Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light
A Spiritual Response to Climate Change
As representatives of faith communities across the state we believe it is imperative to protect the health of the most vulnerable among us – particularly children and the elderly.
We clearly have the means to maintain clean air – it is a moral imperative that we do so. Read more.
Through the partnership of TIPL and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, 11 faithgroups have completed a TVA energy audit of their buildings obtained through their local power companies. Much appreciation for the hard work of Taylor Allred, a TIPL member and SACE staff, for making this great success possible.
If your faith group wants a similar energy audit, contact tennipl@gmail.com..
On a Sunday afternoon in the low 20’s, twenty-two people of faith gathered to offer their aspirations, prayers, and song as a spiritual response to climate change. We gathered at Danny Mayfield Park. Our invited clergy and lay leaders led us in prayer: Kally Elliott, Presbyterian Campus Minister, SalahAbdul-Razacq of the Knoxville Muslim Community, and Rev. John Butler of the Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church. Taylor Allred of Westminster Presbyterian led us in song, including one of his own. We came together to give highest worship of the mystery. We went our own ways to continue our practice of honoring the Earth.
The picture was taken at the February 15, 2015 climate prayer vigil by our photographer Toby Rogers of the Crossville Friends Meeting.
Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light (TIPL) is a statewide network of faith groups that spiritually responds to the moral challenges of climate change. To learn more about TIPL, you are invited to visit our website: tennipl.org.
Climate change is a threat multiplier. Social variables such as age, income, and health or disability status often determine the ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate catastrophes. In addition, low income neighborhoods often are in areas that have greater exposure to hazards such as flooding or extreme heat. In the absence of proactive efforts to address equity concerns in resilience planning, climate change will reinforce and worsen current socioeconomic disparities, resulting in greater burdens and lessened opportunity for low-income and other disadvantaged populations.
Please sign the Paris Pledge today to show the world that America’s faith community is leading by example.
The Knoxville Utilities Board recently announced that it will start a program called Round It Up, while will round up customer bills to the nearest dollar and give the proceeds to a community action agency to weatherize lower income homes.
In response, TIPL thanked KUB in the following letter to the editor which appeared in the December 10, 2014 issue of the Knoxville News Sentinel:
