I. Date of Event: January 30, 1999
II. Nature of Event:
Presentation by United Methodist Minister, Rev. Howard Clinebell, Professor Emeritus, School of Theology, Claremont, California; author of "Ecotherapy: Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth. Continuing education sponsored by Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), University of Utah, a state funded college. Event suggested to GSSW by Dave Randall of Whale Center. Attended by invited guests with wide variety of backgrounds, according to Naomi Silverstone, D.S.W., GSSW.
III. Rev. Clinebell's Premise:
"Modern humans' artificial separation from nature 'impacts the total body-mind-spirit organism in wholeness diminishing ways.' ... 'The energy from those two sources -- nature and the divine spirit -- motivates you to work hard with people of all faiths and belief systems to save a healthy planet for future generations." Source: Religion section article in January 30, 1999 Salt Lake Tribune: "Save the Earth and Souls Will Follow, Reverend Says"
IV. Violation of Separation of Religion and Government
A. Use of Public Funds. According to Dr. Silverstone, the event was sponsored and paid for with public funds provided by GSSW.
B. Religion-based presentation. The presentation, by an ordained minister, clearly centered on religious content and advocacy. (See Section VI, infra.)
C. Content limited to one view. According to Dr. Silverstone, Rev. Clinebell was not part of a panel of proponents of various religious/non-religious views and critical opinions; nor was his presentation part of an ongoing series of presentations which include other religious and non-religious viewpoints. Dr. Silverstone stated that the invited audience consisted of a "wide variety of backgrounds" and that "discussion and debate" occurred between presenter, Rev. Clinebell, and audience members.
D. Conclusion. The inclusion of religion in a state sponsored college activity is appropriate if such topic is part of a balanced presentation designed to achieve a secular educational objective included within the activity. However, this state-sponsored activity advocated one religious view. The effect was to signal state endorsement of the religious view expressed by Rev. Clinebell and state rejection of other religious views or non-religious views.
V. Action:
The Institute will advise GSSW and University of Utah legal counsel of its concerns and monitor the situation.
VI. Summary of Materials Presented by Rev. Clinebell with Extracts Therefrom:
A. Handout: "Key Concepts in Ecotherapy: Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth"
"The Ecological Circle: Nurturing nature with caring and respect depends on bonding with nature and thus being nurtured by nature. Ecological spirituality is the integrating power of this interdependent process of healing people and healing the earth, or vice versa.
Ecoalienation vs. Ecobonding: Being alienated from a deep inner sense of our being in nature as it is in us, is a diagnosable and treatable form of human alienation. ... Ecobonding (or earth intimacy) is the positive inner and outer sense of interdependence with the whole biosphere.
Goals of Ecotherapy and Ecoeducation: ... (2) To awaken people to ecological spirituality -- the divine Spirit in all nature. ...
Ecological spirituality and ethics: The experience of a transcending dimension in the natural environment that religious people call God, and to use the energy from that spiritual experience to empower living in earth-respecting and earth-caring lifestyles.
Ecoeducation: The and growth experiences (sic), in whatever settings, that increase earth-literacy, earth-bonding and earth-caring in people of all ages.
...
Basic spiritual or existential needs of all humans that are directly related to ecotherapy and ecoeducation:
The most basic earth-related spiritual need is for continuing interaction with the profoundly creative resources of the core of personality, the Self or Soul that is both transcending and earth based.
...
Soulful living that reawakens the aliveness of the soul must include loving interaction with the biosphere."
B. Handout: "Psychotherapies On Which Ecotherapy Builds"
"1. OBJECT RELATIONS THERAPY & THERAPIES-----> ...
FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY & THERAPY-----> ...
FEMINIST AND OTHER CONTEXTUAL THERAPIES-----> ...
BODY AWAKENING AND SEX THERAPIES-----> ...
GROWTH-ORIENTED THERAPIES-----> ...
SPIRITUALLY-ORIENTED THERAPIES-----> Includes awakening awareness of the profound human hunger for experiences of transcendence & satisfying this in relating to nature.
COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THEORIES & THERAPIES-----> ...
REPARENTING THERAPIES-----> ...
JUNG'S COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS-----> ...
DRAWS ON SOME OF THE EARTH-ROOTED HEALING AND WISDOM & METHODS OF NATIVE PEOPLES-----> Including the shamanistic methods of Native Americans (e.g., the sweat lodge) & other indigenous cultures.
C. Handout: "An Ecological Wellness Checkup"
"...
_____ My spiritual life is enriched with aliveness both when I open myself to be nurtured by nature and when I engage in action to help save a healthy earth for all living creatures. I often experience the lift of spiritual awe when I become aware of the mystery and wonder of nature and of the eon-spanning process of continuing creation called evolution.
...
_____ My sense of partnership with God in working for a world of wholeness is a source of hope, challenge and serenity in what is sometimes frustrating earth-caring work.
_____ I practice ways of enhancing the love of life that is at my spiritual core, making this love the primary energy source for planet-loving work, rather than guilt or fear.
_____ I am seeking the continuing growth of my spirituality and value commitments to make them more bridge-building with those of different faiths, nations, races, languages and cultures. ...
..."
D. Handout: "Pastoral Ecotherapy"
"Background: Traditional pastoral care has focused on four pastoral functions -- healing, sustaining, guiding, & reconciling. Howard Clinebell has added two other functions--nurturing & prophetic pastoral caring.
...
Dimensions of pastoral ecotherapy:
...
(2) Ecoeducation should permeate all dimensions of a congregation's teaching ministry, for people of all ages & life experience.
...
1. In your time of spiritual self-care, remember that today is the day for each of us as Christians to bring our lives more into harmony with the earth ...
2. Prayerfully examine your lifestyle & change those things that are not earth-friendly. ...
..."
E. Comment From handout brochure advertising Rev. Clinebell's book, "Ecotherapy Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth"
"The boundaries between therapy, education, spirituality, and ecojustice melt away in Clinebell's revisioning of our common calling. -- Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. Ph.D."
F. "An Ecological Credo for Social Workers" by Berger and Kelly
"1. Social work is concerned not only with the interactions between people and their social environments, but with the full range of interconnectedness among all systems of the Earths' biosphere.
...
3. Social work believes in global equality, that is, the right of all people of the world to share equally in Earth's bounty. ...
...
8. Social work assumes a global and universal perspective. Humans are not separate from, nor superior to, other parts of the biosphere. Rather, humans are but one aspect of a vast universe in which every aspect is interconnected.
...
Social work believes in the essential goodness of people. The people of the Earth will voluntarily live in harmony with Earth's resources when afforded the opportunity to assume ecologically responsible lifestyles."
G. Handout: "Simple Steps for Greening Your Ministry," by Howard Clinebell
"1. Decide why saving God's creation is an important priority in your ministry.
Do your homework on a theology of ecology, to understand clearly how the mission of faith community in today's world must include this objective.
..."
H. Handout: "How Nature Shapes Childhood: Personality, Play and Sense of Place" article by Will Nixon, The Amicus Journal, Summer 1997
"...
... the middle years between 6 to 12 are genetically programmed for exploration in the world and bonding with nature. ...
... It is at this stage that moralistic and ecologistic values become prominent. ... By twelve they're drawn toward the social world of the malls as their "earth period" rapidly wanes. By seventeen, a different study learned, half of them consider their car one of their favorite places. The "gasoline period" begins and, in some cases, never ends.
Sobel suggests that the middle childhood years may be crucial for bonding with nature ..."
VII. Relevant Constitutional Law
A. First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...
B. Utah State Constitution - Article I, Section 1
All men have the inherent and inalienable right .... to worship according to the dictates of their consciences ...
C. Utah State Constitution - Article I, Section 4
[i] The rights of conscience shall never be infringed. [ii] The State shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; [iii] no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office of public trust or for any vote at any election; [iv] nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror on account of religious belief or the absence thereof. [v] There shall be no union of Church and State, nor shall any church dominate the State or interfere with its functions. [vi] No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or for the support of any ecclesiastical establishment. [vii] No property qualification shall be required of any person to vote, or hold office, except as provided in this Constitution.
D. Utah State Constitution - Article III
First: -- Perfect toleration of religious sentiment is guaranteed. No inhabitant of this State shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship; but polygamous or plural marriages are forever prohibited.
....
Fourth: --The Legislature shall make laws for the establishment and maintenance of a system of public schools, which shall be open to all the children of the State and be free from sectarian control.
E. Utah State Constitution - Article X, Section 9
Neither the state of Utah nor its political subdivisions may make any appropriation for the direct support of any school or educational institution controlled by any religious organization.