The Next Step Forward

For over 16 years, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) has sought to inspire and equip congregations across the state of Georgia for faithful environmental action. Since 2017, as Director of Programs and Policy, I have been lucky enough to work alongside GIPL congregations stretching from Georgia’s coast, to our southernmost border, throughout Metro Atlanta, and well into the North Georgia Mountains. As a Georgia native, I must insist that the communities of Georgia have a very important part to play in caring for God’s Creation, and I offer witness of the many communities around this state diligently working to prevent and remedy environmental injustices and climate change.During my tenure at GIPL, the GIPL Team has grown our grassroots Green Team Coaching program, diversified our educational offerings, and extended our outreach statewide. GIPL has continued to grow our facilities-based programs, now providing both professional water-efficiency audits and free congregational solar assessments through our Water Wise and Solar Wise programs respectively. As of this year, GIPL will have performed over 375 professional energy-efficiency audits on congregational facilities in total through our Power Wise program. We have and we continue to nurture partnerships with faith communities and leaders across Georgia to pass meaningful legislation and prioritize policies to protect Georgia’s natural resources as well as the health and wellbeing of Georgia’s citizens and communities.All of this is possible only because of the individuals, faith communities, and non-profit partners who support GIPL and believe that the work of environmental justice and protecting God’s Creation is indeed holy work. Georgia Interfaith Power and Light exists as it is now because of the solid foundation and the vision first laid out by Rev. Woody Bartlett and continuously carried forward by GIPL Executive Directors and staffers over the last 16 years. I now stand on this solid foundation, and I am thankful to be a piece of this story.I am forever grateful to my mentor and friend Rev. Kate McGregor Mosley for first hiring me and bringing me into the GIPL family in 2017. Furthermore, I am more resilient, grounded, and emboldened both as an environmental activist and as a faith leader because of her guidance and example.I am humbled to move now into the role of GIPL’s Interim Executive Director, and to continue down the path of faith-based environmental activism blazed by all those who have come before me. I am truly honored to serve alongside the rest of the GIPL team, especially Whitney Brown, GIPL’s Communications Director, as well as GIPL’s steadfast Board of Directors.The work of GIPL and our mission are increasingly relevant even, or perhaps especially, in the midst of the swirling, seemingly unstable world we all currently inhabit. We must continue to fight for environmental justice and resilience in the face of climate change. We will continue to partner together across Georgia to implement climate solutions, defy injustice in whatever form, and seek relationships with each other and the land. We will continue to do all of this together now and well into the future.Thank you for continuing to partner with us in this holy work!Codi NorredInterim Executive DirectorCodi@gipl.org