Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama
Engaging faith and science to sustain and enhance the life of Earth
Who are we?
We are a community-based network connecting members of faith, science, education, environmental, business, government and the arts sectors to learn together and encourage and inspire informed choices for Care of Creation.
Why faith and science?
Dr. E. O. Wilson, in his book The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth, suggests that in order to engage the environmental issues that face us today, “it will be necessary to find common ground on which the powerful forces of religion and science can be joined. The best place to start is the stewardship of life.”
The critical importance of caring for the life of Earth emerges from both the injunctions of the sacred texts of faith communities and the findings of scientific inquiry.
• Science and religious traditions provide knowledge, understanding and a methodology for addressing environmental issues.
• Faith communities and science frame issues of ethics and morality, and engage a broad range of people for discussion, education, public policy formulation, and individual and group action.
• Faith communities often involve persons engaged in scientific inquiry, and science communities include people of faith.
• Faith and science communities have networks that are already providing education for youth and adults.
• Engaging science and faith provides a way for a broad constituency of Alabama citizens to more fully explore our daily choices about stewardship of creation.
Organization style
Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama is a collaborative network. Our network’s focus includes education, support, outreach and public events.
IEIA is results-oriented and is committed to sharing information that is actionable. This initiative wants to touch people’s passion for sustaining and enhancing the life of Earth, even as it provides scientifically substantiated, clear practical actions that can be “taken home” and implemented immediately.
How did we get here?
Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama began when Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson came to Samford University in Spring 2007 to discuss his book, The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth. Weekend events were sponsored by Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship and Education. The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Task Force for The Stewardship of Creation and the Alabama Faith Council helped involve Alabama faith community leaders and a broad spectrum of participants. Another event, the Watersheds and Warming Workshop, in October 2007, was sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Task Force and funded by World Wildlife Fund. Following a series of meetings after the April 2007 weekend, and a separate series of meetings following the Watersheds and Warming events, in March 2008 these groups resolved to move forward together. These luncheon meetings were sponsored by the Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship and Education.
To learn more about IEIA, go to www.interfaithenvironmental.org
Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama Awards
The Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship and Education, and the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Task Force for The Stewardship of Creation received the 2008 Cahaba River Society Educator of the Year award.
Cahaba River Society Environmental Educator of the Year Awards Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Task Force for The Stewardship of Creation, Eleanor McKenzie DelBene, D. Min., Chair: Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship and Education, Ginny Brown, M.S.E.M., Program Adminstrator, and Larry Davenport, Ph.D., Director
The Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama received the 2010 Cahaba River Society Educator of the Year award. Please see our Partners page for a full listing of the recipients of this award.
Cindy Lowry, Alabama Rivers Alliance; Scot Duncan, Birmingham-Southern College; Becky Rogers, Clarus Consulting, Green Resource Center for Alabama; Cathy Wright, Clarus Consulting; Beth Maynor Young, Beth Maynor Young Photography; Mark Rubino, e4 interactive; Amanda Griesdorn, Protective Life; Joyce Lanning, The Climate Project; Eleanor McKenzie DelBene, IEIA Co-Convener; Beth Stewart, Executive Director Cahaba River Society
The Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama received the 2010 Environmental Education Association of Alabama (http://www.eeaa.us/) BEEP Award for Best (Community) Environmental Education Project. Please see our Partners page for a full listing of the recipients of this award.
