Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light
Annual Report
May 2, 2009 – Bill Bradlee, state affiliates coordinator with Interfaith Power and Light, attends a “Faith, Justice, Environment” conference at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, sponsored by Arkansas Green Faith Alliance. Dialogue begins about the possibility of an Arkansas Affiliate.
June 25 & July 22, 2009 – Organizational meetings are held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
Scharmel and Leo
September 4, 2009 – A Memorandum of Understanding between IPL and Arkansas IPL is signed by Rev. Stephen Copley, Rabbi Eugene Levy, Bishop Kenneth Hicks, Leo Hauser, and Scharmel Roussel at a meeting at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, Little Rock
September 18, 2009 – Arkansas IPL Steering Committee members announce formation of state affiliate at State Capitol. A news article with photographs appeared the next day in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper. Founding Steering Committee Members are Rev. Steve Copley and Mac Mayfield, co-chairs, Leo Hauser, vice-chair, JoAnne Mills, Ann Owens, Bishop Kenneth Hicks, Bob Kinzel, Rabbi Eugene Levy, Rev. Kate Alexander, Scharmel Roussel, Benn Davenport (advisory), Ellen McNulty (advisory).
October 2009 – Rev. Steve Copley files 501c3 application and incorporation papers for Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light.
October 2009 – JoAnne Mills and Ellen McNulty prepare Arkansas IPL Work Plan for submission to IPL
October 21-22, 2009 – Rev. Steve Copley attends a USCAN Advocacy Days event in Washington, D.C. as the guest of the U.S. Climate Action Network, arranged by Interfaith Power and Light.
October 2009 – IPL provides information at a table at 350 Day in downtown Little Rock. Members participate in video clips posted on the Repower Wall on the internet.
November 2009 – A post office box is opened for Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light – PO Box 268, Little Rock, AR 72203
November 2009 – A bank account is opened for Arkansas IPL by Bob Kinzel with $1.
December 2009 – Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light gets a website at www.arkansasipl.com and a facebook page. The website contains a Covenant Agreement so that individuals and congregations may continue to become involved, links to several resources, news and events.
2010 – Rev. David Gill, Rev. Malik Saafir, Ray White, Rev. Leslie Belden, Tauheed Salaam, Michele Halsell join Steering Committee. Ann Owen resigns from Steering Committee because of other commitment.
January 26-27, 2010 – Ray White and Rev. Dr. Jeffery B. Hampton from Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church attended the Clean Energy, Jobs, and Security forum in Washington, D.C. as guests of the Blue Green Alliance and the Creation Care Fund, arranged by Interfaith Power and Light.
January 27, 2010 – A Creation Care Luncheon for Clergy and Guests at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church featured keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley from Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. A total of 61 reservations were made, and several of the guests were new to IPL. Hosts were Arkansas Green Faith Alliance, Methodists for Social Action, Clean Energy Works, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, Second Presbyterian Stewardship Task Force, Little Rock, Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Barbara Jarvis, and Arkansas IPL Steering Committee members. All expenses were covered by donations. All e-mail addresses collected were added to the Green Faith Alliance distribution list.
April 2010 – 501c3 application is approved for Interfaith Power and Light
April 16-18, 2010 – Several IPL members attended the annual “Caring for Creation” conference at Mount Sequoyah. Rev. Cannon Sally Bingham, IPL founder, was keynote speaker.
April 24, 2010 – Earth Day and “Change the World” Day – IPL members and AmeriCorps volunteers work on energy improvement projects at Duncan United Methodist Church, a 110-year-old house of worship in a low-income area. The television news media covered this event. Also on Earth Day, Ark. IPL had an information booth on the north side of the Arkansas River at the Arkansas Earth Day celebration.
May 2-5, 2010 – Rev. Maalik Saafir and Scharmel Roussel attended the National IPL Conference and Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.
May, 2010 – $5,000 Seed Grant Application is approved by Interfaith Power and Light for Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light.
May 23, 2010 – 2010 Sierra Club, Arkansas Chapter, honored Arkansas Interfaith Power & Light with an Outstanding Achievement Award for leadership in rallying the faith community at a May 23 banquet in Fayetteville. Arkansas IPL was recognized as Organization of the Year with the 2010 Conservation Award. Rev. Leslie Belden, Presbyterian, Fayetteville, accepted the award.
June 3, 2010 – Climate Summit with Keynote Speaker Jerome Ringo – “A Faithful Response to Climate Change: Greening Our Communities to Protect God’s Creation.” Hosted by Clean Energy Works Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, Ark. IPL. Presentations were made by Rev. Steve Copley, Rev. Malik Saafir, Scharmel Roussel, Ellen McNulty. 90 guests attended.
During its first year of formation, letters to the editor have been printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette from Bishop Hicks, Leo Hauser, Mac Mayfield, Bob Kinzel, Ann Owens, JoAnne Mills, Ellen McNulty, Malik Saafir, Rev. Steve Copley.
During its first year of formation, presentations have been made at St. Paul Episcopal Church, Fayetteville; St. Thomas Episcopal, Springdale; First United Methodist Church, Little Rock; First United Methodist Church, Conway; Lakewood United Methodist Church, North Little Rock; Central United Methodist Church, Fayetteville; Rotary Club, Crossett.
T-shirts with the Ark. IPL logo are available for individuals and members who join IPL.
June 8, 2010 – Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Church passed the following resolution. RESOLUTION ON CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Whereas a number of local churches in Arkansas have become concerned about the impact their facilities have on the environment and
Whereas our scriptural understanding is that we are called to be stewards of God’s creation and
Whereas “ The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church” (Para 160) call for us to be concerned about how our lifestyles affect the environment,
Be it therefore resolved that we call on the churches of the Arkansas Annual Conference to: 1)Evaluate the environmental impact of its facilities; 2) Determine its carbon footprint; 3) Work toward institutional sustainability practices that will reduce each carbon footprint. – Rev. Steve Copley, JFON; Doni Martin, Chair, AR Conf BOCS
This good news was shared with the contacts on the Green Faith Alliance e-mail list.
The first retreat for the Steering Committee was held June 19, 2010 at Ferncliff Camp, Little Rock.
A strategic planning meeting was held January 14, 2012.
2010-2011: Retrofit projects include Duncan United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Wofford Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Helena, Mount Comfort Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and Simone’s Home for Foster Teenage Girls.
