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Indy Action Coalition

Many of you have probably heard about the work that the Indy Action Coalition is doing in our community. Read below for an invitation to get involved!

“Five months ago, I accepted an invitation to join a grassroots group of multi-faith individuals and humanists focused on supporting some of Indianapolis's most vulnerable people and communities.

The efforts of dozens, and now hundreds, of people led to the formation of the Indy Action Coalition (IAC). The aim: To bring about safe and healthy communities where everyone has access to affordable housing, is safe from gun violence, and is welcoming to our immigrant neighbors.

We now have a tangible opportunity to influence legislation in Indianapolis. Vop Osoli, President of the City County Council, has agreed to attend an event planned next week to bring the aim of the IAC a step closer to reality. On Thursday, May 29th, 6:30 pm, at the Light of the World Christian Church, we will have a Public Action of over 400 strong to state our platform at a session entitled Keep Indy Home.

We need people to sign up to ensure not just Vop's attendance, but to put pressure on Mayor Joe to attend. If we can reach 500 people, we might just get him there!

Here is the link to let us know you will be attending: Keep Indy Home Action 6:30 pm at Light of the World”

Submitted by David Llewellyn

Wear Orange - June 6-8

During National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, join us as we honor victims and survivors of gun violence by posting a selfie in front of our Wear Orange banner, which will be displayed during the month of June. 

Why do we wear orange?

“On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.

Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015 – what would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday. Today, Wear Orange honors Hadiya and the 125 people shot and killed every day in the United States, along with hundreds more who are wounded and the countless others whose lives have been changed by Gun Violence.”

Submitted by Susan Peters

Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 - What does this mean?

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15 NIV).

Because we are called to be caretakers of creation, eleven ministries, boards, commissions, and councils of the United Methodist Church made a commitment in 2021 to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2050 across ministries, facilities and operations. This commitment to achieving Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 was reaffirmed and reinforced at the UMC’s 2024 General Conference.

What does net zero emissions mean?

Net zero emissions means reducing emissions of GHGs from a facility to the extent feasible and offsetting any residual GHG emissions by making further reductions in GHGs at other facilities and/or taking actions such as planting trees to absorb GHGs from the atmosphere in a total amount equal to or greater than the residual emissions from the facility so that the net amount of emissions attributable to the facility is zero.

What are greenhouse gases and why do they matter?

As you are probably aware, our climate has grown warmer over the past 40-50 years and that trend continues. The increasing temperatures have other climatic impacts such as increased aridity, increasing frequency and severity of wildfires, flooding, hurricanes and storm surges, melting polar ice caps.

These changes in climate are due to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other GHGs in the atmosphere and their operation through the Greenhouse Effect. You may be familiar with the term Greenhouse Effect, which refers to the ability of GHGs in the atmosphere to trap heat from solar warming of the Earth and radiating some of that heat back to Earth, making it warmer.

The amount of GHGs in the atmosphere has increased more than 50% over the past 150 years, as the result of man’s burning vast quantities of coal, oil, and natural gas. While there aren’t proven technologies to remove the current levels of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, there are technologies available to greatly reduce the amount of GHGs we are releasing into the atmosphere.

What is St. Luke’s doing to reduce its GHG emissions?

A Joint Energy Workgroup comprising members of Creation Care Ministry and the Board of Trustees is developing a plan for St. Luke’s to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 using available technologies and realistic actions.

The Making Room campaign included funding for adding solar power to the new garage being built near Luke’s Lodge. The electricity generated by the solar panels will be used to help power the Lodge and the garage. Solar energy does not release any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and its use to reduce electricity purchased from the local utility will lower our carbon emissions. Also, the use of solar energy improves air quality for other pollutants emitted from the utility’s combustion of natural gas or coal.

We anticipate this solar project will be completed in June and look forward to the positive impact it will have in lowering St. Luke’s carbon emissions.

Submitted by Kristie Wallace