Press Advisory: To schedule an interview, please contact Frederick Butler at (e) [email protected] or (p) (510) 444-4891
Faith Leaders Hold Preach-In to Address Climate Change On Valentine’s weekend 1,500 congregations nation-wide will preach love for Creation
February 13, 2014 – Hundreds of congregations across the country will take part in a three-day campaign this Valentine’s Day weekend to raise awareness about Creation stewardship and particularly climate change—an issue of increasing urgency due to extreme weather around the nation. Meanwhile, industrial coal accidents causing massive water contamination in West Virginia and North Carolina have underscored the need for stronger environmental safeguards. Interfaith Power & Light’s annual 2014 Preach-In on Climate Change, running February 14-16th, encourages all faith groups to discuss the challenge of climate change from a spiritual perspective, inspire their congregants with God’s love for Creation, and to urge policy makers to support climate protection.
Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) is a national organization with over 40 state affiliates and a network of 15,000 congregations advocating for climate awareness and environmental protection as a moral issue. After services, participants will sign “Love Creation” valentines to their senators urging support for the EPA’s action to limit carbon pollution from power plants.
The landmark proposal is central to President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, and is set to be finalized next month. “As people of faith, we have a sacred duty to love our neighbors,” said The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham, an Episcopal priest and president of IPL. “Burning fossil fuels creates pollution, harms our neighbors’ health, and is causing unprecedented climate change. Our nation must move rapidly towards renewable energy alternatives. Our houses of worship are leading by example. We are making God our valentine.” The Preach-In offers sample sermons, along with suggested activities with themes of environmental stewardship and climate change through community activities, such as neighborhood prayer gatherings, and free screenings of the film Chasing Ice. For more information on the Preach-In, including a map showing local events, please visit: www.preachin.org.
To schedule an interview, please contact Frederick Butler at (e) [email protected] or (p) (510) 444-4891
