Article by Nata Asatiani, The Centre of Dialogue and Conflict Transformation Intern

As a new fall semester began, LCC’s Center for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation (Peace Center) and Campus Ministries hosted its first Public Theology Forum focusing on how hospitality grows out of gardening.  Forty-four students and staff gathered at LCC’s Community Garden site next to Enns dormitory on a beautiful sunny Tuesday, the 7th of September. The event reminded us of the mysteries of germination, growth, decay, and the gifts that the earth provides, and our need as humans to respect the land.  Participants were invited to practice hospitality just as the soil is hospitable to us. Passing around a bowl of compost from garden waste, Douglas Enns reminded us that as earthlings we all come from the earth and our first mandate was to till and care for the earth – to be gardeners. He wondered how we might nurture our relationship with the soil, care for our souls and sow seeds of peace for a sustainable future. We were challenged to see how the garden provides all of us a way to grow into nurturers, protectors, and celebrators of life. This was a fall celebration of being thankful for our existence and for the food creation offers us. Hence, we harvested, prepared, and shared LCC Community Garden vegetables for a communal picnic lunch - grilling vegan food from nature’s goodness.

In gratitude for the garden produce, we joined our voices in a meal grace for our communal feast. Nata Asatiani commented that this was “a nice gathering, where the organic food was served including a kale Greek salad and hummus along with grilled vegetables.”

Public Theology Forum exists to invite our diverse community - a cultural and religious mosaic - into a conversation, moving toward reconciliation and transformation in our lives together and for society, as we seek to foster understanding and offer time for dialogues that heal divisions, strengthen relationships, and help us be a community of faith embracing diversity.