Sign a Faith Leaders Letter to Protect Chaco Canyon

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Thank you so much for considering signing this letter for spiritual leaders to support efforts to  protect Chaco Canyon.  Chaco Canyon is a sacred place to the many Pueblos, and Navajo people in New Mexico and beyond. Oil an gas drilling around this place continues to threaten it for them and for the many visitors who come to learn about Chacoan history and visit this holy place.  Please read and consider signing this national letter.

Here is the link to the letter where other spiritual and faith leaders can sign on

This is a nationwide sign-on letter and we are trying to get as many spiritual and faith leaders to sign on as possible so I would greatly appreciate you sending this to all your networks. The deadline for sign ons is March 29th.

Brazilian Theologian to Lead Lenten Reflections on Earth & Environment

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New Mexico El Paso Region Interfaith Power & Light invite you to a series of Lenten reflections led by Claudio Carvalhaes, Associate Professor of Worship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

This series, Ways of the Earth, builds upon traditional Catholic/Christian Stations of the Cross and integrates the suffering of our times and our planet with the suffering of Jesus. People of all faith traditions or openness are invited. Claudio will offer teachings every other week and share a reflective practice to do in the time in-between.

Our sessions  will be held on Thursday, March 3, Thursday, March 17, and Thursday, March 31.  All sessions are scheduled for 75 minutes, starting at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 6:45 p.m. The series will conclude with a worship on Wednesday, April 13.

Register here  for the three sessions in March. We will send out a separate link for the April worship.

A donation of $25 is requested (but not required) via the Paypal link on our website. Be sure to designate the donation for the Lenten series.

About Claudio Carvalhaes

Our presenter, earth thinker, theologian, liturgist and artist, a native Brazilian, completed his Ph.D. in Liturgy and Theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2007. He earned his first Master of Philosophy degree in Theology, Philosophy, and History at the Methodist University of Sao Paulo in 1997 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Independent Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Sao Paulo, Brazil) in 1992.

A much sought after speaker, writer and performer, Carvalhaes has preached and taught at  several venues in Latin America, Europe and Africa. He led an online Lenten series for Ghost Ranch Retreat Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico,  in 2021.

Sr. Joan Brown: Strong methane rules protect God’s creation

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In an opinion piece, published in The New Mexican on Jan. 14, urged policy makers to enact strong methane rules.

“...it’s so important the EPA strengthens its proposed rule by eliminating exemptions that would allow for many wells to be missed and many communities to continue to have to live with this harmful pollution. We need the rule to cover not just large producers but small ones — whose polluting impact can often be as bad or worse as larger sites.

The rule should make inspections more frequent and step up oversight, including allowing third-party observers to provide emissions data. It should institute stronger regulations over flaring — including banning routine flaring and placing strict limitations on unlit flares that vent methane pollution straight into the atmosphere.

St. Francis of Assisi centuries ago wrote that it was the responsibility of civic leaders to care for the common good. It falls on policymakers — including regulators at the EPA and other agencies — to uphold that ethical and moral standard to care for our sacred creation and common home. The time for action on climate has been here for a while. The EPA should take this opportunity to act on climate by finalizing strong methane pollution standards.

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