Speaking & Presentations

The visiting voice

In most of the world's religions, there is a longstanding tradition of the visiting voice: someone from outside the community invited in to preach, to teach, to provoke good questions. In the Hebrew Bible, the word davar, which means both "word" and "deed," captures this idea well. A davar doesn't just describe the world; it asks something of it. MassIPL is glad to be that kind of voice for your community.

Speaking from many traditions

MassIPL draws its strength from many faiths speaking together, each out of its own deepest convictions — and so we can meet your community wherever it stands. We can often offer a message rooted in your own tradition, an interfaith reflection that honors a mixed room, or a presentation that sets faith language aside and speaks plainly to the science and the stakes for our climate and future. Please tell us about your particular context and we'll do our best to bring a message of challenge and hope.

Invite a speaker

Our Executive Director, Rev. Michael Reed, preaches and presents regularly, and would be glad to visit your faith community when possible. MassIPL can also bring speakers from across our network of more than 250 congregations — people who can speak from their own traditions or from the common ground we share.We're happy to fill a Sunday pulpit or a Shabbat message, lead an adult-education hour or a small-group study, present at a community forum, or staff a table at your event. Topics range widely: the moral case for climate action, practical steps to green your house of worship, the relationship between religion and a changing climate, and more.

If you'd like to bring a MassIPL voice to your community, reach out and tell us a little about who you are and what you're hoping for. We'd love to be part of the life of your congregation.

Testimonials

Michael preached at South Church this past April, and the congregation is still talking about it. He's a genuinely skilled preacher — funny, warm, and full of the kind of stories that stick with you, but never at the expense of depth. He brought real wisdom on environmental justice and interfaith leadership without ever feeling like a lecture. I recommend his preaching without hesitation.

He also led a conversation with our lay leaders that same morning, and people walked out of that room energized — genuinely ready to act, not just reflect. That's a rare combination: someone who can move a whole congregation from the pulpit and also do the closer, practical work of helping leaders figure out what comes next.

— Rev. Dana Allen Walsh, Senior Pastor, South Church Andover

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