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Reflection: At the Same Table

One thing IPC prides itself on is that our audience includes people from the full political spectrum. This is intentional, and takes patience and discipline. IPC works carefully to craft our language, develop our programs, and articulate our stances on policy. Careless alienation of groups of people will result in only having half of us at the table working on clean water issues, but we know that we need EVERYONE to try to work together if we are going to succeed.

One of IPC’s strongest assets is our Board of Trustees – and I can gladly say that IPC’s Board is a diverse mix of people with varying views on politics and religion. What brings all of our Board members together is a unified vision to conserve, protect and restore clean water for all. And, that is the true power of IPC.

So, it is with great enthusiasm that I introduce our two newest Board members, Albert Todd and McKay Jenkins. Both of them bring extensive experience in the ecological arena. Al Todd’s career spans years as a hydrologist, forester, seasoned federal agency director and Executive Director of Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Jenkins is a professor of English-Journalism-Environmental Humanities at the University of Delaware, a former environmental journalist, and author of many books including Food Fight: GMOs and the Future of the American Diet, which was just released last month (Avery, 2017).

Al, McKay and all of our Board members have a singular mission in mind: to inspire, educate, and support people of faith to take action and advocate for clean water in the Chesapeake.

“I’ve been writing books about the human relationship with the natural world for 30 years, and teaching university courses in Contemplative Ecology and the Environmental Humanities for 25 years. Much of this work includes research in natural history and the sciences but also in cultural practices, especially history, politics, and spiritual traditions of all kinds. The work being done by IPC — nurturing a deeper engagement with our world, and enlisting faith communities to help with the restoration it so desperately needs — is an exemplary extension of what I consider my life’s work.” –McKay Jenkins

“Since I attended the first Earth Day in 1970, I have been connected to the work of protecting and restoring the environment. Anyone who loves nature, religious or not, knows the feeling of connection with the natural world that goes beyond the physical place we are in. I am delighted to be a part of IPC and to take part in furthering its mission of forming faithful stewards and caring for sacred waters. I firmly believe that to be successful in restoring and sustaining the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, we must engage all segments of society, working through broad and diverse communities of faith.” –Al Todd

All of us – you, our faithful reader included, – will only succeed in restoring clean water for all by acting together with a meaningful desire to be inclusive of all people, regardless of religion, race, or ideology. At a time when our country is so dangerously divided with hurtful rhetoric, we are hopeful that Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake can bring people together from differing political perspectives with a shared fundamental desire for clean water. May we all sit at the same table of our shared watershed.

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Maryland Legislative Update

Thank your to everyone who came out for the Environmental Legislative Summit and the the Advocacy Briefing Webinar. We had great turnouts at both events and many have told us they learned a lot about bills coming up this session in the Maryland legislature. To learn about some of the bills, you can click on our Advocacy page. We have lots of tools on there to help you take action, a few are highlighted below:

• Want to collect signatures from fellow congregants on a letter supporting the Ban on Styrofoam? Use this template HERE!
• Want to sign a petition supporting restrictions on Antibiotics - click HERE!
• Want to participate in a march and rally to support a ban on Fracking on March 2nd? Sign up HERE!

Check back to our Advocacy page often for updates and new tools or resources. 

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Feeding the Hungry - Protecting Clean Water

IPC is working with the Baltimore City Department of Public Works on a pilot program called the Clean Drain Campaign. Currently the campaign is open for Baltimore City Food Pantries to register to receive a financial donation that will be based on the number of people pledging to dispose of their fats, oils and grease in the garbage as opposed to pouring them down the drown. Keep an eye out for a future newsletter with information on how congregations can participate in the pledge drive. For now, if you know of a food pantry that would like to take part and receive a donation click HERE for more details.

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Prince George's County Congregations Come Learn How to Save Money through Alternative Compliance Program Options 2 & 3

IPC and our partner the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will be offering FREE workshops AND additional consulting support to help congregations navigate Options 2 & 3 of Prince George's County's Alternative Compliance Program. Sign-up HERE for one of the workshops offered on March 4th, April 4th and May 10th. Download and share the flyer HERE.

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Hurry to Sign Up - Only 6 spots left in our Vacation Bible School/Sunday School Program in Prince George's County

Thanks to Fort Washington Baptist Church, Walker Mill Baptist Church, Jerusalem AME and Richie Baptist Church that have already signed up!  And we are grateful that Mt. Ennon Baptist Church has graciously agreed to host the Training sessions.

A FREE training and curriculum for a Vacation Bible School (VBS) or SundaySchool program will be offered to churches in Prince George's County, through a grant provided by Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Prince George's County Department of Environment! Our program offers, for free:

• water-themed curriculum for 5 separate activities with materials
• training for your lead teachers, including a boat ride on the Anacostia for an in-depth experience of the content you'll be teaching
• pre-printed banner to hang outside and advertise your program
• one-on-one support for your team to help you succeed in putting on the program for your youth
• participating congregations will receive a 25% discount off their Clean Water Fee since this satisfies the educational requirement 
• More information on this flyer
• Click HERE to register for the workshops

 Email [email protected] to reserve your spot today!

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Charles County and Gaithersburg Opportunities

Is your congregation located in Charles County or City of Gaitherburg? There are grant opportunities open in both of these jurisdictions for projects such as tree plantings or rain garden installations. If you think your congregation would be interested in planting trees, installing a rain garden, installing a cistern, or doing education/outreach to the surrounding neighborhood, and you'd like to take advantage of these grant funds, please contact us. We will be putting together an application for these projects and can include your congregation in the request. Email our Program Manager Anna Awimbo at [email protected]. 

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Tu BiSh’vat Service, Dinner, and Discussion 

What should we do to respond to climate change? It is more important than ever for Jews to speak loudly and clearly in our sacred role as stewards of God's Creation.

Temple Sinai, Washington, DC, is hosintg a special Tu BiSh'vat service on Friday, February 10 at 6:30 PM. The service will feature Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) and Senior Vice-President of the Union for Reform Judaism. Services will be followed by a creative vegetarian feast featuring food from Chaia and Shemali’s and a discussion led by Rabbi Pesner. Find out what you can do to protect our planet for future generations!

Tickets for the dinner are available HERE. Email Regina Ziegler at [email protected] if you have questions.