In chapter one of Genesis
– a book held sacred by Judaism, Christianity and Islam – God
gives Adam and Eve
”
dominion
”
over all the animals and plants upon the earth. The history of
humanity reflects this creation story as we have populated nearly
every part of the planet, using the resources we have found to
support our societies.
In chapter one of Genesis – a book held sacred by Judaism, Christianity and Islam – God gives Adam and Eve “dominion” over all the animals and plants upon the earth. The history of humanity reflects this creation story as we have populated nearly every part of the planet, using the resources we have found to support our societies.
For untold centuries forests have been leveled, minerals extracted, waters polluted and species destroyed – mostly without thought to future ramifications. The majority of scientists who have studied climate change fear that the earth may be facing a catastrophe, the potential destruction of living conditions on the planet.
Of course, this has become a divisive political issue, and some scientists and elected officials deny the reality of global man-made climate change and associated environmental damage. According to a story in “Scientific American,” Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) points to the story of Noah and the Great Flood in Genesis to prove that humans need not fear that God will allow the earth to be destroyed again.
Few other observers are this optimistic that God will save humans from our own ignorance and avarice; his view seems to be a distinctly minority position among America’s people of faith. According to a Pew Research Center poll of 2010, majorities of all major religious traditions studied favor strong environmental laws and regulations.
Not surprisingly, our state is home to an important faith-based movement for preserving the environment. In 2001, California Interfaith Power and Light was incorporated as an ecumenical organization seeking to combat global warming from a religious perspective, feeling the crisis has severe social, moral, economic and spiritual consequences. It is governed by a steering committee composed of representatives of faith-based organizations throughout the state:
– The Rev. Sally Bingham, canon of San Francisco’s Grace Episcopal Cathedral
– The Rev. Albert Cohan, executive director, Southern California Ecumenical Council
– Linda Cutts, dharma teacher, San Francisco Zen Center
– Mark Carlson, director, Lutheran Office of Public Policy
– Bhawana Kamil, South Bay Muslim Green Team
– Rabbi Marvin Goodwin, executive director, Northern California Board of Rabbis
– Father John Colman, SJ, St. Ignatius Parish, University of San Francisco
CIPL engages in many activities such as providing congregations resources to conduct energy audits of their facilities and finding ways to reduce energy consumption. Participating churches, synagogues and mosques have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by more than 64 million pounds through simple expedients like more efficient lighting, caulking leaks and using timers.
CIPL also engages in advocacy, lobbying Congress and the Legislature in favor of new legislation reducing carbon-based energy use and pollution while increasing clean-energy production such as wind and solar-power. It is affiliated with a nationwide organization, Interfaith Power and Light. This group promotes a religious response to global warming and works with 10,000 congregations in 38 states, with more joining the movement all the time.
Because IP&L frames the issue as faith-based rather than political, they have been able to recruit hundreds of Evangelical leaders to the cause of saving the environment, including Rick Warren of the famous Saddleback Church.
CIPL insists that “Every major spiritual tradition calls upon us to be faithful stewards of creation. We have a responsibility to protect the earth for our children and future generations. Current patterns of climate warming point to increases in heat-related illness and deaths, increased stress for crops, greater energy needs for cooling. Working together, individuals and communities of faith can model to the rest of the world how to be stewards of our precious creation.”
Locally, Morgan Hill’s Advent Lutheran Church has become a member of CIPL. Last summer the congregation selected this nonprofit organization to be the recipient of special mission financial contributions to support efforts in the areas of energy, recycling and education.
To learn more about the work of CIPL, including a list of participating congregations, helpful tools in combating energy waste and information about and how your religious organization can become part of this effort, visit www.interfaithpower.org.
