wisewords
turbine to supply power to his congrega-
tion became a beacon of light by serving
up hot food and warm-water showers to
the community.
Our “Cool Congregation” program
encourages families to compete with each
A Conversation
other to have the most energy-efficient
home. We hear stories of kids riding their
with Sally Bingham
bikes to church and even taking cold
showers to decrease their energy use.
Once people get the message of conser-
Community Minister,
vation, they become admirably creative.
National Activist
How are you building an interfaith
coalition that cuts across the political
spectrum?
by April thompson
These days, we’re doing a little more
advocacy work than we used to, getting
people to ask their legislators for laws
that will cut U.S. greenhouse gas emis-
T
he Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, a How do you engage average church-
priest at San Francisco’s Grace going Americans in big-picture issues
sions. During our lobby day in Wash-
Cathedral, is founder and presi- like the environment, when they may
ington in May, rabbis, Buddhists and
dent of the Regeneration Project, a non- be struggling to pay the bills?
Catholic priests walk the White House
profit organization dedicated to green-
halls to talk about these issues.
ing faith-based communities. Through We show people ways they can save
An unexpected consequence of our
their Interfaith Power and Light cam- money. We gave out 48,000 free com-
work is that people of diverse religions
paign, Bingham and her eco-apostles pact fluorescent light bulbs to our con-
have put their theological differences
have helped some 10,000 congrega- gregation, and they took them home and
aside for this common purpose. We de-
tions in 28 states to reduce their carbon reduced their energy bills immediately.
liver a similar message to politicians: If
footprint. There is a start-up cost to some of
you are a person of faith, then you have
A stay-at-home mom until she en- the alternatives we promote, but some-
a responsibility to care for creation, no
rolled in college at age 45, Bingham is times you have to spend money to save
matter your political affiliation.
a recipient of the Purpose Prize, which money. For example, we help congre-
honors leaders over 60 who are taking gations put in solar panels, which have
How can we learn to see living an
on society’s biggest challenges. She is a payback period of about eight years.
eco-friendly life as a spiritual practice?
the lead author of the 2009 book, Love Once installed, that congregation will
God, Heal Earth: 21 Leading Religious start getting electricity for free, and they
The first step is to understand the present
Voices Speak Out on Our Sacred Duty receive credit for any excess electricity
situation of environmental degradation.
to Protect the Environment. they sell back to the grid.
People generally want to do the right
thing. Years ago, I unconsciously behaved
What scriptures or spiritual teachings You founded Interfaith Power and Light
in ways that harmed our environment,
specifically impel you and others to act in 1997, when the idea of putting solar
but now, among other things, I compost,
to save the environment? panels on churches was revolutionary.
drive a fuel-efficient car and unplug ap-
Now that “green” has gone main-
pliances when they’re not in use.
The first and great commandment is stream, is it easier to get congregations
There is a discipline involved in
to love God and love your neighbor on board?
following any kind of spiritual path. But
as yourself. Your neighbor isn’t just the
eventually, it becomes who you are;
person next door; it’s also the gen- We no longer have to be proactive.
you’ll find that your heart grows bigger
eration after us. This is a mandate for People now come to us in such swarms;
in the process.
environmental protection. we barely have sufficient staff to deal
God asked us to be fruitful and with the requests, even though our na-
For more information, visit TheRegen-
erationProject.org.
multiply and “tend the garden.” We’ve tional office employs eight people.
certainly multiplied; now we need We have some tremendous success
April Thompson is a Washington, D.C.-
to focus on gardening. God gave us stories. Perhaps the most dramatic was
based writer, entrepreneur and consul-
dominion—which is different from when a 10-day blackout hit. The Catho-
tant whose work has appeared in doz-
domination and exploitation; it means lic priest who runs our Michigan office ens of books and magazines. Connect at
taking care of the Earth. and has a solar panel wired to a wind AprilWrites.com.
October 2009 17
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