Presbytery of Chicago

Partnership Will Help Promote Environmental Consciousness


May 30, 2016

In order to strengthen congregational vitality and to enhance mission, the Presbytery of Chicago has partnered with Faith in Place to provide environmental justice resources. Faith in Place inspires people of diverse faiths throughout Illinois to care for the earth through education, connection and advocacy, and has joined national efforts as the Illinois affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light. Services are offered to congregations in four program areas: energy and climate change, sustainable food and land use, water preservation, and advocacy.

The Presbytery of Chicago has received a grant from Faith in Place to work with congregations, mission groups and related agencies to provide hard-to-reach populations with energy-related education and resources, to promote environmental consciousness. It is our hope to inspire congregations to form and deepen community partnerships by honoring communities’ diverse and unique cultures, histories, contexts and theologies, as together we implement practical steps to better care for the earth.

“I can’t wait to work more with Presbyterian communities of faith,” said Lorena Lopez, smart energy outreach coordinator for Faith in Place. The Rev. Brian Sauder, president and executive director of Faith in Place, added, “Faith in Place is delighted to partner with the Presbytery of Chicago. Together, we are accomplishing the vision of faithful people leading in care for our common land, air and water.”

Rev. Dr. Barbara A. Wilson, Presbytery Community Organizer, Presbytery of Chicago

Let us join in prayer for:

Presbytery Staff:

Rev. Wendy Boden-Nelson, Interfaith Solidarity Coordinator, Volunteer in Mission
Rev. Barbara Bundick, Stated Clerk
Paul Chakrin, Staff Accountant
Norman Clearfield, Hunger Action Advocate
Linda Denberry, Operations, Volunteer in Mission
Rev. Jan Edmiston, Associate Executive Presbyter for Ministry
Loretta Gratias-Bremer, Misconduct Prevention
Dr. Peg Griffiths, Interfaith Solidarity Coordinator, Volunteer in Mission
Rev. Eric Heinekamp, Director of Business Affairs
Louise Howe, Consulting Archivist, Volunteer in Mission
Terry Jackson, Resource Center Technical Support, Volunteer in Mission
Tina Johannessen, Human Resources
Rev. Jay Moses, Interreligious Relations Coordinator, Volunteer in Mission
Jacqueline Murray, Anna Grace Sawyer Scholarship Coordinator
Earnestine Norwood, Office Manager/Assistant to the Transitional Executive Presbyter
Denise Pomey, Office Services Assistant
Katie Rains, Communications Coordinator
Kitty Ridley, Executive Assistant, Ministry and Stated Clerk
Deborah Rundlett, Transitional Executive Presbyter
Rev. Barbara A. Wilson, Presbytery Community Organizer
Rev. Matt Parker Wrzeszcz, Youth Ministry Coordinator

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Roger Spalding, PMA
Frank Spencer, BOP
Alex Spoelker, PMA

Let us pray

Gracious and loving God, we seek your wisdom, courage and strength to engage with one another and others in the work of justice for the common good. Amen.


Creative_Commons-BYNCNDYou may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.