First Lutheran Church hosts 2025 EcoFaith Summit in Duluth

The ninth EcoFaith Summit of the Upper Midwest was held at the First Lutheran Church in Duluth on Saturday, bringing faith and climate justice together.

“Today’s event is an annual gathering that brings people together across our region in Duluth and far beyond Duluth, actually, to be inspired and equipped for bold action to stand up for the creation, especially in this time of really dangerous climate change, “said Kristin Foster, chair of the planning committee of the 2025 EcoFaith Summit.

The 2025 event centered around the theme of “Earth Cries, Earth’s Call: Becoming Midwives of Hope for the Healing of Creation.” The theme was selected based off of a story in the beginning of the Book of Exodus where two midwives to enslaved Hebrew people, Shiphrah and Puah, deliver babies against the command of the Pharoah. This story inspired the conversation surrounding protecting the earth despite pushback from others.

“We don’t think of ourselves in America as having to resist tyranny, but they are a wonderful model for us of what it means to find the source of courage and faith and strength to enact our deepest values, even when people in power are moving in a different direction,” said Foster.

The Summit aims to bring people together to cross-pollinate a movement of eco-consciousness across communities, congregations, school campuses, and more.

“It’s not simply that we’re trying to do something by this event to reverse climate change. That’s not going to happen that way. But that we want to become midwives of the kind of moral, spiritual courage and hope that can continue energizing people to fight for life, to protect life,”

The Summit drew in people of all ages, like thirteen-year-old Laila Davis, who spent her time writing letters to her Minnesota state representatives, asking them to help enact change.

“Everyone is here because they want action. And all around me there’s different booths, different things you can do, things you can join to help with that. And I feel like it’s just so many different people coming together to create advocacy and action,” said Davis.

To learn more about the Summit and its participants, go to EcoFaith Summit 2025