\nEarth Ministry\u2019s recent congregational outreach included presentations at or events with First Presbyterian in Port Townsend; St. Augustine\u2019s in-the-Woods Episcopal on Whidbey Island; First Lutheran in Richmond Beach; Bothell United Methodist Church; St. James Cathedral, University Lutheran, Queen Anne Lutheran, and Peace Lutheran in Seattle; St. Mark\u2019s Lutheran Church by the Narrows and St. Leo Catholic Church in Tacoma; and the Eastside Social Concerns Council at St. Margaret\u2019s Episcopal in Bellevue. We also taught religion and environment classes at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and at Seattle University.<\/p>\n
Earth Ministry was pleased to co-host two major faith and environment events this summer, including the fourth Laudato Si Summit on July 9, which united Catholics from around the state to live into Pope Francis\u2019 call to care for creation. We also cosponsored an Interfaith Climate Forum on July 31 at which State Senator Reuven Carlyle spoke on the significant climate bills that passed in the 2019 legislative session, and we and our partners provided opportunities for attendees to take action on current environmental issues.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, Earth Ministry met with clergy and lay leaders from Seattle Japanese Baptist Church, Kavana Cooperative, Urban Grace, Mercer Island United Church of Christ, and Epiphany Episcopal, and joined several of our Colleague Connections for in-person gatherings.<\/p>\n Earth Ministry Across the Nation<\/strong> Joining over 70 other religious leaders from 35 states, we led a popular lobby training session to help prepare state leaders for Congressional visits on the Climate Action Now Act (HR 9), Driving America Forward Act (S 1094\/HR 2256) supporting electric vehicles, and faith principles for the Green New Deal.<\/p>\n Earth Ministry also participated in Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, DC and the United States Climate Action Network national conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oil on the Tideflats<\/strong> Earth Ministry members attended a Department of Ecology hearing on August 7 to ask the agency to protect our community and clean water from dirty oil pollution. This refinery currently accepts tar sands oil, a heavy oil that sinks in water, making it nearly impossible to recover.<\/p>\n Any expansion that increases the amount of crude oil at this facility will only further endanger both human and aquatic life in and around Commencement Bay, as well as everywhere along US Oil\u2019s rail and barge import and export routes. We will continue to engage with Ecology to strengthen the regulatory process while paying close attention to any news of expansion.<\/p>\n Bringing Sk\u2019ali Ch\u2019elh-tenaut Home: Salmon, Orcas, and the Salish Sea For years, Earth Ministry\/WAIPL and Northwest faith leaders have supported the Lummi Nation Totem Pole Journeys. This year\u2019s focus was resilience and healing for qwe lhol mechen, the \u201ckiller whale people that live under the water,\u201d and for us all in a troubled time from which we shall rise again.<\/p>\n The Puyallup Tribe graciously hosted the Totem Pole Journey stop in Tacoma, uniting tribal members, faith leaders, and the local community in a shared effort to protect the Salish Sea by recovering endangered orca populations and stopping the nearby fracked gas (LNG) plant being built in violation of tribal treaties. Lutheran Bishop Richard Jaech was one of the featured speakers.<\/p>\n In Seattle, a representative from Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment (Nez Perce Tribe) shared a message of solidarity with Lummi and awareness of the connection between endangered Snake River salmon and our beloved orcas. From California to Washington, people of faith joined with Native leaders in calling for immediate action to release Sk\u2019ali Ch\u2019elh-tenaut and to restore orcas, salmon, and the Salish Sea. The Fight Continues on Tacoma LNG<\/strong> At the Puyallup\u2019s request, Earth Ministry wrote, circulated, and delivered a letter that was signed by 17 other social justice organizations asking that the City of Tacoma address the special threats that the LNG plant poses to those who are detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC).<\/p>\n The facility, a for-profit immigration prison, is within the potential hazard zone of the LNG facility. No official document explains how the 1,575 people that can be detained at the NWDC would be kept safe in the event of an explosion at the LNG plant similar to the one at Plymouth, Washington in 2014 which injured five people and caused $69 million in damages.<\/p>\n The unique coalition effort spearheaded by Earth Ministry represented indigenous communities, people of faith, immigrants\u2019 rights advocates, and communities of color united on an issue of intersectional justice. We asserted that we stand with the Puyallup Tribe in their request for more studies that would properly address the project\u2019s safety risks, especially in regard to individuals detained at the NWDC.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Puget Sound Energy has disregarded public process and proceeded to build the LNG facility without fully consulting with the Puyallup Tribe or obtaining proper permits. This is a moral failing and totally unacceptable.<\/p>\n Earth Ministry coordinated faith community turnout at a Puget Sound Clean Air Agency hearing in Tacoma on August 27 and input during the public comment period. Together we demanded that the agency address the lack of meaningful consultation with the Puyallup Tribe and deny permit approval for this dirty and dangerous project.<\/p>\n Earth Day Northwest 2020<\/strong> Houses of worship, denominations, and religious organizations across a diversity of faith traditions will be invited to develop a creation care covenant by Earth Day (April 22, 2020), and commit to 1-5 projects that exhibit their values. We\u2019re hard at work developing a resource toolkit with sample covenants and project ideas, which will be rolled out later this fall. Stay tuned for more information and opportunities to engage your faith community!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Earth Ministry Events & Presentations Earth Ministry\u2019s recent congregational outreach included presentations at or events with First Presbyterian in Port Townsend; St. Augustine\u2019s in-the-Woods Episcopal on Whidbey Island; First Lutheran in Richmond Beach; Bothell United Methodist Church; St. James Cathedral,… <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/3-IPL-solar-by-Bill-Bradlee.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nEarth Ministry was well represented at several national events in the last few months. We were in Washington, DC this summer, presenting at the national Interfaith Power & Light conference and to lobby for climate protections on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n
\nOn the embattled Tacoma Tideflats, the US Oil refinery was recently purchased by Par Pacific which has stated its intentions to expand the facility. Expansion will increase oil-by-rail that will impact local water quality and raise the risk of spills across our region and in the Salish Sea.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>This summer, Lummi Nation welcomed their orca totem pole home from Miami in a series of events along the west coast. The totem pole is named for Sk\u2019ali Ch\u2019elh-tenaut, otherwise known as Tokitae or Lolita, who is the last surviving orca taken from Puget Sound nearly 50 years ago and who remains in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium. The Lummi are demanding the release of Sk\u2019ali Ch\u2019elh-tenaut so she may return home to her native waters and family in the Salish Sea.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nEarth Ministry\/WAIPL continues to be a strong ally to the Puyallup Tribe in their opposition to the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant being built adjacent to the Tribe\u2019s land and waters on the Tacoma Tideflats.<\/p>\n
\nNext year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Earth Ministry Program & Outreach Director Jessica Zimmerle is co-chairing the Faith Leadership Team for Earth Day Northwest 2020 and is here to help your community get ready.<\/p>\n