Who We Are
Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake works to engage congregations in being good caretakers of our shared watershed.
We envision a future where faith communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed embrace their shared responsibility to honor, protect, and restore the land and water that sustain us — so that our neighbors and future generations may flourish.
The Chesapeake watershed spans 64,000 square miles and is home to more than 18 million people and over 19,000 congregations. Imagine the impact if every congregation joined together in caring for our shared waters. The potential for transformation is extraordinary.
IPC advances this vision in two key ways. First, we inspire and equip people of faith to recognize their power to advance clean water and environmental justice. Second, we provide hands-on support to help congregations plan, fund, and implement practical restoration projects — including rain gardens, tree plantings, native plantings, and other community-based environmental improvements.
IPC partners with hundreds of congregations across Maryland and continues to expand into Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Congregations are invited to deepen their commitment by signing the Partner Congregation Pledge — click here to explore who has already joined IPC, and learn how your community can be part of this growing movement.
Annual Reports
2022-2024 Strategic Plan
Our Story
IPC's story starts with an inspired group of individuals who came together at the 2004 National Council of Churches "Holy Waters" conference in Annapolis, Maryland and later in 2010 founded Chesapeake Covenant Community.
In 2013, we became Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to reflect the diversity of faith communities in the Chesapeake region and our intention to engage people across different traditions.
We believe that communities of faith can bring about a transformation of awareness and action that reflects respect for one another, our brothers and sisters in this watershed, and for future generations. Through water we are all connected.
Our funding comes from voluntary donations from individuals and congregations and grants from foundations. A significant $1 million grant was awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 2019 which has significantly underwritten our efforts to engage congregations in the One Water Partnership hubs.
Our Mission and Values
IPC’s mission is to inspire and equip people of faith to honor, protect, and restore our shared watershed.
Our core values guide the way we work:
Respect – Out of love for each other, we cherish nature and strive to protect all of Creation today and for future generations.
Action – Our work is rooted in hope and we live out our call to stewardship by taking action.
Justice - We acknowledge existing injustices and work to achieve a healthy watershed for all community members of every socio-economic status and race.
Inclusion – We strive to build community with all people of conscience, all faiths, all races and cultures, working together for the common good.
Accountability – We are responsible for the resources entrusted to us and expect the same from our partners.
Honors and Awards
Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake is an award-winning non-profit that is leading the way in engaging the faith community in environmental education, advocacy and action in the Chesapeake Region.
2014 Melanie Teems Award recipient, honored by the Chesapeake Bay Trust
2014 Agus-Shehan Interfaith Leadership Award, honored by the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council
2017 Community Ecology Award, honored by the Community Ecology Institute (awarded to Executive Director, Jodi Rose)
2018 Restoring Creation Award, honored by Presbyterians for Earth Care
2019 Environmental Achievement Award, honored by the City of Gaithersburg
2021 Green Friends of Gaithersburg, honored by the City of Gaithersburg
2022 Pursuit of Equity Prize, honored by the Steinman Foundation and Lancaster Community Foundation
2023 Maryland Watershed Champion Award (awarded to Former Executive Director, Jodi Rose), honored by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
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