On the weekend of October 21-23, Reverend Canon Sally Bingham, Founder and President of Interfaith Power & Light, brought to the Austin religious community a strong message about our shared responsibility to care for creation. Through a series of events, people came together to listen, learn, share, and connect.
The weekend kicked off on Friday evening at All Saints Episcopal Church with a community celebration of art and music, "Under the Same Sky," featuring an interactive performance by the Drumsistas.
On Saturday morning, Rev. Bingham offered a keynote speech about climate change that highlighted the challenges we face, our religious responsibility to respond, and the reasons we can hope for the future. Her address was followed by a panel presentation and community conversation with notable climate scientist, Dr. Camille Parmesan of the University of Texas at Austin; Ilan Levin of the Environmental Integrity Project; Amanda Yaira Robinson of Texas Interfaith Power & Light; and Rev. Sally Bingham.
Rev. Bingham preached both services at All Saints Episcopal Church on Sunday morning, and on Sunday afternoon, she and Amanda met with local representatives of the student division of the University Interfaith Council, Texas Hillel, and the Austin Zen Center. In this conversation, they explored possibilities for future interfaith partnership and student engagement in the work to care for people and the planet that we share.
Rev. Bingham's closing words from her Saturday address are a perfect summary of the weekend's overall message: "Let’s all commit to a regeneration of spirit," she said, "both inwardly and outwardly. Commit to being an example to others and show our love for Creation in all our behaviors. Choose resurrection and life over death and destruction. We are all in this together, one family with one shared purpose and one hope for all. We are here, and the time is now!"
The weekend was sponsored by Texas Interfaith Power & Light and All Saints Episcopal Church, and was co-sponsored by the Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the Seminary of the Southwest.