The Role of Religion in Environmental Action

You can view the corresponding video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHFyL9ma6Dw

4/6/2011 11:43 am (et) Moderator: logs in on 4/6/2011 11:43 am (et).
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4/6/2011 12:00 pm (et) Moderator: Welcome! This is Rebecca from the InterFaith Conference (IFC) and I will be your moderator. As this is still new, let me explain how this will work. On the right, you will see a video playing of our current topic to get the conversation going. If you have a comment and/or question send it along to me, the moderator. As long as I deem it appropriate, the comment will be posted to everyone and the speaker will have the opportunity to answer your question.
4/6/2011 12:00 pm (et) Moderator: Today, our topic is “The Role of Religion in Environmental Action” featuring Joelle Novey of Greater Washington Power and Light (GW-IPL), a project of the IFC that helps congregations of all faiths across the DC area go green, save energy, and respond to climate change.
4/6/2011 12:00 pm (et) Moderator: Here is a link to their website: http://www.gwipl.org/ and they have a page on Facebook (Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light), or you can follow them on Twitter (gwIPL).
4/6/2011 12:00 pm (et) Moderator: As always, I would like to remind you of the rules of our engagement. This is a respectful place where we come together to learn more about the religions of the world. Whether you agree or disagree, we welcome your comments and questions that are posed in a respectful manner. Please no profane or offensive remarks, they will not be posted. Also, this is a place of learning, so please refrain from “soapboxing.” If there are any issues or questions about this, they can be submitted along with the comments pertaining to our topic. I am here to make this a pleasant and educational experience for all, so enjoy and remember there are no stupid questions, just hostile ones!
4/6/2011 12:01 pm (et) Moderator: You can now view the beginning comments on the right. As you listen, please feel free to start sending questions or comments (YES, we want your comments). Also, the video will remain within the sidebar, so feel free to return to it as you wish. Our chat window automatically refreshes to keep the flow going, but if you wish to view the whole of the conversation, just hit the archive button. And lastly, PLEASE do not use double quotes as it led to some issues last week.
4/6/2011 12:01 pm (et) ShaneInDallas: private message to Moderator: logs in on 4/6/2011 12:01 pm (et).
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4/6/2011 12:03 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: The original sin was the misuse of resources due to promptings of greed. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden for mistaking their role to be ultimate beneficiaries of the garden, rather than its caretakers.
4/6/2011 12:06 pm (et) RJEsak: private message to Moderator: logs in on 4/6/2011 12:06 pm (et).
4/6/2011 12:07 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: I think there's another side to Adaptation. In addition to helping people adapt to climate change, we need to help people adapt to the changes necessary to arrest climate change. Changing the way we live can be upsetting to some, even if it's positive change.
4/6/2011 12:09 pm (et) Joelle Novey: @markrsmith Completely agreed. I was defining efforts to reduce climate pollution as "mitigation," and efforts to help people adapt as "adaptation."
4/6/2011 12:10 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: The real adaptation needed is for people to see the misuse of resources as a morality issue rather than a matter of point of view, politics, or even aesthetics. Some issues are 'motherhood' issues, that no politician wants to be on the wrong side of.
4/6/2011 12:11 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, that's one reason I find congregations to be such a powerful setting for talking about these issues.
4/6/2011 12:12 pm (et) Moderator: Laura S said: I tend to wonder if we humans are thinking too much of ourselves by imaginning that it is WE mere humans who are primarilly impacting on natural changes. I believe much of these changes would happen without our contribution and little that we mere humans can do will change the natural fluxations. Consider that long before humans came along, ice ages and global warming came and went countless times. Humans simply cannot be to blame for this nor can humans really do much about natural changes. This is simply the way God created the world we live in.
4/6/2011 12:12 pm (et) Joelle Novey: People listen differently in their congregations, and are more able to hear the information as a moral matter rather than a political one.
4/6/2011 12:12 pm (et) AKD: private message to Moderator: logs in on 4/6/2011 12:12 pm (et).
4/6/2011 12:13 pm (et) Joelle Novey: @Laura S, I invite you to look at the science yourself and come to your own conclusions. From what I have read, the science cannot explain our recent warming without human climate pollution.
4/6/2011 12:13 pm (et) Moderator: Laura S said: As Buddhism teaches - change is inevitable. What we need to do is accept and embrace it rather than to resist no less imagine that we can stop things from changing
4/6/2011 12:14 pm (et) Moderator: Laura S said: (I posted my comments mainly to share an alternative perspective for purposes of debate)
4/6/2011 12:14 pm (et) Moderator: Jessica said: That an interesting view Laura. Kind of makes sense in a way.
4/6/2011 12:14 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: I'm a little concerned about the implication that those who 'don't care' are actively working against mitigation. I heard a moral judgment. I think the truth is more likely apathy that can be turned with a gentle hand into action.
4/6/2011 12:14 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: I think there is a smallish group working for change, a smallish group working against change (for personal/corporate gain), but that the majority just haven't thought about it.
4/6/2011 12:15 pm (et) Moderator: Alice Foltz said: It's true that global climate change has occurred before, but never on the scale that it is now occurring (except possible with the event that ended the age of dinosaurs!). Today's climate change will result in the deaths of millions of people, and ultiimately in the social conflict over sharply limited resources. This is a moral issue, and people of faith need to respond to human needs.
4/6/2011 12:15 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I wish that the recent global changes in climate could be explained by natural cycles, but it cannot. And to the extent that a warming climate will cause much suffering, I'm not comfortable saying we should just wash our hands ot it.
4/6/2011 12:15 pm (et) Moderator: Jessica said: I come from a christian perspective, I think that we should be caretakers of the earth and treat it and those other sentient beings we share it with , with respect.
4/6/2011 12:16 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: There have been documented local climate changes that are impacted, caused or modified by human actions. The lands of the Mediterranean basin have changed a lot in character since Old Testament times. Some has been natural, but some has been manmade. The dustbowl also comes to mind.
4/6/2011 12:17 pm (et) Moderator: Laura S said: maybe it's also karma at wor - we are now reaping what we have sown. Or we can consider this God punishing us for our environmental sins, sins rooted in human self-centeredness (that everything God made was made for us to use for our own puposes). We have been short-sighted.
4/6/2011 12:17 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I wish the way this were playing out were that fair.
4/6/2011 12:18 pm (et) Joelle Novey: But in fact, the places on our globe that are warming the most are some of the world's poorest countries, where the people have done least to contribute to this problem.
4/6/2011 12:18 pm (et) Joelle Novey: They are reaping what *we* have sown.
4/6/2011 12:19 pm (et) Moderator: RJEsak said: And we are still sowing.
4/6/2011 12:19 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I have repeatedly been struck by the complete absence of this language (of global responsibility) in the political conversation around climate adaptation. Among the *only* groups using this language in the US today are faith communities.
4/6/2011 12:20 pm (et) Moderator: Laura S: there is no "us" and "them" - WE are all one - communal sin, not individual nor national/cultural
4/6/2011 12:20 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Spiritually, yes. But the people of the world have not caused climate pollution equally.
4/6/2011 12:21 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: Poor countries have also found it necessary to receive garbage from more developed areas, who then see no reason to dispose of their garbage in a more responsible way or to reduce the production of garbage
4/6/2011 12:21 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: @Laura that's what bothers me. I hear an us vs. them in the speaker's arguments.
4/6/2011 12:22 pm (et) Laura S: private message to Moderator: logs off on 4/6/2011 12:22 pm (et).
4/6/2011 12:22 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Most of our religious traditions teach that if you do something that causes harm to someone else, it's your responsibility to make it right.
4/6/2011 12:22 pm (et) Moderator: RJEsak said: I imagine that some congregations would be much more receptive to this message than others. Because it HAS become a political issue, I would think that the faith-based communities would still be affected by that political rhetoric. And there are some religions which already have a certain respect for the earth built into their core values.
4/6/2011 12:22 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: I envision faith communities getting in touch with nature as part of theology and not politics to start an effective albeit slow change. Kids are already into it mostly.
4/6/2011 12:23 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, I find that there are ways to approach this is in a less political way in congregations.
4/6/2011 12:24 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Some of it is about language -- sometimes communities talk about "Creation care" rather than "environmentalism," for example.
4/6/2011 12:24 pm (et) Moderator: Alice Foltz: How can we convince people that we need to respond? For decades, as scientists have known about the effects of global warming and pollution, the loudest and best funded voices have said that nothing is happening.
4/6/2011 12:24 pm (et) Moderator: Alice Foltz said: Response to markrsmith- the truth is that all of us, especially us big consumers and trashers in the developed world, are in this together. The poor, even the poor in the developed world, will suffer first, but all of us will be affected. We need to move to different lifestyles. Look at
4/6/2011 12:24 pm (et) Moderator: RJEsak said: @Shane, exactly. I think that in some cases, working against climate change (or just for the betterment of the earth) would come more naturally because it's already part of the belief system.
4/6/2011 12:24 pm (et) Joelle Novey: And as Shane in Dallas says, environmental action is most compelling in congregations if it is rooted in the religious traditions and teachings.
4/6/2011 12:25 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: Politics has tended to obscure the debate on climate. In politics, every debate ends with some winners and some losers, but with Climate change decision making, all of us are either winners or losers.
4/6/2011 12:25 pm (et) Joelle Novey: The question, how can we move people to action on this issue? is the one I struggle with every day.
4/6/2011 12:26 pm (et) Joelle Novey: One of the beginnings of my answer, which I alluded to in my talk, is the importance of acknowledging the feelings the topic brings up for people.
4/6/2011 12:26 pm (et) Moderator: AKD: Joelle's comment regarding our need to grieve what has been and will be lost via climate change is interesting. I wonder if grief gets in the way of action? Any thoughts on that, Joelle?
4/6/2011 12:26 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I suspec that a lot of the knee-jerk denial when people think about this topic is because it's really scary.
4/6/2011 12:26 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: I believe that direct calls to people to acknowledge their responsibility for climate change are destined to fail. It's too much like 'you did wrong, so now we will change to punish you'.
4/6/2011 12:27 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, when we present people with the huge scale of the problem, and skip their grief about that reality, and then say, but hey, you can change your lightbulb! they can tell you're not being sincere with them.
4/6/2011 12:27 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: Appealing to others to voluntarily change in a positive way are going to be more effective over the long term, but slower. The question is: is that fast enough?
4/6/2011 12:28 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Well, at GW-IPL we work on three areas: education, greening congregations, and advocacy.
4/6/2011 12:28 pm (et) Joelle Novey: So we encourage people to be learning about the issue, doing something in their own lives/buildings/communities to go green, *and* finding ways to speak out in the public square.
4/6/2011 12:29 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: If change is made as a matter of national security, including such things as the preservation of natural resources, the message might get through to some people who have been reluctant up until now.
4/6/2011 12:29 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I agree that we need to identify opportunities for positive action, but I think we need to respect people enough to level with them.
4/6/2011 12:29 pm (et) Moderator: RJEsak said: And I think some people think the damage has already been done. The milk's already been spilled. And, I myself, am guilty of succumbing to the
4/6/2011 12:30 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, in my presentations in congregations I try to strike that balance ...
4/6/2011 12:30 pm (et) Moderator: end of RJEsak's comment: the "I'm just one person" argument. If you can get faith-based communities working as a whole, it feel like more of a difference.
4/6/2011 12:30 pm (et) Joelle Novey: of helping people understand that while we cannot completely prevent some global climate change ...
4/6/2011 12:30 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: Level with them, yes. But concentration on 'we made this problem' is going to close ears and minds.
4/6/2011 12:30 pm (et) Joelle Novey: we still have *huge* choices to make about how this goes.
4/6/2011 12:31 pm (et) Moderator: Alice Foltz: Ideas from the "transition community" movement and groups like 350.org are helpful
4/6/2011 12:31 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I think one way of helping the actions feel more meaningful, as you say, is to work in congregations, or on advocacy campaigns, where the impact is multiplied.
4/6/2011 12:31 pm (et) DJW: private message to Moderator: logs in on 4/6/2011 12:31 pm (et).
4/6/2011 12:31 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Maybe an analogy is that we can't fight the fact that we all will die some day. We can't stop the end. So, even if the earth lasts as long as the sun shines, it will still end someday, but the point is to live well, for all.
4/6/2011 12:32 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Well, and there is no other area in life where it would be morally okay to just wait for everyone else to do the right thing first.
4/6/2011 12:33 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: There's always time if you don't waste it (any more). And the geologists can point to events in the distant past that are even more catastrophic than anything we are looking at right now.
4/6/2011 12:33 pm (et) Moderator: markrsmith said: I wonder if moving from 'we did this to others' to 'we can help others' would make a difference in acceptance.
4/6/2011 12:33 pm (et) Moderator: Jessica: The one thing that frustrates me, considering this issue, is that many of my fellow christians are unconcerned with environmental problems and how we are contributing to them because they are so wrapped up with "end times" theology
4/6/2011 12:33 pm (et) Joelle Novey: No one would try to argue that I can keep kicking people until everyone else stops kicking people. But people say, my neighbors don't care so why should I do anything? Or China isn't doing much so why should the US do anything?
4/6/2011 12:34 pm (et) Joelle Novey: @Jessica -- that's interesting. Do you think end times theology is an obstacle to environmental action?
4/6/2011 12:34 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: I remember the anti- littering campaign back in the '60s. That made a small but significant change in our culture, that is obvious when one visits countries that have not yet had such a campaign.
4/6/2011 12:35 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Yes, @Jessica, we have endtime to the right of us and consumerism to the left of us. Very frustrating!
4/6/2011 12:35 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I've been very encouraged by evangelical Christian environmental efforts, including Blessed Earth, Restoring Eden, the Evangelical Environmental Network, and the book Climate for Change.
4/6/2011 12:36 pm (et) Moderator: Alice Foltz said: The US has huge responsibility, because our multinationals are wrapped around the world, using and abusing resources everywhere. But maybe the place to begin is to start a campaign for the benefits, physical and emotional health benefits, of simpler lifestyles. This has spiritual benefits, too.
4/6/2011 12:36 pm (et) Joelle Novey: A recent book, "Climate Change and the Risen Lord," talks about an evangelical Christian response to climate change deeply rooted in that theology.
4/6/2011 12:36 pm (et) Joelle Novey: @Alice, yes, many of the things we would do to respond to climate change will also create a better world.
4/6/2011 12:37 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: I think climate change, weapons of mass destruction, etc. are one of the factors for the popularity of end-times theology.
4/6/2011 12:37 pm (et) Joelle Novey: But there is a strong tendency by many in leadership and in environmental organizations to give up on talking directly about climate change ...
4/6/2011 12:37 pm (et) Moderator: AKD said: One of the big motivators for me is feeling I need to answer to the next generation (my daughter and her peers around the world) what I did or didn't do to assure their world would be liveable. Perhaps this is an exercise we can all do . . . to look into the faces of our children and imagine our grandchildren.
4/6/2011 12:37 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Yes, it seems the evangelicals are in it for real. Something to encourage us, Jessica.
4/6/2011 12:38 pm (et) Joelle Novey: and just try to sell people on the other benefits. And that I'm not willing to do. I believe good people in DC congregations can hear climate science and respond directly, not by talking about something else.
4/6/2011 12:38 pm (et) Joelle Novey: @AKD that is another place where our religious traditions can be helpful. They take the long view.
4/6/2011 12:40 pm (et) Moderator: This was from a while ago, but it seems very fitting: ShaneInDallas:We obviously need many approaches to communicating "earth/humanity care." I'm exploring the idea of relating to parents with the possible "nature-deficit disorder" for themselves and kids. Anyone heard that phrase?
4/6/2011 12:40 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Yes, @Joelle, all our faith communities can be strengthened by learning more of our roots, and as a society be strengthened by common bond of earth care.
4/6/2011 12:40 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, there's a new documentary called "Play Again" on this topic ... and a book, Last Child in the Woods.
4/6/2011 12:41 pm (et) Joelle Novey: There's a lot of evidence to show that encounters in nature are the basis for environmental action later in life.
4/6/2011 12:41 pm (et) Joelle Novey: One faith-based effort along these lines is the Teva Learning Center, which runs Jewish environmental education programs around the country, helping young people make those connections.
4/6/2011 12:42 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: We can make climate change amelioration a way to improve the economy, especially in a long term view. Perhaps we can redefine short- sightedness as a mortal sin?
4/6/2011 12:42 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, the time frame of current politicans and current corporations are ill-suited to the climate problem.
4/6/2011 12:43 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas: I'm thinking about using the children and "nature deficit" concern as a way to reach out to people without any faith tradition, but within our future congregation - study the facts and traditions and recent data.
4/6/2011 12:43 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Because the impact of decisions this term or quarter will play out in years or generations.
4/6/2011 12:43 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas: Ah, thanks for that resource!
4/6/2011 12:43 pm (et) Joelle Novey: That's another place congregations can play a unique role ... traditions that are rooted in history and emphasis an eternal timeframe.
4/6/2011 12:44 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: @Hengist, we're going to have to entice big business directly, aren't we? .
4/6/2011 12:45 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Well, I think we have power as consumers, and we have power as citizens.
4/6/2011 12:45 pm (et) Joelle Novey: We have power as consumers to stop supporting coal fired power, and to actively choose organic and local, etc.
4/6/2011 12:45 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: Too many decisions, from the Gulf Oil Spill to the Mortgage crisis are being made on a viewpoint directed towards weeks or months, rather than decades or generations.

4/6/2011 12:46 pm (et) Joelle Novey: And we have power as citizens to make sure that important safeguards are places on polluters to protect us from companies making short term decisions.
4/6/2011 12:47 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, but I'm interested in returning to the original question.
4/6/2011 12:47 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: It does seem like consumer buying power is leading part of markets, (grocery to automotive). Any stats or illustrations on that @Joelle... how consumers changed business practice/production?
4/6/2011 12:47 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Well, one success is the rise of organic agriculture.
4/6/2011 12:47 pm (et) Joelle Novey: That happend almost entirely because of consumer demand rather than regulation.
4/6/2011 12:48 pm (et) Joelle Novey: And we're involved in a campaign here in Northern Virginia to put pressure on GenOn to take an old dirty coal-plant off-line.
4/6/2011 12:49 pm (et) Joelle Novey: But I also think making green purchasing decisions in our own lives makes us more ready to insist that corporations and governments follow suit.
4/6/2011 12:49 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas: My wife and I were hired by Presbyterians to start an "outreach center" and future congregation. The outreach part is interfaith/no-faith --all are welcome-- we want earth care to be part of our intercultural peacemaking work.
4/6/2011 12:49 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: That's why I'm so thankful to find you @Joelle and all of you folks participating.
4/6/2011 12:49 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Wonderful! Please reach out to the IPL wherever you are, and to the resources within the Presbyterian Church.
4/6/2011 12:50 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I believe there is a green certification for Presbyterian churches that would provide a blueprint.
4/6/2011 12:50 pm (et) Moderator: Hi All, Just a quick reminder the use of double quotes has been interfering with the posting, so please try and use single quotes.
4/6/2011 12:50 pm (et) Joelle Novey: The National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice office is also full of excellent resources for Christian communities.
4/6/2011 12:50 pm (et) Moderator: AKD: Children's encounters with nature leads us down another path which is how much ‘free’ time they have to explore nature? We, as parents and teachers, need to make sure our kids are not so overscheduled they don't have time romp around in nature. Also, electronics compete for children's attention.
4/6/2011 12:51 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, and so much of these things can only be addressed on the community level.
4/6/2011 12:51 pm (et) Joelle Novey: A generation ago, most kids walked to school.
4/6/2011 12:51 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Now, they still live close enough, but their parents think it's not safe, because of all the traffic (caused by parents driving other kids to school).
4/6/2011 12:52 pm (et) Joelle Novey: There are some exciting models of how communities can establish new systems, "walking school buses" and "no idle zones" for example ...
4/6/2011 12:52 pm (et) Joelle Novey: that are better for the environment, keep kids moving and outside, build community ...
4/6/2011 12:52 pm (et) markrsmith: private message to Moderator: logs off on 4/6/2011 12:52 pm (et).
4/6/2011 12:53 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Yes, I'm sinfully proud of the Presbyterians as stodgy as we can be, we have a faith statement that includes...
4/6/2011 12:53 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Bill McKibben's book Deep Economy is full of wonderful ideas like this.
4/6/2011 12:53 pm (et) Moderator: The rest of Shane's comment: We... exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God's condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation
4/6/2011 12:54 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Do you other folks have statements formal or informal about earth/humanity care that you can share?
4/6/2011 12:54 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, almost all of the major denominations have excellent statements on Earth care.
4/6/2011 12:54 pm (et) Moderator: AKD said: Yet, kids often get the green thing better than us adults do. For example, kids at my daughter's school insist that the teachers recycle and doing away with styrofoam cafeteria trays. We need to listen and respond to their leadings. Often, it's the children who give me hope on this subject.
4/6/2011 12:55 pm (et) Joelle Novey: They are collected in a few places: the Yale center for Religion & Ecology, NCC Eco-Justice Office ...
4/6/2011 12:55 pm (et) Joelle Novey: National Religious Partnership for the Environment ...
4/6/2011 12:56 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, there are lots of great ways to let kids lead the greening efforts in congrgations.
4/6/2011 12:56 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Sometimes there's no budget for a green team, but if the green team makes their effort an educational program, there's a budget for the Religious Education programs.
4/6/2011 12:57 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I've seen light switch reminders created by kids, reusable mugs for coffee hour painted by kids .. etc
4/6/2011 12:57 pm (et) Moderator: Hengist: We need to reestablish as a value the idea that as much as possible of the resources we need are obtained locally, and that our waste must, as much as possible, also be disposed of locally. Even simply transporting food long distances has had dire effects on some national economies as well as the environment.
4/6/2011 12:57 pm (et) Joelle Novey: Yes, there is no "away."
4/6/2011 12:58 pm (et) Moderator: AKD said: How could a congregation find IPL resources to advance this important cause?
4/6/2011 12:58 pm (et) Moderator: Ok All, after this we will be wrapping up.
4/6/2011 12:58 pm (et) Joelle Novey: I would love to work with anyone who is part of a DC-area congregation. Visit our website www.gwipl.org, or email joelle@gwipl.org
4/6/2011 12:59 pm (et) Joelle Novey: If you are outside the DC area, chances are there is an Interfaith Power & Light program in your state. Look at www.interfaithpowerandlight.org to find your way there.
4/6/2011 12:59 pm (et) Moderator: Thank you for your participation today. If you are interested in further communication our speaker, you can reach her at joelle@gwipl.org. We hope to see you back here next week, same place, same time, the topic will be ‘Facing The Challenges of Immigration from a Religious Perspective’ featuring Ms. Alice Foltz of the Centreville Immigration Forum.
4/6/2011 12:59 pm (et) Hengist: private message to Moderator: logs off on 4/6/2011 12:59 pm (et).
4/6/2011 12:59 pm (et) Moderator: Also, this is a new effort on our part so we welcome your feedback! Any comments will be helpful. If you have any suggestion please feel free to email me at rebeccac@ifcmw.org.
4/6/2011 1:00 pm (et) Moderator: If you are interested in finding out more about our organization please feel free to browse our website: www.ifcmw.org and sign up for our bi-monthly e-newsletter by emailing me, again the address is rebeccac@ifcmw.org.
4/6/2011 1:00 pm (et) Moderator: ShaneInDallas said: Great ideas folks. Really appreciate the communal earth concern we share. Thanks to you all. Bye. See you online.