A total of 140 moderate Baptist leaders signed a June 18 letter urging passage of a comprehensive energy bill that includes caps on emissions linked to global warming.  The letter urges strengthening and support for the "American Clean Energy and Security Act" and calls for increased support for the "marginalized and those most at risk" from climate change.  Read the full letter with signatures here.

Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, endorsed the cuirrent legislation in a May 28 editorial on the BCE website EthicsDaily.com: "Our faith calls us to care for creation and the poor in the concrete, not in the abstract," Parham wrote. "Protecting the environment protects the marginalized. One realistic step toward protecting both is supporting the House climate bill."

United Methodist Peace and Justice Educator Bren Hardt was published this morning in the Houston Chronicle.  Her letter, linking national efforts to address climate change to the weather damage seen in her garden, can be found here.

On Wednesday, May 27th, 2009, almost 100 people gathered in Houston for the inaugural event of Houston Interfaith Power and Light, “Faith Voices for the Earth: A Contemplative Candlelight Service.” Mayor Bill White addressed the gathering, urging people to consider the earth and ecological concerns from a place of humility and respect. Religious leaders included Zen Teacher Gaelyn Godwin, Rabbi Robert Haas, Reverend Lisa Hunt, Reverend David Keyes, Sister Ceil Roeger, and Reverend Jeremy Rutledge. Music was offered by members of the Covenant Church choir and the Houston Civic Symphony.

The service closed with lovely cello music on the outdoor labyrinth under the light of the moon. The event’s organizer and host, Reverend Jeremy Rutledge, submitted the following on the subject of the vigil and on Houston IPL’s beginnings:

"It is fitting that Houston should have the first city chapter of Interfaith Power and Light. As the nation's energy capital, and a city of extraordinary religious diversity, we hope to play a key role in linking the ways we produce and consume energy and the moral and ethical teachings of our faith traditions."  Read the full story here.

On Saturday, May 9th, 40 people from different faith traditions gathered in Cedar Park, TX around a common cause: care for our planet.  In prayer, poetry, pictures and song, religious leaders called for action to heal the earth.

The vigil was held the evening before Mother's Day, the day first envisioned in the U.S. as a "Mother's Day for Peace," a day to work for peace in the world.  In that spirit, the vigil focused on peace and justice for the Earth and all its inhabitants.
Read more here.

This year marks the second year that Texans can save money in two ways: in the short term thanks to a sales tax holiday on purchases of Energy Star products, and in the long term through energy savings from their use. The Texas Legislature established Texas' Energy Star sales tax holiday in 2007 as part of HB3693, a comprehensive energy efficiency bill which Texas religious communities helped to support. Texas is the fourth state to adopt an energy efficiency sales tax holiday.

The Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday is May 23rd - May 25th, 2009. The products qualifying for the exemption are:

All are welcome to attend this free screening of “Fighting Goliath” at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m. Following the film presentation, Ryan Rittenhouse, a member of SEED (Sustainable Energy and Environmental Development), will lead a discussion and question period.

Click here for more information about the film and to find out how you can get a free copy for your congregation!

Every day should be a day to give thanks for the blessings of creation, rejoice, and work for earth’s preservation and restoration. But in the rush of life, it is all too easy to get sidetracked by tasks, errands, and to-do’s. It helps that we can agree on at least one day each year to remember, rededicate, and renew our connection and commitment to creation.

Earth Day is April 22nd. What are you doing that day?

Worship: Bring Earth Day into congregational life and worship!

• The National Council of Churches has many downloadable Earth Day resources that you can use in worship and learning.
• Get this great intercultural and interfaith book of Earth prayers: Earth Prayers from around the World: 365 Prayers, Poems, and Invocations for Honoring the Earth, edited by Elizabeth Roberts, and use the prayers in your religious education classes, committee and small group meetings, and at fellowship events.

On Saturday, March 28th, you and your congregation can vote in a world-wide election on global warming by turning off your lights for just one hour.  Earth Hour started in 2007 with 2.2 million people in Sydney, Australia making a statement by turning off their lights.  In 2008, Earth Hour went global with an estimated 50 million people around the world participating.

In 2009, Earth Hour is going to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but what planet you’re from.  Votes will be presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009, where the next steps in government policies for action against global warming will be determined.

Texas Impact presents the Texas Energy Future keynote by Van Jones.

Texas Impact brings you audio and video from Van Jones' keynote speech at the Texas Energy Future conference held at the Texas Capitol on February 18, 2009.

Click here for audio of the keynote.

Click here to watch video from the keynote

A high-quality version of the video is also available. (Note: You can download the audio and video files to your computer by right clicking the links above and choosing "Save Link As..." from the menu.)

At the Texas Energy Future Conference on Wednesday, February 18th, bestselling author Van Jones addressed a crowd of 500 Texans at the state capitol with a message of green opportunity—opportunity for clean energy, new jobs, and hope for those on the margins of society.