During the second week of June, Renewal's co-coordinators Ben and AJ made a trip from their respective states of Illinois and North Caroling to the nation's Capital for a week of lobbying and meetings. Since I've been my spending summer as a research intern in DC, I was lucky enough to join them for a couple of interesting days. The National Wildlife Federation had just recently formed an interesting and exciting alliance with the Christian Coalition of America. Together, along with the Evangelical Environmental Network, they organized an event to fly in faith leaders from around the country for a lobbying effort on climate change. Renewal was invited to represent the rising generation in the pastor's congregations and on professors' campuses.

After taking the commuter train, metro, sidewalks,... and cab (when the speed-walking-with-luggage failed) in from North Virginia, I met up with Ben and Anna Jane outside the office of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. We were there to visit with president Paul Corts, and update him on our findings from the national tour, and brief him on the upcoming campus report. We had some interesting conversations on trends(for lack of an entirely more appropriate word) occurring on CCCU campuses, and other related topics. Then we headed to hotel to drop off our luggage, lie briefly on beds, cool in the AC, make calls, and eat lunch.

That evening was the first event. Everyone gathered together for dinner, a presentation of the CC's new video addressing climate change, and to hear the speakers. Chatting with professors is usually interesting and it was cool to have so many southern pastors there. So good to reminisce about living in their various states! Other that though, they were quite interested to hear what is going on within my generation and on campuses across the board. Throughout the event, there was alot of talk from those who are traditionally conservative about what a broader pro-life stance could be. One including life at different stages, and at-risk from collasping ecosystems and climate changes.

The next day was full-on Capitol Hill pace. After breakfast and a review of talking points for various congressmembers, it was to their offices to go. Anna Jane went with the group whose list included meeting her representative. Meanwhile, Ben and I met up with Peter Illyn (Restoring Eden) and headed to a meeting down the street at the White House Office of Neighborhood and Faith-based Partnerships. This was very cool. Remember the postcard petition? Thanks to the efforts of so many, we flooded this office with hundreds upon hundreds of postcards from all us students and community members asking for leadership from this office on environmental issues! And now, we here we were in the office chatting with them and getting to seriously share our concerns.

What probably caught us all off guard, was how much they were looking for partnerships from the faith community on these issues, and how they shared the same urgency and concern with us. They had some ideas that were great to hear. Conversation went around for what could be more creative ways to partner with churches and communities and reach out to offer solutions, relief, more energy efficiency, and build stronger community at the same time. It seems that there is a very large window opening for the Church to engage. It might be more like a hand opening for someone to walk alongside. Really the Church ought to know how, and here we can come back to what it means to be good citizens, informed by our faith. Jesus already came to reconcile all Creation. As renewal has begun to spread, what pieces could be next in the redemption?

We met back up in the Capitol to meet with more congressmembers or staff. We glimpsed how hard it is for congressmembers, who are to some degree separated from the constitiuents and under more pressure from other members. We offered support, in many cases, they seem to want to vote for changes and offer leadership on the issues. A thank-you was recieved so genuinely, as the face flashed in recession those things. And we are struggling together. And by grace getting there!!

Brittany Bennett is a member of Renewal's Student Leadership Team and also serves as one of the leaders of the Earthkeepers group at Eastern University.  She first got involved in Renewal by helping to spearhead the Eastern Summit in the fall of 2008, and has been an active organizer in the student creation care movement ever since.