Washington Interfaith Power & Light
An interfaith religious response to global warming
Earth Ministry’s Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL) project organizes an interfaith religious response to climate change. WAIPL is part of a national Interfaith Power & Light movement that is 38 states strong and growing. It is led by Jews, Christians, Muslims, and the faithful from other traditions across Washington State.
WAIPL works to protect creation and safeguard society’s most vulnerable by providing education about climate change, helping individuals and congregations reduce their carbon footprints, and advocating for sustainable energy. To accomplish this mission, we:
- Speak and lead workshops on climate change for faith
communities across the state
- Develop educational & spiritual resources for religious communities
- Provide regular updates on state and national climate issues
- Offer workshops, trainings, and advocacy opportunities for
people of faith to weigh in on important climate and energy policies
Individuals and congregations of all faith traditions are welcome to become members of Washington Interfaith Power & Light. Faith communities seeking membership in WAIPL also sign a "Congregational Covenant" pledging to educate and engage members on energy and climate issues and commit to faithful stewardship of their energy resources.
We’re excited about Washington Interfaith Power & Light and looking forward to the coming year. There is much work to do, but together we can make a difference. Please join us!
Recent News
2013 National Preach-In on Global Warming: February 8th-10th
On the weekend before Valentine’s Day, Washington Interfaith Power & Light and other states around the country are organizing clergy to pray for creation and speak up against climate change as a serious moral issue.
Sign up your congregation to get involved and receive resources.
Cherry Point Coal Export Terminal Scoping Hearings
Big coal companies want to ship up to 150 million tons of coal per year through Washington State. This coal would be transported from Wyoming and Montana by mile-long, uncovered trains to the proposed export terminal at Cherry Point (Bellingham) so it could be sent to Asia. Shipping this coal would pollute waterways, damage human health, contribute to global climate change, and destroy the Lummi Nation’s sacred lands at Cherry Point.
In order to address these concerns, the Army Corps of Engineers is holding a series of public hearings to determine the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement regarding the proposed coal export terminal at Cherry Point. These hearings are happening now, and they are an excellent opportunity for people of all faiths to make their voices heard.
Learn more about why people of faith oppose coal exports here.
Cool Harvest
To help you celebrate the harvest season and protect the Earth, Washington Interfaith Power & Light is excited to announce the Cool Harvest kits for congregations from Interfaith Power & Light.
Cool Harvest is a food, faith, and climate program for congregations. Did you know that almost one-fifth of climate change pollution comes from the food industry? And as you will learn in this program, the foods that are healthier for the planet are also healthier for our bodies.
The Cool Harvest kits (free downloads) include potluck ideas, promotional fliers, tips for lowering your carbon “foodprint,” and even a table grace. After you savor the season’s bounty, you can watch “Nourish.” This companion DVD illustrates how food connects to such issues as biodiversity, climate change, public health, and social justice – complete with insights from food writer Michael Pollan and top chefs Alice Waters and Jamie Oliver. There are also copies of “DIRT!” a DVD documentary with “heart and soil.”
She Answers Abraham
She Answers Abraham is a blog which features regular scriptural reflections by three women: a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim. Earth Ministry/WAIPL Executive Director LeeAnne Beres, along with Yaira Robinson of Texas IPL and Amanda Quraishi of Mobile Loaves and Fishes are quarterly guest bloggers on the site. Read their contributions on March 28, 2012 and July 25, 2012.
A Song for Our Planet
On March 18, 2012, Seattle First Baptist and Plymouth United Church of Christ hosted an interfaith concert for environmental justice which included the world premiere of A Song for Our Planet by noted composer Henry Mollicone. Over 500 people heard the beautiful choral work, which focused on caring for God's creation and humanity's commitment to change our destructive ways.
Leaders from diverse faith traditions contributed readings and an environmental justice information fair followed the concert. An offering was collected to benefit Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL), in support of our interfaith climate and energy advocacy.
Faith, Climate, and Coal
On April 29, 2011, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law the Coal Free Future for Washington legislation to responsibly transition TransAlta Corp.’s Centralia, WA power plant off of coal. WAIPL joined Gov. Gregoire, TransAlta executives and workers, legislators, and members of the environmental and labor communities at the power plant in Centralia for the bill-signing celebration. The legislation will phase out the company’s coal-fired power plant between 2020 and 2025, allowing an opportunity for cleaner power to replace the largest coal-fired power plant in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, the bill includes $68 million from TransAlta in investments in the community’s economic future and a clean energy future for Washington. Throughout the campaign, Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL) represented the faith community in support of the legislation to phase out Washington’s single largest source of dangerous air pollution, acting to protect God's creation from the harmful effects of coal.
For more information on moving Washington beyond coal, visit our Coal Free Future for Washington page.
Reflections on the Power of Water in the Holy Land
Seattle Pacific University professor and former Earth Letter Editor Doug Thorpe shares a moving contemplation of the power of water in the Holy Land, as he experienced it on an Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light eco-justice trip to Israel, Palestine and Jordan in January, 2009. The article was featured in the April 2011 Edition of Soujourners Magazine.
Read the article in its entirety here.
Sacred Places Can Be Important Venues for Interfaith Dialogue
In this Tacoma News Tribune article, Turan Kayaoglu speaks to how when Christian communities open up their churches for Muslims to worship, it creates a place for interfaith interaction, dialogue, and learning. Washington Interfaith Power & Light's work is referenced. Click above to read the full article.
Resources
The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice - an interfaith study guide on global warming
ShopIPL - Receive discounts on energy efficient products!
Cool Congregations Calculator - A carbon footprint calculator specifically for congregations
Resources from Interfaith Power & Light/The Regeneration Project (sermons, films, books, energy efficiency)
Learn about Climate & Energy Issues
