Being the Change

On my fridge is a magnet imprinted with the famous Ghandi quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world." The magnet serves as a constant reminder that change isn't about telling someone else they need to fix something...change starts from within.

Change at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Covenant started with Bernadine Coates. At a stature of about 4'11", Bernadine is a formidable leader with devout love for her God and God's Creation, and a humble respect for the slow process of change. She had taken classes at a local conservancy about planting native species. After dabbling with it at home, she wanted to help her church do this, too. That’s when they heard about Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC).

We helped them connect with Blue Water Baltimore, who conducted a water audit and guided them through the process of implementing stormwater management projects on their grounds. IPC met with a large crowd from her church to help them understand why reducing stormwater is our moral responsibility. We guided them through a process to envision their church as a vehicle for healing the environment…to envision themselves as the change they want to see. Immediately after that meeting, one of the attendees walked out to their parking lot and noticed the downstream street drain was mucked up with trash and leaves, and cleaned it out right then and there! Change was beginning to take root.

The church’s 23,000-square foot parking lot/roof generates 650,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually. After securing $72,000 in grant funds for the design and implementation of two rain gardens, they will soon begin construction of the project which will treat ~25% of their impervious surfaces. They have been patiently and steadily working on this effort for over 2 years…the slow process of change.

And, Bernadine and her church didn’t stop there. They continue to engage their community in educational programs and advocacy. Bernadine brought several women from her church to Annapolis for the Environmental Legislative Summit in January. She also shares our e-newsletters and advocacy action alerts with her fellow congregants. Bernadine’s church recognizes their ability to be change agents – on their grounds, in their messaging, and in the halls of power.

Christians started the season of Lent last week. It is a season of change, but we’re also reminded in the Bible that we shouldn’t be proud or boastful about the changes we’re making. It should be a quiet journey with our God -- one that shows by example, not by words, the love and mystery of the God's Kingdom. You will never hear Bernadine boast about the work her church has done or the changes they are slowly making within. But, you can see it when you visit them, you can hear it when you speak to her, and you can witness it when they engage in public discourse in Annapolis.

Be inspired to be that witness in your community…be that quiet, committed, constant change.

Speaking out in Maryland

This is the time that many bills are starting to be voted on in subcommittees, and then will begin to move to the full Senate or House floor. Calls to your legislators are very important in the coming weeks -- time is of the essence and emails will not likely be as influential as phone calls. To track down the contact information for your state Senators and Delegates click on www.mdelect.net and enter your address.

Foam Ban

• Bill details and talking points can be found here. 
• Those living in rural/central Maryland and on the Eastern Shore, your calls to your HOUSE representatives would be very important this week. 
• Phone Script is here

Antibiotics Restrictions in Agriculture

• Bill details and talking points are here 
• Calls to specific legislators are important based on their role on Senate and House committees. These include
  • Senate: Kasemeyer, Peters, King, Carter-Conway, Middleton, Guzzone, Kagan, Miller
  • House: McCray, Barve, Beidle, Knotts, Jalisi, Gilchrist
• Phone Script is here

Forest Conservation

• Bill details and talking points are here
• This bill will face a tough battle in the House. Please contact your HOUSE representatives, particularly ones that serve on the House Environment & Transportation Committee.
• Phone Script is here

Ban on Fracking - The rally on March 2nd was a huge success with hundreds of attendees! Continue calling your legislators if you support this bill. 

One Water Partnership-Spirtually Led Nature Walks in the Jones Falls

Prince George's County Alternative Compliance Program (ACP)

Sign up NOW for our April 4th ACP Workshop! Prince George's County congregations can learn how to save money through the Alternative Compliance Program Options 2 & 3. Sign-up HERE for either the April 4thworkshop or the final workshop on May 10th. Download and share the flyer HERE. Offered by IPC and our partner the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

Hurry to Sign Up - Only 2 spots left in our Vacation Bible School/Sunday School Training in Prince George's County

Thanks to St. Stephen's Baptist Church, Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, Fort Washington Baptist Church, Walker Mill Baptist Church, Jerusalem AME, Richie Baptist Church, Union Bethel AME, and First Baptist Church of North Brentwood 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:

Project Clean Stream

Join the largest annual volunteer cleanup event in the Chesapeake Bay region! Every spring, tens of thousands of volunteers come together to clean up local streams and neighborhoods as part of the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay's Project Clean Stream. Cleanups take place across the entire Chesapeake watershed, in all 6 Bay states and DC. Cleanups will take place all spring, from March 1 to June 9. If you would like to register a cleanup or volunteer at one, please click HERE to visit their website.

Clean Drain Campaign

The Baltimore Clean Drain Campaign is a public awareness campaign to keep Baltimore's citizens fed - and homes and streams free of sewage. For every resident that pledges to dispose of their used cooking grease and wipes properly, sponsors will donate cash to a participating food pantry. The pledge drive will open on March 16. To see a list of food pantries or get more information, please click HERE.

Water Justice

Trinity Institute at the Cathedral of the Incarnation Baltimore will once again host the Trinity Institute Conference and this year's theme is Water Justice. Access to clean water is an essential human right, yet such access is increasingly compromised by droughts, pollution, rising tides, and flooding. These effects of climate change are most tangibly felt by the very people the Gospel urges us to look to—the marginalized and the vulnerable. This conference, infused with spiritual principles and common prayer along with science and solutions, allows us to deeply examine what connects us, and empowers us to take unified, faith-based action on the front lines of the water justice movement. The conference will be held March 22-24. Click HERE for more information or click HERE to register.