From Chemistry to Climate Ministry: A New Calling
Alum Dr. Terry LePage’s journey from research chemist to climate-focused spiritual guide serves as an inspiring example of an interdisciplinary approach to calling, and how such an approach can address the challenges of our times. For LePage, a deep personal transformation and growing concern for the environment led her to explore the intersection of spirituality and climate change and to use her CST degree in unexpected ways.
With an academic path beginning in the world of chemistry, Dr. LePage earned her PhD and worked as a research chemist at UC Irvine. Meanwhile, she also felt increasingly drawn to the areas of spirituality and theology. “While I enjoyed my work in chemistry and supporting young scholars, my true passion shifted towards understanding human hearts and meaning-making,” she reflects.
As her adult faith continued to grow, she became increasingly engaged with teaching and preaching at her church. It was becoming clear that her curiosity about the physical world had evolved into a deeper curiosity about human existence and spiritual matters. In 1999, with the support of her husband Scott, she made a pivotal decision to return to graduate school at CST and pursue a Master of Divinity.
Immersing herself in theological scholarship and practical pastoral skills, Dr. LePage’s time at CST became crucial for her journey, though climate change was not yet on her radar. But by 2018, the escalating climate crisis prompted Dr. LePage to reevaluate her focus. “I realized that climate chaos was likely to disrupt our lives sooner than many could admit, and that many changes were already irreversible,” she says. This realization came with profound grief—a grief that deeply affected her personal and spiritual outlook.
In response to this emerging awareness, Dr. LePage felt a calling to support others in processing their own climate-related fears and losses. She developed a workshop called “Grief, Gratitude, and Courage”, which “allowed people to voice their fear and grief over climate, tap into ritual and resources for resilience and courage, and draw strength in community,” she explained.
Seeking to expand her reach, Dr. LePage connected with the Deep Adaptation Forum, an online platform where she has now facilitated online gatherings as a resource for those grappling with the emotional toll of climate change. Her book, Eye of the Storm: Facilitating Climate and Social Chaos with Calm and Courage, emerged from this work and offers insights based on numerous interviews and personal experiences.
Dr. LePage credits her time at CST with profoundly shaping her approach to both her spiritual and environmental work. “At CST, I learned the importance of discussing ideas and experiences within a community of practice,” she explains.
She sees a need for spiritual leaders to address the breakdown of traditional systems and the resulting anxiety and disillusionment. She believes that offering spiritual, emotional, and psychological tools to weather difficult times is essential. This includes creating spaces for community grief and reflection and exploring faith narratives that focus on courageous rather than idealized endings.
“There are no easy solutions to the challenges we face, and no guarantee of happy endings,” she notes. “Naming this ‘elephant in the room’ is still taboo in many settings. What can a spiritual leader do in these times? How can we embody and enable loving responses to our predicament? Your call is your own.”
Dr. LePage invites others to join her in this work, offering resources and ideas to navigate the complexities of our era. Her book, Eye of the Storm, is available in various formats, including a free audiobook and e-book on her website https://opendoorcommunication.org/eye/get-the-book
