As pastor of a congregation in Tempe, Doug Bland is naturally interested in the spiritual lives of our church members. He sometimes asks his congregation, "When have you felt closest to God?" Unfortunately, he says, "they don't say: ‘During your sermons.'"

For many, Doug explains, "the most intense experience of the holy has been on a mountaintop, or by a stream, or next to the ocean." He adds that this shouldn't surprise us, as "It was outdoors in the wilderness where Moses heard God speak from the burning bush. The Psalms are filled with praises for God's creation. So it's no wonder that many people experience God most intensely outdoors in creation. Wilderness is part of our biblical heritage."

Doug Bland is the pastor of Community Christian Church in Tempe and chairman of the Earth Care Commission for the Arizona Ecumenical Council, an organization made up of 17 different denominations, Protestant and Catholic, which has more than a million and a half members around the state.

Among the many creation care issues that Doug is involved with, he is currently advocating for protection of the rolling oak-forested hills and colorful canyons of southern Arizona's Tumacacori Highlands, as wilderness. "The Tumacacori Highlands southwest of Tucson is Arizona like it used to be and may yet remain," says Doug. "It's a home for endangered species, a functioning ecosystem, a challenging landscape and a place for quiet spiritual reflection."

In July, after years of hard work by local wilderness supporters and Representative Raúl Grijalva, the Congressman introduced legislation to protect the 84,000-acre Tumacacori Highlands as wilderness. This bill would create the first new wilderness in Arizona in 17 years.

Last September, Doug had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to meet with Arizona's congressional delegation and talk with them about protecting the Tumacacori Highlands. "I shared with them the story of so many people of faith who feel the presence of God when they are outdoors enjoying the solitude of natural places," he says. "I affirmed our desire to ensure that there are always unspoiled places like the Tumacacori Highlands where we and our children and grandchildren can experience God's presence in creation."

"The Tumacacori Highlands are endangered by unprecedented growth, rapid urbanization, off-road vehicles, global warming, over-grazing and pollution - and there are several species of plants and animals found only in this area whose existence is threatened. We speak on their behalf."

Local wilderness advocate Mike Quigley, the Wilderness Campaign Coordinator for the Tucson-based Sky Island Alliance, has valued the partnership that Doug helped to create between conservationists and the faith community. "Doug has helped connect people with wilderness in many ways, from organizing the Arizona Ecumenical Council's Caring for Creation Conference, to meeting with legislators in the halls of Congress, to guiding 'Opening the Book of Nature' retreats in the proposed wilderness." Mike adds, "It's been a great experience working with Doug. His patience, knowledge, and sincerity are an inspiration."

Doug was born and raised in Twin Falls, ID, where his brother and parents still live. "I grew up camping as a kid. My fondest memories from childhood were of spending time with my family in the outdoors." In the coming years, Doug plans to focus on building a larger community in Arizona of those who will help care for God's creation. "The Arizona Ecumenical Council has an annual environmental conference. My big hope is that more and more people will attend and get involved. I also hope in the future we can bring more faith groups and conservation groups together to dialogue about our mutual interest."

Doug is making a real difference for wild places today, while working to build stronger ties between the faith and conservation communities that will continue beyond the timeframe of the Tumacacori Highlands wilderness campaign. We are honored to recognize Doug Bland as a Wilderness Hero.