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NC INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT |
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| A program of the NC Council of Churches |
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NC Interfaith Power & Light History: In May of 2000, the first meeting of the NC Interfaith Campaign on Global Climate Change (now called Climate Connection: NC Interfaith Eco-Justice Network of the NC Council of Churches and Interfaith Power & Light) took place at St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Greensboro . This group was called together by our beloved Sister Evelyn Mattern, now deceased, who was working under the auspices of the North Carolina Council of Churches. The meeting was in response to an initiative of the Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches (along with partnering organizations representing Jews, Moslems, Roman Catholics, and others) to bring an awareness of global warming to our faith communities and to make connections between the spiritual imperative of caring for creation and the grave threat that is posed by climate change. This was a part of a broader national effort also funded through National Religious Partnership for the Environment, and NC was to be the 14th or 15th state to be brought into the program. As I recall, there were about 20 people from all around the state gathered at the table that morning. Although Sister Evelyn and other organizers had worked diligently to include non-Christian participation, almost all attendees were representatives from Christian denominations. The revelation that was shared with us that day originated in the science community, and it spoke convincingly of the threat of global warming, and how it was happening, and what is needed to reverse its course. It was evident that world wide, the scientific community was much concerned about the possible consequences of global climate change. They spoke in unison regarding the core problem, which is the build-up of "greenhouse gases" in our atmosphere, resulting primarily from the burning of fossil fuels in the production of electricity, and in the powering of our automobiles and trucks. Much energy came out of that meeting. About half the group began work on a religious leaders' statement that was eventually adopted by our group, and was then signed by religious leaders around the state. The other half of our group organized a conference, the purpose of which was to attract members of our congregations to come and learn the science story of global warming, and to be exposed to a spiritual perspective that might inspire them to bring the message back to their own congregations. This conference was held in February 2001, at Camp Caraway in Randolph County . It was a big undertaking, but was viewed as a success. There were presenters from academia and state government who made powerful presentations from a scientific viewpoint, and Sister Miriam Theresa McGillis and others made an excellent presentation from the faith perspective. Approximately 80 members of faith congregations were in attendance. Other efforts of our Climate Connection group have included presentations made to faith communities, the printing of brochures, the publication of newspaper articles and op-eds, and the formation of a speakers' bureau. In 2002, the group sponsored a visit by the Rev. Sally Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power and Light, to speak in Asheville , Winston-Salem , and Charlotte about "green power." Rev. Bingham is an Episcopal priest and environmental minister at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco . In 2005 we became the 16 th state to affiliate with the national organization, Interfaith Power & Light, founded by Rev. Sally's The Regeneration Project, based in San Francisco . Written by Tom Berry Recent accomplishments of Climate Connection:
In Western N.C. , Climate Connection and Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project have joined to form the group called Caring for Creation: Interfaith Partners of WNC. This project teaches the link between climate change and the current mass extinction. In early 2005 we worked with several other environmental partners as well, presenting three regional Earth Day conferences with Environmental Defense, NC Conservation Network, NC WARN and others. Well-known scientists, religious leaders and energy and political policy experts addressed our four goal areas in these meetings. Following those events we have been cultivating relationships with the congregations who sent representatives, with individual committee members assigning themselves to particular congregations. By providing programs attendees can replicate, materials through which they can create their own events, and resources which they can utilize toward energy conservation, we expect that most of these congregations will include care of the environment in their education, worship and building maintenance activities with increased emphasis, or perhaps, even for the first time. Through calls, visits and program guidance designed to train internal leadership, we will encourage those congregations to engage in some of the following activities:
We welcome people of all faiths to join us in the work of caring for Creation. If you are interested in serving on our steering committee or in meeting other faith-based Creation care advocates in your area, please contact (e-mail) Alice Loyd.
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