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The Heart of Our Work

Response to Systemic Racism

June 4, 2020 By chris

Featured image from Jamar Lanham at a protest in Raleigh, NC during the weekend of May 30-31, 2020. #Lanhamphotography Posted on June 3, 2020 NCIPL envisions a stable climate where […]

Response to Systemic Racism

June 4, 2020 by chris

Featured image from Jamar Lanham at a protest in Raleigh, NC during the weekend of May 30-31, 2020. #Lanhamphotography

Posted on June 3, 2020

NCIPL envisions a stable climate where humans live in right and just relationships, interconnected with a healthy, thriving, natural world. NCIPL accomplishes its mission by encouraging a culture shift towards environmental justice and creation care, while underscoring the importance of climate action for people of faith and conscience as a moral imperative.

NCIPL has adopted the US Climate Action Network’s JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Statement as our guiding values. In order to live into this vision, we must talk about, and unlearn, the sin of racism. That means dedicating ourselves to environmental justice and therefore racial justice. It also means speaking honestly and openly about our current moment. 

Fighting structural racism is – and must be – integral to NCIPL’s climate justice mission. As we mourn, listen, learn, and mobilize we will be redoubling our efforts to fight for equality.

We at NCIPL are fully committed to making that happen, and the first step is for us all to state unequivocally that Black Lives Matter.

As the Creation Care program of the NC Council of Churches, we are also sharing with you our Governing Board Statement and press release below.

In prayer and action,

Susannah Tuttle, M.Div
NCIPL Director

Sarah Ogletree, M.Div
NCIPL Program Coordinator


Statement from the North Carolina Council of Churches

A resolution adopted by the Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches, June 2, 2020.

Whereas the North Carolina Council of Churches was founded in 1935, primarily for the purpose of addressing racial inequity and racial injustice, and 

Whereas our white founders soon recognized that racial equity and racial justice should not be discussed without including racially/ethnically diverse voices and so included black faith leaders from North Carolina as members of the Council by 1943, and 

Whereas we have striven together in these eight decades to support the Civil Rights Act, support the Voting Rights Act, lament the deaths of untold black neighbors whose names are written on the heart of God and on the hearts of those who loved them, call for justice when the systems of justice failed us, and hold firm to the belief that our diversity makes us stronger, and

Whereas the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer while three other white officers watched has exacerbated an already unacceptable devaluing of black and brown lives, and

Whereas racism has been compared to a complex underground rhizome that spreads unseen before erupting into specific social structures (e.g., law enforcement), concentrating attention on this part of the structure while the main tumor continues to strengthen racism in the remainder of the system, and 

Whereas we recognize and confess that the racist systems in which we live primarily benefit white people, we therefore place a higher expectation on white people to do the necessary work of dismantling these systems;

The Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches hereby resolves to press ahead with urgency to understand the dynamics of racism in all of its manifestations and to be transformative in society by working across systems and structures where interpersonal, systemic and institutional racism operate, and to work to dismantle the racist systems that perpetuate and allow violence against black and brown bodies. 

We will immediately and actively:

  1. Bear witness to the Gospel that proclaims each of us are beloved of God; 
  2. Educate people, particularly white people, about the underlying structures of systemic racism, especially educational, health care, judicial, economic, religious, and governmental systems;
  3. Teach the truth that white privilege benefits white people in ways that must be acknowledged by them; 
  4. Empower white people to move beyond passive support to become active allies of black and brown people;
  5. Denounce the increased militarization of our local police forces and call for accountability such as: ban chokeholds and strangleholds, implement use-of-force continuums, institute de-escalation training, establish diversity and inclusion training, and require comprehensive community reporting;
  6. Confess that white supremacy infects the very systems that are meant to ensure “liberty and justice for all”; 
  7. Disrupt the current systems by refusing to accept indifference (“It’s not my problem”), claims of innocence (“I’m not a racist”), disavowal of responsibility (“I don’t see color”), minimizing the issue (“All lives matter”), or willful helplessness (“There’s nothing I can do”); and
  8. Create systems that tangibly make rapartions for the damage of over 400 years of slavery and oppression by standing in solidarity with and amplifying the voices of black and brown people who have experienced suffering, pain and violence as a result of the current systems. 

—

Founded in 1935, the North Carolina Council of Churches enables denominations, congregations, and people of faith to impact our state on issues such as racial equity, farmworker rights, environment, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice and development, human well-being, equality, compassion and peace, following the example and mission of Jesus Christ. The Council comprises 26 distinct judicatories from 18 denominations. Across the state, our members have over 6,200 congregations with about 1.5 million congregants. For more information about the Council’s 85-year history, visit www.ncchurches.org. To stay up to date on progressive, faith-based news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

 

Filed Under: Blog, The Heart of Our Work

Faith in Solar

May 25, 2017 By chris

Every faith tradition has a mandate within sacred texts to care for creation. Clean, renewable, solar energy is a critical component of creation care in the 21st Century. On April […]

Faith in Solar

May 25, 2017 by chris

Every faith tradition has a mandate within sacred texts to care for creation. Clean, renewable, solar energy is a critical component of creation care in the 21st Century.

On April 26 NC WARN’s Faith in Solar effort, endorsed by the North Carolina NAACP, the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, and 150 individual faith leaders, wrote to Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good. The letter calls for Duke Energy to partner with them to help slow climate change by facilitating the installation of solar power systems on houses of worship around the state. The alliance, led by Rev. Dr. Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. of Charlotte, asked for a meeting to discuss ideas it has developed for a new program that would help faith organizations overcome obstacles to going solar, such as the upfront cost.

A part of the letter reads:

“In this time of enormous challenges, we feel that this partnership is urgently needed. Earth Care and stewardship are an integral part of our purpose, and climate scientists’ increasingly dire warnings require that we contribute as much as possible, as quickly as possible, to help solve the climate crisis.” Rev. Sadler noted today: “God has given us an ample supply of energy from the sun. Shouldn’t houses of faith take the lead in using it?”

In response to the letter, Duke Energy  is working to set up a meeting with the group and Susannah Tuttle will participate in the meeting as a representative of the NC Council of Churches and director of NC Interfaith Power and Light.

As an alliance member, Rabbi Jen Feldman of Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel Hill, which put solar panels on its roof in 2015, said “We were fortunate to be able to install solar. We are happy to be doing our part to promote a clean energy future. But we realize not everyone has this opportunity now, and we would like to see all North Carolina houses of worship have the option to install solar, making a contribution to the climate solution and saving money to help fund the other important work they do.”

Mitigating further climate change through development and dissemination of renewable energy is part of our faithful response to preserve and protect the beauty and goodness of the Sacred Earth upon which we are all interdependent.

Filed Under: Blog, The Heart of Our Work

The People’s Climate March

May 7, 2017 By chris

Multi-faith pilgrims on a moral high road unifed to honor God’s creation at the Peoples Climate March on the National Mall, April 29.  The event drew 200,000 people from every […]

The People’s Climate March

May 7, 2017 by chris

Multi-faith pilgrims on a moral high road unifed to honor God’s creation at the Peoples Climate March on the National Mall, April 29.  The event drew 200,000 people from every state with broad support from over 400 sister marches in the U.S. and around the world.

Interfaith Power & Light was represented by over 40 state affiliate groups including over 100 North Carolinians marching with NCIPL as part of the “Keepers of Faith” contingent expressing our deep concern from our moral, ethical and spiritual perspectives about the devastation of God’s planet and people, particularly the poor and most vulnerable.

“The current Congress and the administration have taken regressive, destructive positions on climate change, denying basic climate science, proposing policies that will harm human health, eliminate green jobs, and increase greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rev. Fletcher Harper, national coordinator of the PCM faith contingent and executive director of GreenFaith, a global interfaith coalition for the environment.  “This is exactly the wrong direction, and it is sinful.”

“Over the last seven years, I have spoken to thousands of people in local congregations,” said Joelle Novey, director of Interfaith Power and Light of DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia and coordinator of local faith organizing for the March.  “In every one of those congregations, good folks understand that burning fossil fuels is pouring heat-trapping climate pollution into our skies, causing our earth to warm, harming our neighbors and all Creation — and that we are called to respond.”

Community organizer and pastor Rev. Leo Woodberry made the trip from Florence, South Carolina with 100 community and church members from Kingdom Living Temple, and the local high school choir.  “We came to Washington, DC, because as people of color and faith, we have a moral obligation to advocate for those who will be most harmed by the Administration’s proposed budget cuts.”

“Climate justice is one of the great ethical, social, and humanitarian challenges of our time and so our faith impels us to act,” says Patrick Carolan, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network, which has led organizing of the Catholic community for the March.  “To allow so many to suffer, to stand by and to watch as the planet that has sustained us for so long struggles to survive, is inarguably immoral.”

The mass demonstration encircled the White House grounds for a silent sit-in as we all beat our hands to our chests as a unified heartbeat followed by a collective breaking into a wave of sound as thousands of people chanted “the seas are rising, and so are we!”

The People’s Climate March was a momentous event that we hope will serve to further inspire those of us already involved and be an example to others that this movement is here, passionate, and diverse. And finally, thanks to YOU, NCIPL’s amazing supporters, for motivating us to be a part of this March and supporting all the work we do here in NC; we couldn’t do it without you!

Filed Under: Blog, The Heart of Our Work

We Are “Springing into Action”!

March 27, 2015 By reuben

Though the week’s main events have passed, it’s not too late to be involved. Click here to join NCIPL’s virtual advocacy campaign and send a message to your representatives asking them to support clean energy […]

We Are “Springing into Action”!

March 27, 2015

Though the week’s main events have passed, it’s not too late to be involved. Click here to join NCIPL’s virtual advocacy campaign and send a message to your representatives asking them to support clean energy for North Carolina!

Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
NCIPL leaders with state senator Josh Stein

 

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Spring Into Action kickoff week a success! You participated from all over the state, listening in to our webinar, sending messages to your representatives through our virtual advocacy campaign, and traveling in person to enjoy our Spring Into Action Celebration and participate in our inaugural Faith Voices for Clean Energy advocacy day. It’s been quite a week!

Greg Andeck, EDF
Greg Andeck, EDF

We started things off last week with an Advocacy Webinar, co-hosted with Greg Andeck from Environmental Defense Fund, where we talked about the current state of clean energy policies, the legislative process, and how to put our faith into action through advocating with compassion. Check out that webinar here.

We were lucky to have a special guest for this week’s activities, the Rev. Sally Bingham, founder and President of Interfaith Power & Light. She helped kick things off this past Tuesday with a special call to action announcing NCIPL’s Spring Into Action campaign; click here to view her message.

Rev. Sally Bingham
Rev. Sally Bingham
NCIPL EWG
John Seymour, NCIPL Energy Savings Analysis Auditor, receiving his award.

Tuesday evening we had our very first Spring Into Action Celebration, which featured a reception at the Museum of Natural Sciences.  Rev. Bingham shared a very moving account of her personal journey to this work, and we honored of John Seymour, one of our main auditors for our Empowered Energy Program which provides energy savings analysis for faith communities at no charge.  John has performed over 100 of these energy savings analyses.  Thanks to those involved and the many friends who came out for this fun evening!

We were also lucky to have Dayna Reggero and the Climate Listening Project with us. Check out the short video they made about the event at their facebook page.

Spring Into Action Celebration
Enjoying the Spring Into Action Celebration

Our final event was NCIPL’s inaugural Faith Voices for Clean Energy, a day of advocacy at the state legislature. We had 30 people come and take part in 27 meetings with key legislators throughout the day. NCIPL is extremely grateful to all those who took part in this momentous event. We shared our vision with over two dozen representatives, letting them know that people of faith across the state yearn for sustainable energy and a clean, healthy North Carolina.

Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
Advocacy Day participants start the day off with a prayer

We could not have done it without a lot of support.   First off, thank you to everyone who took part in our events this past week and who support our work year round. We were also glad to have so many friends from groups we work with in attendance, including those from the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, Audubon North Carolina, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. We would also like to extend a special thanks to the Raleigh office of the Environmental Defense Fund who were integral in helping put on the week’s events. Finally, we would like to thank the Rev. Sally Bingham for her inspiring presence and leadership which helped make these events successful.

Faith Voices for Clean Energy Advocacy Day
Scott Hardin-Nieri, Bruce Clarke, Veronica Shingleton, Jane Laping, and the Rev. Thomas Murphy

It’s also not too late to get involved! You can still take part in our Spring Into Action Campaign through our virtual advocacy page, where you can send a message to your representatives asking them to support clean energy for North Carolina.

We hope you stay tuned and stay in touch! We can’t wait to have more special events like these and move creation care to the forefront of our spiritual and political lives.

Filed Under: Blog, In the News, Slideshow Featured, The Heart of Our Work Tagged With: Advocacy, Lobby day, Sally Bingham, Spring Into Action

The Heart of Our Work

August 4, 2013 By chris

EmPOWERed

Clean energy is the future. Click here for ways your congregation can participate.

Sacred Foodscapes for All Creation

Make the food-faith-climate connection. Read more.

Worship

Worship is at the heart of what you do. Click here for resources, models and collaborative campaigns.

The Heart of Our Work

August 4, 2013 by chris

Filed Under: The Heart of Our Work

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Eco-Justice Connection
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

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