A Dialogue on Austin Clergy Response to Climate Change and the Environment

February 18, 2008, 8:00AM to Noon, Congregation Beth Israel, 3800 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas

Co-Chairs:

• Rabbi Steve Folberg, Congregation Beth Israel
• Reverend Sam Riccobene, First Presbyterian Church
• Reverend Tina Carter, The Rock United Methodist Church

Sponsors:

• Texas Impact/Texas Interfaith Power & Light
• Austin Area Interreligious Ministries

Every day we see more information about the religious community getting involved in environmental issues. There are many who would say the environment is the defining issue facing faith communities today. But exactly how and where do we fit in?

How can concern for God's earth flow out of a religious life?

How does one preach about climate change and the environment to a congregation that may not welcome hearing about these issues?

What’s going on in the public and private sectors and how should faith communities relate to those initiatives?

Should congregations pursue environmental issues as a political activity?

Does working on environmental initiatives come at the expense of the more traditional types of work of faith communities?

How does one create opportunities for congregants to work on environmental issues within the faith community, in their own homes and in the community at large?

How can we as clergy work effectively given limited resources and the enormity of the problems? And how can we feel strengthened and hopeful in light of the urgency of the threats facing our planet?

A dialogue on these issues will provide our Austin clergy community an opportunity to come together to share our experiences, learn from each other, highlight our commonalities and goals, and find a path where, together, we can seek change.

Agenda

8:00 Breakfast

8:30 Welcome and Introduction

8:45 Discussion: Faith Communities and the Environment.
Moderated by Rabbi Steve Folberg, Congregation Beth Israel

9:30 Panel Discussion: Opportunities to Lead, Opportunities to Serve. Austin Climate Protection Plan; State Energy Efficiency and Green Power Opportunities; Issues at the State and National Levels

10:30 Break

10:45 State of the Congregations: Small Group Discussions on What Austin Congregations are doing Today

11:30 Reports from Small Groups and Next Steps

12:00 Lunch

Confirmed speakers include Austin Mayor Will Wynn and TXIPL Executive Director Bee Moorhead.

To make a reservation please email cara@texasimpact.org.
For more information, call Texas Interfaith Power & Light/Texas Impact at 472-3903, or visit us online at www.txipl.org