Welcome to Alaska Interfaith Power & Light
“The Eternal placed the Human Being in the Garden of Eden to till it and to tend it.” (Genesis 2:15)
Alaska Interfaith Power and Light (AKIPL) is a faith-based organization, mobilizing a religious voice on global warming, while deepening the connection between Creation and faith. Today, global warming is the most serious threat to creation and the human family. This threat is particularly evident here in Alaska; from the loss of human life due to thinning sea ice, the looming extirpation of Alaska’s polar bears, to the 30% increase in acidity of our oceans.
These impacts serve as a reminder of not only our responsibility to protect creation but also of the opportunity to provide theological and moral reasoning for taking meaningful action. In the past, faith communities have taken concrete action to create social change on such important issues as, the abolition of slavery, civil rights and women’s right to vote – and today we can do it again.
As an AKIPL member, you become a part of a national religious voice of clergy and lay persons, consistently and faithfully taking action to mitigate and remedy the most serious threats posed by global warming.
The foundation of this action is based upon a covenant model, which reflects mainstream religion’s covenantal relationship between Creator God and humankind for the care of creation. AKIPL uses the covenant model to engage faith communities to become better stewards of God’s creation. While most faith communities are led by a group of persons, not just the ordained, only one person needs to sign the covenant to represent the community’s commitment to the principles. Ideally, there will be at least one lay-person also dedicated to the continued work of the covenant.
This site contains a great deal of information that will help you get started. Additional resources are available through the AKIPL staff. Outreach Director Mary Walker and I are available to assist your faith community in their commitment to fulfill this covenant.
Blessings,
The Rev. Paul Klitzke
Project Manager
Telephone: (907) 982-1231
Fast Fact: 81% of Alaskans support regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. - ADN Alaska Almanac
Source: Alaskan Opinions on Global Warming, Dr. Anthong Leiserowitz and Jean Craciun
Alaska Interfaith Power & Light
