Who We Are

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake works to engage congregations in being good caretakers of our shared watershed. We envision a time when faith communities across the Chesapeake honor, care for, and protect the watershed we share so all our communities, and future generations, may thrive.

The Chesapeake watershed is vast, encompassing 69,000 square miles, home to over 18 million people and over 19,000 congregations. Imagine the potential if we all worked together to restore clean water.

IPC works in two ways: by raising awareness of the power that people of faith have to restore clean water and environmental justice, and by offering hands-on assistance helping congregations plan, pay for, and install healing projects for their communities such as rain gardens, tree plantings, native plantings, and more.

We work with hundreds of congregations in Maryland and are expanding into Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Congregations can also sign the Partner Congregation Pledge - click here to see who they are, and learn how to join us.  

Our Story

IPC's story starts with an inspired group of individuals who came together at the 2004 National Council of Churches "Holy Waters" conference in Annapolis, Maryland and later in 2010 founded Chesapeake Covenant Community. 

In 2013, we became Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to reflect the diversity of faith communities in the Chesapeake region and our intention to engage people across different traditions.  

We believe that communities of faith can bring about a transformation of awareness and action that reflects respect for one another, our brothers and sisters in this watershed, and for future generations. Through water we are all connected.  

Our funding comes from voluntary donations from individuals and congregations and grants from foundations. A significant $1 million grant was awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 2019 which has significantly underwritten our efforts to engage congregations in the One Water Partnership hubs. 

Our Mission and Values

IPC’s mission is to inspire and equip people of faith to honor, protect, and restore our shared watershed.

Our core values guide the way we work:

Respect – Out of love for each other, we cherish nature and strive to protect all of Creation today and for future generations.

Action – Our work is rooted in hope and we live out our call to stewardship by taking action.

Justice - We acknowledge existing injustices and work to achieve a healthy watershed for all community members of every socio-economic status and race.

Inclusion – We strive to build community with all people of conscience, all faiths, all races and cultures, working together for the common good.

Accountability – We are responsible for the resources entrusted to us and expect the same from our partners.

Honors and Awards

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake is an award-winning non-profit that is leading the way in engaging the faith community in environmental education, advocacy and action in the Chesapeake Region. 

2014 Melanie Teems Award recipient, honored by the Chesapeake Bay Trust

2014 Agus-Shehan Interfaith Leadership Award, honored by the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council

2017 Community Ecology Award, honored by the Community Ecology Institute (awarded to Executive Director, Jodi Rose)

2018 Restoring Creation Award, honored by Presbyterians for Earth Care

2019 Environmental Achievement Award, honored by the City of Gaithersburg

2021 Green Friends of Gaithersburg, honored by the City of Gaithersburg

2022 Pursuit of Equity Prize, honored by the Steinman Foundation and Lancaster Community Foundation

2023 Maryland Watershed Champion Award (awarded to Executive Director, Jodi Rose), honored by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay