Living Into Our Values
As a program that takes a holistic approach that defines health as the well-being of our bodies, minds, and spirits, Partners in Health and Wholeness is also concerned with the well-being of our faith communities and our shared environment. Our five areas of focus remain the pillars of our program: tobacco cessation, healthy eating, increased physical activity, healthy aging, and mental health empowerment and action. Increasingly, our work has led us to recognize the impact our environment has on our health and ability to flourish. In line with this recognition, we uphold that it is deeply important that we become stewards of God’s good Creation. Through love of our neighbor, we see the impact on our coastal communities as hurricane seasons become increasingly destructive; we see the impact on individuals with asthma and allergies as air pollution persists; and we see the unjust environmental impacts on poor communities and communities of color. With our partner congregations, we hope to cultivate an environment that is healthy, just, and prosperous for the vitality of current and future generations. We are becoming more conscious of our own earth-friendly efforts to be good stewards of our beloved shared home, and we hope you will join us in this work.
At all of our PHW events moving forward, we commit to
- Serving organic and locally sourced food whenever possible
- Using reusable foodware when possible or using compostable plates and cutlery
- Avoiding single/individual use products
- Recycling
- Composting
- Conscientious energy use
- Using online materials before printing paper handouts
- Honoring and naming the healing properties that Earth has on human health
- Carpooling and inviting attendees to do so as well
For more resources check out the links below:
- NC Interfaith Power and Light, an initiative of the NC Council of Churches: Programs Page
- NC Interfaith Power and Light, an initiative of the NC Council of Churches: Resources
- NC Interfaith Power and Light, an initiative of the NC Council of Churches: Resource Tree
- Creation Care Alliance of WNC Toolkit
- Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle