: cclp@mwci.net |
