Following studies at Yale Divinity School, Claassen embarked on a yearlong Carbon Sabbath during which he refrained from driving or flying while bicycling over 11,500 miles around the United States engaging Christian communities in dialogue about climate change.

Having investigated the relationship between faith and the environment at Yale's Forum for Religion and Ecology during his graduate studies, he was inspired to take a Carbon Sabbath.

He would spend one year without flying or driving as well as eating a primarily plant-based diet and refraining from consumer demands like online shopping.

During that period, Claassen bicycled over 11,500 miles around the United States to engage Christian communities of a variety of traditions in dialogue about climate change.

[2][3][4] In April 2014, Claassen was ordained to the Episcopal diaconate in a laundromat as part of Thad's monthly Laundry Love ministry.

[9] While serving as the Episcopal chaplain to the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Claassen started the Surfing & Spirituality program.

"Scojo & the Keel’s breezy, roots-based music, and Scott’s boldly vulnerable lyrics have garnered the group comparisons to a “surf-rock” Jason Isbell.