Who We Are

* Staff *

Dr. Katy Hinman, Executive Director - Katy began working with GIPL in 2004. She earned her PhD in Ecology and Evolution at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2003, and got a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in May 2006. Katy is a candidate for ordination in the United Methodist Church and is a member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

Jennifer Downs, Associate Director for Outreach - Jennifer joined the GIPL team in 2006. After leaving a career in design, she got her Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2006, where she served as the chair of the Eco-Concerns Student Organization. Jennifer will be on maternity leave until February 2008.

Cathie Crawford, Environmental Ministry Intern - Cathie is a Master of Divinity student at the Interdenominational Theological Center.

* Steering Committee *

Rev. Woody Bartlett, Co-founder and Chair of Steering Committee & Congregational Activities Committee - Woody is a reitred Episcopal priest in the Atlanta Diocese. During his career, Woody had an active interest in involving the church in the world around it.  For the last twenty years he has focused this interest in the relationship between human beings and the creation.  He is the author of Living By Surprise: A Christian Response to the Ecological Crisis.

Carol Bartlett, Co-founder and Chair of Audit Committee - Carol is an educational consultant. She has taught English at Georgia State University and DeVry University and worked in the Center for Teaching and Learning at Georgia Tech. She currently teaches at Shorter College and does consultations with schools and nonprofit groups. She is a member of All Saints Episcopal Church.

Dan May, Treasurer of Steering Committee - Dan May is a former college biology teacher and a retired epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a member of the Atlanta Friends Meeting.

Melissa Heath, Secretary of Steering Committee - Melissa works for the US Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta as an enforcement attorney, as well as on workgroups on sustainable development, community outreach and innovations. A lifelong treehugger, she has an undergraduate degree in History of Science from Harvard College and a law degree from UGA. She attends St. Luke's Episcopal Church with her two teenagers.

Renee Kastanakis, Chair of Policy Committee - Renee is an attorney, who practiced for 20 years with the litigation law firm of Carr, Tabb & Pope. She currently works part-time as legal counsel for PS Energy Group, Inc. Her legal experience includes representation of clients before the Georgia Public Service Commission. She has brought that experience to the GIPL Steering Committee in appearing as Counsel for GIPL in Georgia Power cases before the GPSC. She is a lifelong Episcopalian, who is currently a member of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church..

Rev. Debra Shew, Chair of Membership Committee - Debbie serves as Canon for Community Ministries on the bishop's staff in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. She has been an ordained priest for 11 years and her growing passion for protecting our earth is informed by having lived in rural Africa and inner-city Atlanta, where poverty and environmental degradation often collide. Her family lives in a co-housing community as part of their commitment to learn more about "living green" and their household includes 4 children, 2 cats and a dog.

Rita Kilpatrick, SACE liaison - Rita is the Georgia Policy Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. She is a member of the Atlanta Friends Meeting.

Marti Breen - Marti is a principal with C3 Marketing, Inc. She began her career as an environmentalist in response to the appointment of James Watt as Secretary of the Interior. She served in various positions within the Sierra Club, culminating as Chair of the Charlotte Chapter. As a congregant of All Saints' Episcopal, Atlanta, she became interested in the potential for the faith community to help its members realize the connection between spirituality and care for creation.

Sam Collier - Sam is a member of Oakhurst Baptist Church.

Rev. Leland Collins - Leland is the founder of the Georgia Christian Council.

Rev. Rex Kaney - Rex is the senior pastor of Druid Hills United Methodist Church. He is a graduate of Young Harris College, Birmingham Southern College, and Candler School of Theology with a Doctor of Ministry Degree. Rex was briefly involved with GIPL at its inception, and has now returned to the Steering Committee.

Our Mission

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light engages communities of faith in stewardship of God's Creation as a direct reflection of our faithfulness through worship, education, and the sustainable generation and efficient use of energy.

NEW ADDITION!!!

We are overjoyed to welcome Dexter Barrett Downs to the GIPL family. Dexter was born at 12:40 am on November 15, 2007 to Jennifer and Will Downs. He weighed in at 9 lbs 10 oz and 22 inches long.

Welcome Dexter!!!

"The faith community has led every major movement in the US including the abolition of slavery, a woman's right to vote and most recently the civil rights movement. We are involved now, working for the health of Creation and I think we will succeed in creating a sustainable future. No institution is more suited to preach clean air, water and land than the institution that professes a love of God and God's creation."

- Rev. Sally Bingham, Founder of the Interfaith Power & Light movement