 Good
morning!
Since our founding eight years ago, we have
supported religious communities across the DC area in responding to climate
change as Greater Washington Interfaith Power
& Light.
As GWIPL's director, it is already my honor to work every day with over a
hundred Maryland congregations and nearly two thousand Marylanders as they
study what their scriptures teach about caring for the natural world,
undertake energy upgrades and clean energy projects in their buildings, and
speak out for policies that advance their vision for a sustainable future and
a protected climate.
Here's the big news: The time has come to bring the state of
Maryland as a whole into the Interfaith Power & Light movement, and we — your
neighbor IPL program — have undertaken the sacred work of doing it —
together, we hope, with you.
Wherever you live in Maryland, if you care about responding as a religious
person and in your congregation to the challenge of climate change, we invite
you to join us.
Over the coming year, we are going to continue our work in the DC
area, while undertaking an expansion to serve the rest of the state of
Maryland, starting in Baltimore.
(Live in or near Baltimore? Save the date for our launch event on Saturday
evening November 17th at Notre Dame University.)
I'm writing this morning because in order for our grassroots organization to
take this leap, we're going to need your help.
Can you help us find Maryland's "green sheep"?
- Sometimes folks feel like the
"green sheep" in their communities. Our organization allows
them to flock together! If you know a religious person, a religious
leader, or an entire congregation somewhere in Maryland who is doing
good green work and would welcome some company, please take a moment to forward
this email to them, and to share their information with us: program@gwipl.org.
Join
us to learn.
-
Our Speakers'
Bureau brings passionate educators and religious leaders
into congregations to offer sermons, discussions, nature walks, and
workshops on environmental topics. Many of them regularly speak in
Maryland on issues important to you. Which of our diverse speakers
would best engage the folks at your congregation? (Suggested honorarium
is listed beneath each speaker.)
- Borrow one of our environmental films to
host a screening and discussion at your congregation.
-
If you have a split plate,
second collection, or other tithe program through which your
congregation supports community organizations, plan to
include Interfaith Power & Light on the calendar. We'll be happy to
come and share our good work with your community: program@gwipl.org.
Join us
to go green in your congregation, and at home.
- Get your community thinking
about the connection between religious values and energy use by ordering
a set of our light switch reminders — laminated cards
which fit over the switch plates in your congregation's building and
encourage energy conservation. We have developed versions for ten different faith traditions, and
welcome your suggestions for new ones. To order: program@gwipl.org.
- We can provide personalized
consultations with you and with your congregation's
environmental committee about how to engage your congregation in
learning, going green, and speaking out. Email program@gwipl.org.
- Join our "Green Leaders Listserv" to share
advice, questions, and encouragement with other green team leaders in
hundreds of local congregations.
- Through partnerships with two
local energy efficiency organizations — Civic Works' Retrofit Baltimore
and Groundswell — we can offer workshops for homeowners in your
congregation about saving energy at home, and why it matters.
Join us at home energy workshops in Baltimore on October 11th or Bethesda on October 14th, or schedule your own:
program@gwipl.org.
Join us to speak out.
-
Across Maryland, caring
citizens are already speaking out for cleaner air and water.
As you may have read in the Washington Post, the faith community was
incredibly vocal and active in last year’s effort to bring offshore wind
power to Maryland.
Over the coming year, you and your congregation will have opportunities
to unite with faith communities to win the campaign for clean off-shore
wind power in Maryland, and to undertake other critical climate action.
I'm grateful for your
support of Interfaith Power & Light's work, and am looking forward to
working with you in your community!
Joelle Novey, Director
Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA)
P.S. We're looking to hire a Baltimore-based
organizer this fall. Know someone who'd be a good fit? Please share
this job
description with them.
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