Join GIPL for our 2026 Green Team Summit on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. This year's theme is “Let Justice Grow.”
This summit invites Green Teams, faith leaders, and environmental activists to dig deep and let justice grow. When we nurture a movement grounded in equity, resilience, and healing, we create space for transformation. Together, we will explore how the wisdom of our faith traditions shapes our call to pursue justice. We will consider how to live into this call through practical climate solutions and how policy efforts can support thriving communities.
Our keynote speaker, Shantha Ready Alonso, executive director of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, will challenge us to see justice not only as political action but also as a deeply spiritual practice. Then, through a variety of workshops, attendees will gain tools to build and strengthen Green Teams, advance climate justice, and engage in advocacy from the ground up. Together, we will find practical ways to live out our shared call to care for our congregations, our communities, and our Common Home.
Student tickets are $15, General Admission tickets are $35, and Premium Tickets, which include a GIPL “Let Justice Grow” logo T-shirt, are $55-$60, depending on the size. All tickets include snacks and beverages throughout the day, as well as lunch.
KEYNOTE:
Shantha Ready Alonso
Shantha is the Executive Director of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, which is a community of hundreds of organizations working together at the intersection of conservation, environmental justice, and public health. Before that, Shantha was Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior under the leadership of Secretary Deb Haaland. Before serving at Interior, she worked in faith-based organizations, including Creation Justice Ministries, where she was executive director for five years. She holds a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, a Master of Pastoral Studies from Eden Theological Seminary, and did her undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame.
ROUND ONE WORKSHOPS
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One of the most impactful ways faith communities can address the climate crisis is by advocating for change at the systemic level. In this workshop, participants will receive an overview of the Georgia Water Coalition’s priority issues for the 2026 legislative session and learn practical ways to engage in effective advocacy through letter writing, meeting with elected officials, and other actions.
This workshop will be led by:
Bob Sherrier of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC).This workshop is designed for:
Faith leaders, Green Team members, and community advocates who want to deepen their understanding of the legislative process and take informed, faith-rooted action to advance climate and water justice in Georgia. -
The story of pipelines in Georgia is more than a fight over infrastructure; it’s a deeper question of who bears the cost, who benefits, and what faithful stewardship demands of us. In this workshop, we’ll explore the moral and spiritual stakes of the South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) pipeline project proposed to cut through middle Georgia, grounding the conversation in the lived experiences of communities along its path. We’ll look beyond the maps and memos to the people: congregations navigating land loss, vulnerable neighborhoods facing compounding risks, and the growing moral voice emerging across Georgia. Together, we’ll reflect on how faith communities can show up with clarity, courage, and compassion in moments of extraction and injustice.
This workshop will be led by:
Marqus Cole, GIPL Organizing DirectorThis workshop is designed for:
Faith leaders and community organizers, particularly from Columbus, Macon, Milledgeville, and August, seeking a deeper understanding of pipeline impacts and the role of faith-rooted organizing and moral witness in energy justice work. -
Using moral imagination, participants will step outside of linear time to engage in a powerful, interactive ritual where present and future beings meet. Sitting across from each other, those living in the present will be interviewed by participants taking on the role of future beings from the year 2225. Through thoughtful questions and shared reflection, the ritual invites participants to imagine what life could be like and how, despite today’s challenges, a life-sustaining society was made possible. Rooted in the work of Joanna Macy and The Work That Reconnects, this experience creates space for hope and collective visioning.
This workshop will be led by:
Beth Remmes, GIPL Coastal Outreach and Resiliency CoordinatorThis workshop is designed for:
Anyone interested in an interactive, reflective experience that helps envision a just and life-giving world we are called to create for future generations. -
Ready to make your home more energy-efficient and lower your utility bills? This practical workshop will walk participants through how to plan, fund, and maximize home energy upgrades with confidence. Experts from Southface Institute will cover how to identify energy- and cost-saving opportunities, from conducting a home energy audit to selecting the right contractor and defining an effective project scope. Participants will also hear from Self-Help Credit Union about financing options to help manage upfront costs, and from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) about rebates and weatherization assistance available to Georgia residents. Whether you are ready to start a project or simply exploring your options, this session offers clear guidance and trusted local resources to help you take the next step.
This workshop is designed for:
Homeowners, renters, and faith community members interested in reducing personal energy costs, improving home comfort, and learning about financing and incentive programs available in Georgia.This workshop will be led by:
Representatives from Southface Institute, Self-Help Credit Union, and the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) -
What might change if faith communities intentionally centered young people’s voices in their climate discernment and action? In this workshop, participants will explore an innovative, youth-centered, intergenerational dialogue practice that brings together theological reflection, collective decision-making, and concrete climate action. Drawing from a recent GIPL project, the session introduces a deliberative tool that helps congregations weigh the benefits and challenges of specific actions while bridging generational divides. By engaging both youth and adults in shared conversation, this approach strengthens mission, deepens relationships, and equips communities to move forward together in faithful ways.
This workshop is designed for:
Faith leaders, youth pastors, and youth who are interested in engaging in dialogue to help their congregation discern their next most faithful step in going green.This workshop will be led by:
Meagan Williams, GIPL Program Coordinator, and Dr. Beth Corrie, GIPL Scholar in Residence
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
Interested in supporting this shared learning event? Learn more about sponsorship opportunities below or email Stephanie Williams at stephanie@gipl.org.