Scholars and leaders from four major faith traditions will participate in a panel titled, “Caring for our Common Home: An Interfaith Conversation on the Environment,” presented at the Hopewell United Methodist Church.

Representing Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Muslim faiths, the panelists will discuss how their faith approaches environmental issues and how we all need to respond to degradation of the Earth. Caring for the Earth is a common principle honored among many faith traditions.

The participants include:

• Dr. Laurel Kearns is Associate Professor of Sociology and Religion and Environmental Studies at Drew Theological School and the Graduate Division of Religion of Drew University in Madison, NJ. Her teaching interests include (among other topics) religion and ecology, with an emphasis on eco-justice and environmental racism.
• Rabbi Debra Smith (Reb Deb) is the founding Rabbi and spiritual leader of Or Ha Lev Jewish Renewal Congregation in Morris County, New Jersey. She is a member of the New Jersey Interfaith Coalition and as Rabbi in Residence at the Drew Theological School.
• Imam Saffet Abid Catovic serves as the Imam (Muslim religious leader) and acting Muslim Chaplain at Drew University. He is a fellow at Green Faith, an inter-faith coalition for religious-environmental leadership.
• Gopal Patel is based at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies in Oxford, UK, where he serves as the Director of their Bhumi Project, a global network and platform to encourage Hindus to take better care of the environment.