“The Journey” is a collaborative project, created by Chris Searles and Kerry Stevens, which stems from Jesus' basic lesson that we should all take really good care of each other, teaching theology and actionable eco skills. This is part of First Baptist Church's Earth Month celebration (April). You're invited! (info below)

SPECIAL CLASS OFFERING
What:   THE JOURNEY OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Why:     This class will present information that helps connect  emerging faith ideas and Biblical principles with ecological living. The class takes the big problems of the environment and breaks it down into focuses on biodiversity, resource efficiency, toxicity, waste, theology, and emissions.

Who:    Class leader, Chris Searles, is an environmental advocate who has worked with small businesses, the City of Austin, and local faith groups.  Chris has created and produced educational events and festivals for families, schools, and greenies. Guest speakers, Reverends Leigh Jackson and Don Searles, will join in presentations and discussions also.  Each class is open to both adults and teens.   When:   April 11, 18, 25, and May 2 Sunday mornings   9:30-10:45 am OR Sunday afternoons 2:00-3:15 pm (no afternoon class April 25 due to Interfaith Environmental Network’s Green By Faith event)

Where:  First Baptist Church Austin— first floor, room 164 9th & Trinity Streets, Downtown Austin

How:     There is no cost.  Each class is open to both adults and teens.
You may attend any one or all of the classes. Please consider signing up ahed of time via telephone or email:
First Baptist Church, 476-2626 email: kcappolino@fbcaustin.org Take-away information will be provided.  

Tags: congregations, Austin

IEN Steering Committee member and tireless enviro-blogger Chris Searles pays tribute to recently retired Austin Energy CEO Roger Duncan for his role in making Austin Energy one of the most progressive electric utilities in the United States. Read Chris’ post here, and see this inspiring little video interview with Roger, below.

Tags: Austin, Austin Energy

IEN Steering Committee member and tireless enviro-blogger Chris Searles sends a link to a great blog report on Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s recent Town Hall meeting on energy for Austin. He reports, “"At the end of the evening last night, Roger Duncan said it best: having public input in the planning process for Austin's citizen-owned utility really does bring out the finest result..."

Read Chris’ full post here...

Tags: Austin, Austin Energy

As reported earlier, IEN Steering Committee member Chris Searles has initiated an online petition to call upon Austin City Council to continue to support the Austin Climate Protection Initiative. The petition has now reached its goal of 500 signatures... and counting! Chris reports:

500+ Austinites call for renewal of Climate Protection Plan

On Thursday 2/25/10, Jake Stewart, former manager of the City of Austin's Climate Protection Program, presented a successful petition drive to City Council, urging leaders to renew their commitment to making Austin "the leading the city in the nation" in climate protection.

Austin first adopted its climate protection plan in March 2007, under a previous mayor and city council.

The Petition's Objective is to let Austin's leaders know there are plenty of folks who appreciate and support the City's hard work in this regard, and who believe in working-together to achieve as much as possible.

Stewart was complimentary, thanking the original council signatories for their initiative 3 years ago, and challenging today's Council members to recognize that climate leadership can be leveraged to create economic stimulus and value for the whole community. 

Some notable signatories:
#518, Reverend Louis Snead
#433, Alejandro Escovedo
#400, Reverend Ann Pittman
#398, Reverend Stephen Kinney
#284, Terry Allen
#265, Turk Pipkin
#171, Craig Hella Johnson
#125, Sharon Stanberry Rosshirt
#121, Brigid Shea
#19, Bee Morehead

See and sign the petition here!

Tags: Austin, Austin Energy, climate

Greetings to you all, and prayers that your week is going well.  I look forward to seeing you in a week- Next Tuesday, January 26th, at 7:00 p.m., the IEN Service Team will meet again.  This meeting is for all of us who seek to promote the stewardship of creation as people of faith in a hands-on way, so feel free to invite others!  Our main focus will be on the fast approaching Earth Day, and how we would like to meet it.  We'll discuss how faith communities are planning to observe it, how we might get involved with them or organize our own group project, and, of course, continue brainstorming how we want to move forward as we develop our team.  
Our meeting will be at St. David's Episcopal Church downtown (http://stdave.org/).  Go north on Trinity between 7th and 8th Streets and turn left into the parking garage.  Get a ticket at the gate - you'll be able to pick up a voucher at the receptionist desk for free parking.  Take the elevator to level 2 to enter the church.  We'll meet in room Crail A (http://stdave.org/site/sitewide/cat/calendar/).    
Pastor Wynn Stenftenagel Interim Steering Committe Interfaith Environmental Network

Tags: IEN, Austin

Most of you have probably heard about Austin's "Climate Protection Program" -- which was a proactive response to 2007's global warming scare.
IEN steering committee member Chris Searles has co-created a citizen petition with Jake Stewart (former manager of Austin's Climate Protection Program) that lets Austin's new City Council know we support reclaiming the program's unique goal: "to make Austin the leading city in the nation in the fight against climate change."
Please consider checking out the petition, http://www.tinyurl.com/austinclimateprotection/ and consider signing. We're about 44 signatures away from a 500 signature goal!

Tags: Austin, climate

A number of us from the Interfaith Environmental Network had the pleasure of attending a Clergy Breakfast yesterday hosted by AAIM, Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. It took place at Austin’s historic Houston-Tillotson University. Tom Spencer, the Director of AAIM, moderated a conversation and Q & A with Mayor Will Wynn. Discussions at individual tables among the clergy in attendance followed. The topic: how the tough economy is affecting our faith communities.

The printed materials distributed to all the attendees included an information sheet on our own IEN. Thanks, Tom!

Tags: Austin, IEN