Jason Brown, a humanities lecturer at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, is the school’s first ecological chaplain, a unique role that addresses climate grief with inter-religious chaplaincy. Leveraging his master’s in religion and ecological theology from Yale Divinity School, Brown developed a pilot project with SFU’s Multifaith Centre to build resilience around climate anxiety. In the project, Brown engages with students through forest walks, climate cafés and forums.

Inspiration: I noticed how students were feeling anxious and uncertain about their future. There was a lot of what felt like pastoral care that needed to be done. People need a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. So, in early 2023, I proposed that we try a pilot project, and the program launched this January.

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Approach: I try to look at the commonalities in religious traditions and then invite people into the space who don’t have a tradition. I want to explore the sense of unknowing about the future, the uncertainty about who we are and what our connection is to the planet. The chaplaincy approach explores meaning and purpose and interconnection. It entails a lot of self-love and acceptance but also honours pain and discomfort.

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Response: There has been lots of enthusiasm and curiosity. Students say they need this. I want them to be happy and grateful and aware of just how deeply beautiful it is to be alive in this place, in this moment. It could be the case that the world is mostly terrible in the future, but there’s so much good right now. I want them to come away with that and hopefully, when they sort themselves out, they can plug in their talents and their joys with what the world needs, what the world is asking of them.

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Olivia Vaughan is a former Broadview intern. 

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