We May Yet See A Way Through Our Difficulties
“The Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change, released in August, 2014, urges the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims to take action to combat climate change. Pope Francis dedicated his most important teaching document, the papal encyclical, to the issue of the environment and climate change. In the summer of 2014, over 400 Jewish rabbis signed a Rabbinic Letter on the Climate Crisis, which calls for urgent action to prevent further climate change. The Dalai Lama – head of the school of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism – has also recognized the connection between climate change and the global economy, taking to social media to call for us to adopt a sense of the “oneness of humanity” and calls on world leaders to agree upon an “equitable and binding” international agreements.
“While differing in beliefs, these religions – Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam – are united in the understanding that we must address climate change now for the future of our common home.”
You have an open invitation to submit to ICCTriangle@gmail.com Creation care-centered quotes, reflection guides and resources for worship, holidays and holy days in your faith tradition. You are also invited to submit information about Creation care activities at your faith community.
Dear readers, by working together we can strengthen our interfaith friendships and care for Creation through our common commitment to this beautiful Earth.
For possibilities, check these summaries, then click the titles or scroll down for the full stories:
- Local young leaders from Sunrise to speak at ICCT meeting
Let’s all show up for these two young climate activists from the Sunrise Movement as they lay out their new Utility Fairness Now campaign for an affordable and fair energy system. Then meet the new ICCT board members. Thursday, May 22. 6:00-7:30pm on Zoom. - A stroll in the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh
Enjoy the afternoon with Erin Salibury and Rev. Christian McIvor from ICCT’s Multi-Faith Team as we focus on some passages of wisdom from different faith traditions and their approach to Creation, Sunday, June 1, 2:00-3:00pm. - A Retreat for Christian Leaders in Creation Justice
Join ICCT Board members Joe, Neil and Lynn who are registered for this free, two-day Creation Justice Ministries retreat in Durham on June 10-11. It’s another opportunity for us to be with ICCT folks and others to renew our commitment to creation care at this beautiful conference site. - NO KINGS Day rally
Saturday, June 14th offers you four nearby locations – Raleigh, Cary, Pittsboro, and Clayton. They are non-partisan, peaceful rallies in defense of the American principles we hold dear – democracy, accountability, and the rule of law. - You are invited to Gather at the Globe
with NC Catholics Caring for their Common Home in Downtown Raleigh for a prayer service for the planet on Sunday, June 1st, 3-4 PM.
1. Local young leaders from Sunrise to speak at ICCT meeting
Let’s all show up for these two young climate activists from the Sunrise Movement as they lay out their new Utility Fairness Now campaign for an affordable and fair energy system. Then meet the new ICCT board members. Thursday, May 22. 6:00-7:30pm on Zoom.
Young Durham Sunrise climate activists at a march
In this ICCT informational session, Nick Trobetta and Sally Jernigan-Smith from the Durham Chapter of the Sunrise Movement will discuss their campaign and their work at the NC General Assembly. Read more on the speakers below.
This is our chance to learn more about the young people in the local Sunrise Movement. The Durham chapter is spearheading this campaign with other NC Sunrise hubs. They’re seeking collaboration with organizations across the state and would value ICCT’s participation. After learning more, ICCT will decide if we’ll endorse and support their campaign.
The campaign is directed towards advocating for energy market reforms and asking legislators to refuse to take political contributions from Duke Energy (No Toxic Pledge Website). The focus is for an energy system that serves the people – not corporate interests.
The position of Sunrise is that currently Duke Energy holds a government-protected monopoly that results in unnecessarily high energy bills, limits energy choices, and stifles free market competition and innovation. But there are actionable solutions we can champion to foster competition, lower costs, and increase accountability in our energy system.
Speaker Nick Trombetta is a longtime activist with the Sunrise Movement from Carrboro to Durham. He majored in environmental studies at UNC Chapel Hill. He got his start door knocking for a presidential candidate in 2016.
Speaker Sally Jernigan-Smith’s environmental leadership began with advocacy as an undergraduate at Skidmore College and led to work at NC League of Conservation Voters, earning.a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and currently managing an energy efficiency home repair program for low-income residents.
Date & Time: Thursday, May 22 from 6:00-7:30pm on Zoom
~~ Submitted by Cesanne Berry and Bobbi Mullins, co-chairs, ICCT Advocacy Team
2. A stroll in the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh
Enjoy the afternoon with Erin Salibury and Rev. Christian McIvor from ICCT’s Multi-Faith Team as we focus on some passages of wisdom from different faith traditions and their approach to Creation, Sunday, June 1st, 2:00-3:00pm.
The Multi-Faith team is inviting you to an afternoon at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Come on June 1st as we walk around and take in the scenery. We will be deepening our spirituality through meditation while we enjoy time at the arboretum. You are invited to bring a quote from your faith tradition that you think exemplifies your tradition’s approach to creation; we will also bring some quotes to read. We hope to take a lot of photos, so please bring a camera as well! We’ll meet at the Gathering Lawn at 2:00 pm. Snacks will be provided. Please bring your own water bottle. You’re welcome to stay longer if you’d like to explore more. If the weather is bad, it will be rescheduled.
~~ Submitted by Erin Salisbury and Rev. Christian McIvor, co-chairs of the Multi-Faith Team.
3. A Retreat for Christian Leaders for Creation Justice
Join ICCT Board members Joe, Neil and Lynn who are registered for this free, two-day Creation Justice Ministries retreat in Durham on June 10-11. It’s another opportunity for us to be with ICCT folks and others to renew our commitment to creation care at this beautiful conference site.
June 10-11 | Registration begins at 9:00am June 10th with an evening event at 6:30pm | Concludes June 11 at 5pm
Avila Center for Community Leadership | Durham, NC
Take a look at the description and register if you’re interested. Several days ago, there were plenty of spaces still open. We will:
- Build relationships with fellow local leaders, scientists, and theologians.
- Explore climate realities in North Carolina and the urgent need for resilience.
- Learn how churches can become sites of refuge—spiritually, physically, and ecologically.
- Reflect deeply on the call to faithful resistance in the face of environmental injustice.
It will conclude with a special evening event at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham including happy hour, dinner, a presentation on heat resilience and an opportunity to explore the museum. Limited overnight housing is available at a reasonable cost.
4. NO KINGS Day rally
The June 14th rally offers you four nearby locations – Raleigh, Cary, Pittsboro, and Clayton. It’s a non-partisan, peaceful rally in defense of the American principles we hold dear – democracy, accountability, and the rule of law.
ICCT is sharing this information because we believe that now, more than ever, it’s important to protect our democracy in order to protect Creation from environmental destruction, extinctions, and the climate crisis.
The organizers say this is a peaceful, de-escalation-focused event. There is no place at the rally for violence, intimidation, or hate. The organizers welcome calm, respectful voices who want to help shape a future rooted in mutual respect and civic responsibility.
Bring your signs, your friends, and your belief that the United States was never meant to have kings.
Get the details and varying times for these locations:
5. Gather at the Globe
You are invited to Gather at the Globe in Downtown Raleigh for a prayer service for the planet on Sunday, June 1, 3-4pm.
NC Catholics Caring for our Common Home is hosting a prayer service for our planet on Sunday, June 1, 3-4pm, by the globe at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh (11 W. Jones St.). Be a protector of the planet and bring a sign of what you are praying and working to protect. Hope to see you there. For more information, contact socialconcern@hnojnc.org.
Submitted by Barbara Molinari Quinby, ICCT Liaison to Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral
