Encounters at the Capitol can be a form of ecological conversion. When citizens and legislators meet face to face, something begins to change. These moments invite us to see with new eyes the beauty of the created world and our shared responsibility to care for it.

The 2026 legislative session is approaching Crossover Day, and the Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) community has already made a measurable impact on our priority issues. You have sent letters, made calls, shown up at the ropes, and met directly with lawmakers. That presence matters. It changes vote counts, shapes bill language, and ensures that decisions about Georgia’s energy and environmental future are not made without accountability.

As Georgia’s legislative session begins, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) is watching a few key issues that speak directly to our shared values of stewardship, health, and care for community. Here are the top three priorities we’re tracking this session: Data Centers & Energy Demand (SB 34), Forever Chemicals (PFAS) Transparency (HB 611), and Protecting the Okefenokee Swamp (HB 561).

This year will be a mast year. At least that’s what scientists are predicting. The thing about mast years is you can’t really know if you’re in one until it’s over. It’s only in looking back that you know.

Mast years are years when trees produce a bumper crop of fruit or nuts all at once. It’s a communal act; all the trees in a given species mast together. Somehow, they all know within themselves, “This year will be the year.” We still don’t fully understand it. But they know. 

My faith teaches me to be a good steward of God's Creation, which includes fostering equality for all. As a United Methodist, I believe in the Social Principles that are rooted in the Gospel to love our neighbors, to do justice, and to care for the vulnerable. Therefore, participating in a text bank to bring awareness to my community about elections that may impact our livelihood aligns with my faith.