Vermont Interfaith Power and Light (VTIPL) is a faith-based organization formed by about a dozen people from different faith communities who wanted to take action to help solve the climate crisis. They began meeting late in 2002 to begin laying the necessary groundwork for an Interfaith Power and Light organization in Vermont. The Environmental Ministry Team of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, with the support of Bishop Thomas Ely, provided the impetus to get this started.
In June 2004, VTIPL officially formed after the officers and Board of Directors were chosen. The Vermont Ecumenical Council (VEC) helped to launch VTIPL and it operated under VEC’s non-profit umbrella for four years. VTIPL was incorporated in the State of Vermont in September 2008.
The Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) movement began in the mid 1990’s. It was started by an Episcopal priest, The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, and others, including Steve MacAusland, who went on to form Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light, and helped VTIPL get started. Interfaith Power and Light is the campaign and main activity of The Regeneration Project, based in San Francisco, California; Sally Bingham is the founder and President.
As of mid 2009, the country has IPL organizations in 29 states and more are in the process of forming. Each state IPL is different because each state is different, but all of the IPL organizations work in faith communities on global warming solutions. They are not “chapters” of the national organization, but the state IPLs and the national IPL office are affiliated in a network that shares resources and information.
VTIPL has active and dedicated officers and board members who are committed to working in Vermont’s faith communities on global warming solutions. Our network of members is growing (the faith community member list is posted on this website under “Membership”, and individuals are also encouraged to join). If your faith community is not yet a member, please ask them to join! Together, we can take meaningful steps and have an impact. The climate crisis is a moral and spiritual problem; it is right that faith communities set an example and take a leadership role in solving it.
VTIPL Officers and Staff
Sam Swanson, President
Wes Sanders, Vice President
Ron McGarvey, Secretary
Colin High, Treasurer
Betsy Hardy, Coordinator
Board Members
Sister Bernadette Bostwick
The Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert
The Rev. Sister Laurian Seeber
Ruah Swennerfelt
The Rev. Nancy Wright
