Eco-Justice Connection

An initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches

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EJC Voices

West Market Street United Methodist Church, Greensboro

By chris

West Market Street United Methodist Church’s Care4Creation team launched a “Let There Be Light” campaign during the month of April to educate the congregation about the benefits of LED light […]

West Market Street United Methodist Church, Greensboro

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Congregation Members at the LED Display
Congregation Members at the LED Display

West Market Street United Methodist Church’s Care4Creation team launched a “Let There Be Light” campaign during the month of April to educate the congregation about the benefits of LED light bulbs and to invite contributions towards purchasing bulbs for three highly used areas of the church.  The emphasis built up to a worship service on April 28 to celebrate God’s creation and call on the congregation to “Love What God Loves.”

In the spring of 2012, the Care4Creation ministry team at West Market St. UMC, located in downtown Greensboro, NC, conceived of the idea of reducing energy consumption in the church facility by switching to LED light bulbs, which are estimated to last ten times longer that conventional bulbs.  Not only would replacement reduce the wattage used by replacing 100 and 150 watt incandescent bulbs with 15 watt LED, the costs related to air conditioning in the Fellowship Hall and the Gathering Space where large groups of people convene for meetings, dinners, and a modern worship service would be greatly reduced.  In addition, the team wanted to replace the bulbs in the historic sanctuary to cut costs there as well.

With the guidance of an electrical designer and contractor, C4C researched LED bulbs’ cost, color quality, wattage, etc.  With bulbs costing $25-$40, the project seemed out of reach.  But the team realized that most church members would probably be willing to invest in a light bulb to help cut electrical costs in our large facility.  Information was shared with the church Trustees and Finance committees, who endorsed the project.

For four Sundays in April, the congregation members came to the LED Display which included a box wired with a incandescent bulb and an LED bulb to compare the light and the heat emitted from each.  A potter in the congregation donated a handmade lamp and an artist donated a painting of the church, which were given to two donors whose names were chosen at the end of the campaign. Persons were invited to donate $25 toward the purchase of an LED bulb.

The good news is that the congregation responded! Over $3,500.00 was raised.  Before purchasing bulbs, WMS will apply to the Duke Power Smart Saver Incentive program in hopes of being rewarded with a rebate for this proposal to cut energy costs. Then we will know what funds we will actually have to go towards the purchase and installation of LED bulbs. Let there be light: LED!

Contact Name: Rev. Pam Strader
Contact Email: revpls@earthlink.net
Contact Phone: 336-457-0091

Get your Congregation “On the Map” re: Caring for Creation

By chris

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out NCIPL’s success story map. The stories you read are diverse in faith, demographics, geography, themes, and approaches. Each congregation responds to climate […]

Get your Congregation “On the Map” re: Caring for Creation

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If you haven’t seen it yet, check out NCIPL’s success story map.

The stories you read are diverse in faith, demographics, geography, themes, and approaches. Each congregation responds to climate change in different ways- growing food for parishioners, growing food for neighbors, investing in energy efficiency, installing renewables, hosting educational series, and so on.

Many thanks and congratulations to the congregations that have already shared a story!

What has your congregation done? Something big, something small? From acknowledging the importance of Creation Care for the first time to installing solar panels, we want to hear what you’re up to! And, other congregants around the state want to hear about it as well. That is the purpose of this map- to lift up success stories and to inspire others to take action.

If your congregation is not yet on the map, we encourage you to make it a summer goal to sit down with the appropriate people and write up at least one story regarding something your congregation did- participated in the Preach-In, hosted an environmental movie screening, installed CFLs or LEDs, whatever you’ve done, please share the good news!

Earth Sabbath Celebrations – Free Resources

By chris

  As winter heads our way, consider hosting an Earth Sabbath Celebration. We have recently added several new services to the Celebration Resource Page and encourage you to check them […]

Earth Sabbath Celebrations – Free Resources

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Altar Raleigh ESC Jan 2013As winter heads our way, consider hosting an Earth Sabbath Celebration. We have recently added several new services to the Celebration Resource Page and encourage you to check them out. These services can be replicated or modified, so they provide a great resource for anyone looking to host a Celebration.

Both lay and ordained faith leaders lead these services on a regular basis, so don’t be intimated by the notion of leading a service.

We now have 10 complete services online.

And as a reminder, these services occur on a monthly basis in Raleigh. Please check our calendar for the next service in your area. Should you choose to organize an Earth Sabbath Celebration and would like for us to promote it, please submit it as an event.

Clergy Letter on Keystone Published in Politico

By chris

The following letter was sent to NC House members’ Legislative Directors and Energy and Environmental Legislative Assistants: I wanted to be sure that you saw this letter, published as a […]

Clergy Letter on Keystone Published in Politico

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The following letter was sent to NC House members’ Legislative Directors and Energy and Environmental Legislative Assistants:

I wanted to be sure that you saw this letter, published as a full page ad in Politico, and signed by over 150 clergy from diverse faith traditions and regions urging the President to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline on moral grounds.

As director of NC Interfaith Power & Light, I want to make sure you know that of the 150 signers of the letter, nearly 40 are from North Carolina.

NC faith communities are leaders in the national movement to leave a safe climate for future generations and to care for God’s Creation as a moral obligation.

NC Clergy Leaders are asking President Obama not to be tempted by the false promise of Tar Sands Oil. The letter is reminding the President of his words in the Inauguration, stating: “As people of faith, we share your conviction that ‘we are commanded by God to care for our planet’ and that the ‘failure to respond to the threat of climate change would betray our children and future generations.’”

We hope you also won’t be tempted by the false promises of the Keystone XL pipeline and the destructive practices of tar sands development. As Rev. Sally Bingham, who organized the letter said, “Building this pipeline is the exact opposite of the course we must take to safeguard our climate and move towards a clean energy economy.”

I’m very proud to serve as Director of NCIPL in support of all people of faith across our grand state and to be in touch with each of you that serve in government.  Thank you for your leadership.

With prayers & hope for the future,

 

Urge Senate to Support Gina McCarthy for EPA

By chris

From National IPL’s Blog: Update: Republican members of the Environment and Public Works Senate Committee ended their boycott. Her nomination passed on a party line vote. The Stand with Gina […]

Urge Senate to Support Gina McCarthy for EPA

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Joelle_GinaMcCarthy-268x300From National IPL’s Blog:

Update: Republican members of the Environment and Public Works Senate Committee ended their boycott. Her nomination passed on a party line vote. The Stand with Gina campaign has set up a toll free line with talking points, that will connect you to your senator if you’d like to thank them: call 1-888-997-5202.

Please take a minute to call your U.S. Senators and let them know of your support for Gina McCarthy, Nominee for the EPA Administrator.

Assistant Administrator for EPA’s office of Air and Radiation, Gina McCarthy has been nominated to replace Lisa Jackson. IPL urges her expeditious confirmation. Ms. McCarthy is a dedicated professional who worked for five Republican governors, including Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, before joining the Obama administration. She has worked with all stakeholders to develop pragmatic and cost-effective safeguards to protect public health and reduce dangerous pollution.

Ms. McCarthy is a clean air, climate, and public health champion. She led the EPA’s development of historic clean air protections, including: the first ever proposed carbon pollution standards for new power plants; the first carbon limits for vehicles; and lifesaving updates of standards that limit deadly soot, mercury and other toxic pollution.

Thank you for taking action on this important nomination today.

NC Utilities Commission Challenges Duke Energy

By chris

May 6, 2013, Charlotte, NC — The North Carolina Utilities Commission issued an order on Friday challenging Duke Energy to back up its Integrated Resource Plan – its long-term business plan – with more facts. The order questioned whether Duke is overestimating the amount of electricity it must generate and whether it is adequately pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy that would negate the need for Duke to continue raising rates on families and small businesses in North Carolina.

NC Utilities Commission Challenges Duke Energy

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May 6, 2013, Charlotte, NC — The North Carolina Utilities Commission issued an order on Friday challenging Duke Energy to back up its Integrated Resource Plan – its long-term business plan – with more facts. The order questioned whether Duke is overestimating the amount of electricity it must generate and whether it is adequately pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy that would negate the need for Duke to continue raising rates on families and small businesses in North Carolina. The order can be found here: http://ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us/cgi-bin/webview/senddoc.pgm?itype=Q&parm2=QAAAAA32131B&parm3=000139578

Greenpeace, NC WARN and NC Interfaith Power and Light offered the following statement in response: 

“Greenpeace, NC WARN and NC Interfaith Power and Light thank the North Carolina Utilities Commission for challenging Duke Energy to provide an explanation for why the company is not pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy that would result in lower rates for North Carolina’s families and small businesses.

“Ratepayers have showed up to hearings in Raleigh and Charlotte by the hundreds to ask these very questions, and today’s order shows that the Utilities Commissioners are listening.

“The Utilities Commission has also challenged Duke Energy for answers about its high electricity demand estimates, the public health impacts of its coal ash and air pollution, and the climate impacts of its continued reliance on fossil fuels.

“Many of Duke’s shareholders questioned CEO Jim Rogers at the company’s annual general meeting last week about why Duke hasn’t moved more aggressively to replace its coal and nuclear plants with wind and solar energy, instead of gas. Rogers acknowledged the need to invest more in renewable energy and efficiency, but did not offer a clear explanation for why Duke has been so slow to do so. Today’s order from the Utilities Commission offers Rogers yet another opportunity to explain Duke’s stubborn refusal to embrace cleaner, cheaper, modern forms of energy and efficiency.”