Amanda Hendler-Voss

The Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss co-pastors Land of the Sky UCC in Asheville, which she co-founded seven years ago as a progressive, open and affirming new church start. A long time advocate of the Appalachian mountains in the face of mountain top removal mining, in recent years she has focused on issues like the transition to renewables, coal ash toxins, and air quality within her congregation, the wider community, and directly with Duke Energy officials. She is inspired by the divine wisdom sewn deep into the fabric of the landscapes in which we live and longs for deeper reconciliation within the family of all living things. Amanda lives in beautiful Canton with her husband (and town manager), Seth, and two wild-eyed, red-headed sons who love rivers, hiking, and all things outdoors.

A Spirit to Address Climate Change: Interfaith Panel

“I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change… I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.” -Gus Speth U. S. Advisor on climate change. What we are reading, seeing and hearing about our failing ecosystems is overwhelming. Our panelists will explore how our spiritual lives and the stories within our spiritual traditions offer solid a ground of hope, compassion and love in the midst of waves of fear, selfishness and greed. Faith communities are essential to the ongoing work for climate justice, social justice and creation care and we will explore our individual and collective role in this time and place.