NC Interfaith Power & Light

Over 150 Clergy signed a lettter to Obama asking him to Reject...

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:07:35 -0400

Over 150 Clergy signed a lettter to Obama asking him to Reject the Keystone XL. Read the whole story here.

Dear Friends of NCIPL, As I gaze out of my study window at...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:09:22 -0400

Dear Friends of NCIPL,

As I gaze out of my study window at the bright spring birds and budding trees, I am at peace with and excited about the changes unfolding at NCIPL. As some of you already know, after 2 years as paid staff, I made the transition to volunteer status on January 1, 2013. For the first quarter of this year, I retained the title of Co-Director with my inspirational and able partner, Susannah Tuttle, whom I supported and witnessed as she enthusiastically and creatively assumed primary leadership of our organization and mission. It is now time to make the next transition by announcing that I am stepping away from the Co-Director role into a new advisory role as Susannah becomes the sole Director of North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light.

My time as part-time director and then as co-director of NCIPL has been rich with learning, inspiration, challenge and mostly the joy of new relationships. I have been privileged to learn from people of many different denominations and faiths exactly what it means to love God and God’s creation through selfless service and passionate devotion. It has been an amazing time, but now it is time for me to return to my roots in clinical medicine and environmental public health. As NCIPL has grown and changed, it has become very clear that it will flourish best with a leader who can devote all her energies, without competition or distraction, to the mission of the organization. Susannah is that person, and NCIPL is very lucky to have her. I will continue to support the work and mission of NCIPL and the community of faithful creation care champions through my time, talent and treasures as volunteer Senior Advisor, and specifically will always be available to the Director 24/6 (remembering the Sabbath) if she has a need.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people, too many to name, who have made the past 2 years such a spiritually vibrant and personally rich time for me. The staff, steering committee and volunteers of NCIPL and the staff of the NC Council of Churches top the list, but there are scores of amazing volunteers in congregations and environmental organizations across the state who have touched my life and my spirit, stimulated deepening personal growth, and shepherded me along my own faith journey. I thank you all deeply for the generosity of your welcome and the passion of your work. It has been an honor to serve for a while in a leadership capacity, and now I joyfully re-engage as a worker bee as we all continue to strive for a just, sustainable and spiritually rich world.

Please join me in congratulating and thanking Susannah for assuming leadership of this unique organization, the only statewide organization that works directly with faith communities on positive, hope-filled responses to climate change. We all can do our part to co-create a better future, a blessed community, and Susannah will help us coordinate our efforts with joy and faith.

Peace on Eaarth

Kathy Shea

Senior Advisor for NCIPL

Speaking out, Part 7 As we Presbyterians sometimes do, I’ll...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:01:34 -0400

Speaking out, Part 7

As we Presbyterians sometimes do, I’ll start with a confession. I don’t know all of the intricacies of Progress’s business plan or their rationale for these proposed rate hikes. What I do know is that at our church, the calls and other requests we get for assistance with groceries, transportation and, yes, with utilities, have increased every month of every year since 2008.

[…] I believe that for a profitable company like Progress to propose such steep rate hikes at a time like this, when so many of its customers are struggling economically, is morally indefensible. Progress is also asking us to fund investments in dirty, 20th century technology. Going back to Hurricane Katrina, and most recently with Hurricane Sandy, we’ve all seen with our own eyes that something is drastically wrong with the earth’s climate […] As stewards of the earth, we simply must do better.

-Rev. Steve Runholt, Pastor of Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, Swannanoa (testifying at Rate Hike Hearing)

Speaking Out, Part 6 [Ed] Hays [author of devotional book, “A...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:10:32 -0400

Speaking Out, Part 6

[Ed] Hays [author of devotional book, “A Lenten Hobo Honeymoon”] asks, “How does your soul garden grow?” In the garden of your souls, are the trees rich with fruit or are they barren?”

[…] It’s simply boggles my mind as I watch folks sit back, see what is happening and still want to extend our use of coal and gas in North Carolina. I hope you will have the courage to stand up to Progress Energy. Don’t let them increase the use of the same old dirty energy. We have got to do something quickly for we are destroying our world! To borrow Hays words, “How does your soul garden grow?”

-Rev. Tamara Puffer, Member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (testifying at Rate Hike Hearing)

Speaking Out, Part 5 I have a responsibility for studying,...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:39 -0400

Speaking Out, Part 5

I have a responsibility for studying, teaching and communicating about the responsibility Christians have for being good stewards of the world in which God has placed us, a world God expects us to tend as good gardeners. I therefore rise as a person of faith to speak against the rate hikes proposed by Progress Energy. It is not that I do not believe that we all will have to pay more for our energy needs in the future. It is rather that the plan on which Progress Energy’s rate hike request appears to be based does too little to carry us all toward an energy future that does less harm to the garden of the earth.

-Rev. Cam Murchinson, Earth Stewardship Theologian for the Montreat Presbyterian Church
(testifying at Rate Hike Hearing)

Speaking Out, Part 4 In the community and in my congregation, I...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:02:03 -0400

Speaking Out, Part 4

In the community and in my congregation, I see the people this will hurt […] Instead of Duke using the poor, elderly, unemployed and underemployed to increase their profits, I would challenge the executives to think it’s a good idea to raise rates in this environment to cut their salaries and their bonuses and fund their own projects.

-Rev. James Lee, Pastor of St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Asheville (testifying at Rate Hike Hearing)

Read a reflection from an NCIPL Energy Savings Analysis...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:01:05 -0400

Read a reflection from an NCIPL Energy Savings Analysis (“Energy Audit”) participant to hear what the audit inspired them to do and learn how you can obtain an energy audit for your congregation at no charge.

Speaking Out, Part 3: We are deeply concerned that Duke’s...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:30:47 -0400

Speaking Out, Part 3:

We are deeply concerned that Duke’s proposed NC rate hikes and the direction of their energy policy has invested too little in cleaner, safer, healthier, and renewable-sustainable sources of energy, like solar, wind, geo-thermal and hydro-electric technologies […] The Biblical Prophets roundly condemn any society in which a few wallow in luxury while many others are ruined by poverty. (Amos 6: 4-8).

-Rev. Steve Halsted, Pastor of Community UCC, Raleigh, NCIPL Steering Committee Member (while leading Consumers Against Rate Hikes press conference)

Speaking out, part 2: You, the Commissioners who represent us,...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:30:44 -0400

Speaking out, part 2:

You, the Commissioners who represent us, have the unique opportunity to act with a moral courage that we will all find satisfactory. Say NO to this Integrated Resource Plan. You have nothing to lose but your personal integrity. Senate Bill Ten is on its way to ending your service. Go out in glory refusing to approve that which does not satisfy our earth, our business, our brothers and sisters!

-Rev. Nancy Ellis Allison, Pastor of Holy Covenant UCC, Charlotte (regarding Duke/Progress’s Integrated Resource Plan)

Faith Leader Speaking Out, part 1: “Slow down and look...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:30:49 -0400

Faith Leader Speaking Out, part 1:

“Slow down and look around. The business as usual plan is destroying the earth. All of us will suffer.

Enough. There is a better way for all of us. “

-Jean Larson’s testimony at Duke Energy Rate Hike Hearing. Jean is the
Convener of NCIPL Asheville Earth Sabbath Celebrations.

Read about Jean’s full testimony and others as they spoke out concerning North Carolina’s Energy Future!

It is imperative that we, as people of faith, voice our...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:17:20 -0400

It is imperative that we, as people of faith, voice our opposition to the Keystone XL. Comment period ends 4/22/13 (which coincidentally is Earth Day)

#Earth Day weekend is the perfect time to direct attention,...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:01:13 -0400

#Earth Day weekend is the perfect time to direct attention, prayer, and action to #CreationCare. This year, Earth Day is Monday, April 22. Visit NCIPL’s Earth Day webpage for resources your congregation can use to honor Earth Day, events occurring across the state, and details on how you can share your plans.

NCIPL hosted a free webinar on how your congregation can obtain...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:56:30 -0400

NCIPL hosted a free webinar on how your congregation can obtain a free energy savings analysis (“energy audit”) on 3/12/13. The recording of the webinar is now online. Again, this service is offered to all North Carolina Congregations at no charge. Share the webinar with others at your congregation and contact us at info@ncipl.org to schedule your congregation’s audit today.

Psalms Sans Music: Holy Dirt

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:01:49 -0400

Psalms Sans Music: Holy Dirt:

psalmssansmusic:

I have realized today, O Lord,

That all your beings are free and yet constrained

To run while sitting, breathe while asphyxiating,

Eat while bloating and fast while starving.

To choose to and be ordered to simultaneously,

Must and take the option to,

chew, digest, inhale,…

NCIPL Volunteer, Linda Rodriguez, explains her excitement for...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:35:49 -0400

NCIPL Volunteer, Linda Rodriguez, explains her excitement for Earth Hour 2013. Put March 23rd, 8:30 p.m. on your calendar and read what this event is all about here.

NCIPL is now hosting a series of regional list-serves to help...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:28:43 -0500

NCIPL is now hosting a series of regional list-serves to help inspire more climate-conversations among the faith community. Check it out and join today!

Monthly climate change action and education movie series have...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:01:07 -0500

Monthly climate change action and education movie series have been popping up all over the state. NCIPL is pleased to announce that another movie series begins this month in Charlotte. “Speaking Truth to Power: The Justice Series” is co-sponsored by the Spiritual Activist Group at Unity of Charlotte, Charlotte Energy Solutions, and NCIPL. Discussion, with a moderator will follow, each movie.

The first movie in the series is What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire.This movie traces the roots of empire to the current grim realities of the modern world, economically, politically and environmentally. Join us at Unity of Charlotte, 401 E. Arrowood Avenue, on March 23, 7 p.m. for the kick-off of this new series. Suggested donation is $5, and free popcorn and beverages will be served.

NCIPL also recently partnered with the Temple Emmanuel Environmental Movement (TEEM) of Greensboro and now co-sponsors their “Movie and a Speaker” night. Each month, TEEM shows an environmental movie and then invites a speaker to help the group explore ideas of what they can do about the featured issue. In Raleigh, NCIPL Steering Committee member Larry Petrovick has brought together NCIPL and St. Francis of Assisi to host a monthly “Movie and a Potluck” series. They are similarly exploring environmental issues, leaders, and ideas to become a more aware and action-inspired community.

Interested in starting a similar movie series in your area? Email us at connected@ncipl.org.

If you are interested in reducing your congregation’s utility...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:54:00 -0500

If you are interested in reducing your congregation’s utility bills, increasing your congregation’s efforts to care for creation, and taking a positive action in response to climate change, we invite you to participate in NCIPL’s upcoming webinar, How to Obtain a Free NCIPL Energy Savings Analysis for your Congregation.

The webinar will be on Tuesday, March 12, from 11-11:30 a.m. Registration is required.

NCIPL offers professional-level energy savings analyses (“energy audits”) for congregations at no charge. These analyses can help you and your congregation better understand how your building uses energy and how to reduce that usage. Participants receive low and no-cost recommendations that will help save money and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that their buildings emit. The process to receive an energy savings analysis is simple, and we have several professional energy experts around the state waiting for more assignments. Again, this service is offered at no cost to congregations.

NCIPL only offers audits to congregations, not for residential spaces. Congregants can apply lessons learned through their congregational audits at home and can also consider a similar analysis from one of the agencies in their area that covers homes. NCIPL does not endorse any specific organization that performs residential energy savings analyses.

North Carolina Council of Church’s 2013 Lenten Guide is...

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:26:13 -0500

North Carolina Council of Church’s 2013 Lenten Guide is now available as an ebook! Check out this awesome resource that combines traditional Lenten themes and Bible passages with contemporary issues including hunger, care of creation, and immigration. We invite you to join us in this season of reflection and preparation. Regular download here.

Congratulations and thank you to all the individuals and...

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:30:48 -0500

Congratulations and thank you to all the individuals and communities that joined in Washington DC yesterday to urge Obama to uphold positive climate change actions and legislation.