Last summer, a group of 15 youth and adults headed to the Grand Tetons on Pilgrimage 2019: The Grand Adventure. It was a year in the making and much longer in the preparing. The group went hiking, horseback riding, visited Yellowstone, took part in an environmental service project, enjoyed cooking and singing around a campfire and sleeping in lux-yurts! Each day, the group gave thanks for moments of wonder and took part in times of silence and sharing.
We are grateful that WPC takes seriously the baptismal promise of caring for and nurturing the faith of its children and youth through its financial and spiritual support of this important part of the youth ministry here.
Archives for July 2019
Environmental Forum
Recently, Westminster hosted an Environmental Forum with Teri Kent from the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative (or C3). Teri spoke about C3’s initiatives such as the “Better Business Challenge” and the “Home Energy Challenge,” initiatives designed to empower the community to take more decisive steps to address climate change. Indeed, C3 has been instrumental in getting the Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to strengthen their climate action programs/standards. I will be working with Claire to help host house “power parties” in the future with members of the congregation as a way to introduce them to the goals and principles of the “Home Energy Challenge.”
Kendyl Crawford, who had returned to Westminster, discussed Virginia Interfaith Power & Light’s efforts to advocate for environmental justice, such as in the cases of the Atlantic Coast Pipelines Buckingham County Compressor Station and the Chickahominy Power Station. The most impacted by climate disruption, communities of color often live (near) the sites of fossil fuel infrastructure, fracking, oil spills, asthma-inducing pollution, and other environmental hazards. Faith communities are able to hold decision-makers accountable. The group’s advocacy efforts will culminate in Richmond on January 22, 2020, with a legislative lobby day at the beginning of the VA General Assembly Session.