About the Friendship Collaborative

The Friendship Collaborative grew out of a partnership between Senior Pastor Ken Wilson of Vineyard Church, Ann Arbor, MI and a member of the national board of Vineyard, A Community of Churches, and scientist/author Dr. Carl Safina, President of Blue Ocean Institute, NY. We bring together faith leaders, especially from the evangelical community, and scientists to learn more about each other and how we might work together for the sake of the environment.

The Friendship Collaborative workshop is the beginning- the venue for an initial meeting. From there, participants explore further collaborations, drawing inspiration and ideas from each other, supported by resources on our website.

We invite you to explore our website and become involved in this unique initiative. Whether you are a scientist, a person of faith, or both, the Friendship Collaborative offers the opportunity to share your knowledge, stretch your boundaries, and forge lasting relationships to enrich your own perspective and help heal our embattled planet.

The Friendship Collaborative is closely partnered with Creation Care for Pastors, a resource for evangelical pastors interested in environmental stewardship.

About Blue Ocean Institute

Blue Ocean Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Long Island, NY, was established in 2003 by Dr. Carl Safina and Mercédès Lee. Blue Ocean’s mission is to foster a closer relationship between people and the sea through science, art, and literature. Its programs inspire individuals and groups to take sustained actions to conserve nature, with a special emphasis on the ocean. Blue Ocean develops compassionate conservation solutions for people and ocean wildlife, and we share reliable information that enlightens personal choices, instills hope, and helps restore living abundance to the sea. more

About Vineyard Church, Ann Arbor

The Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor is part of a growing number of evangelical churches bringing a community outreach and activist ethos to the issue of environmental stewardship. They view care for God’s creation as rooted in their religious worldview, seeking to tap the power of faith for the sake of better care of the earth, with a special interest in alleviating the impact of environmental degregation on the vulnerable poor both at home and abroad. more