Fr. Charles Morris has named Michigan IPL in his bequest, reflecting his commitment to the vision he has nurtured since 1992, when his early efforts to rally faith communities around climate action first began.
Fr. Charles offering a blessing over the solar panel installation he helped bring to life at Madonna University in 2017.
“If we’re going to speak truth to power, we need to walk the walk.” - Fr. Charles Morris
While studying planning and environmental justice at Wayne State, Fr. Charles Morris, founder of Michigan IPL, began pursuing his vision of rallying congregations around energy efficiency and best practices for sustainability. One of his first projects was at St. Elizabeth Parish in Wyandotte, where, starting with an energy assessment, he led energy upgrades that cut peak demand by 60%, inspiring a vision for a wind turbine atop the rectory which was eventually installed.
Growing Michigan IPL: From Solar Panels to Statewide Advocacy
By the early 2000s, he was installing solar panels, celebrating environmental milestones, and laying the groundwork for what would become Michigan IPL. The organization started to take shape in 2002 when Fr. Charles began connecting with allies and then gathered dozens of faith leaders to sign on to support the Kyoto Protocol (ratified in the late 90’s by countries across the world, but not the United States).
Michigan IPL grew steadily in its early years with Fr. Charles arranging audits for local Catholic churches, leading regional workshops and roadshows, and building a network of partners.
As Michigan IPL evolved into an ecumenical organization and intentionally expanded into advocacy, Fr. Charles and other staff began getting the word out through testimony at hearings, conferences, and community events, while continuing their core mission of engaging faith communities as stewards of God’s creation.
Early initiatives, like bulk purchasing discounts for energy-efficient upgrades and tracking emissions reductions, laid the foundation for more visible advocacy, culminating in hiring an executive director in 2007 to expand the organization’s impact. Fr. Charles stepped down as director, but remains as an ex officio board member for Michigan IPL.
Fr. Charles with MI IPL staff, board members and faith leaders, delivering a letter signed by over 700 supporters to Gov. Whitmer regarding Line 5
Carrying His Vision Forward: A Call to Legacy and Stewardship
Fr. Charles’ lifelong commitment to climate justice and future generations aligns with MI IPL’s mission to care for creation and safeguard the well-being of the “seventh generation,” in his words, of humans and all living creatures. His motivation to include Michigan IPL in his bequest is rooted unapologetically in faith rather than economics: “put your money where your mouth is.”
When considering his own legacy, he asked himself, “What am I going to do with it?” The answer for him is clear. Naming MI IPL in his revocable trust—an easy, straightforward process that avoids probate—allows him to support the work he cares about most. He says that anyone preparing their afterlife documents can take this simple step to ensure their values continue shaping the world long after they’re gone.
From 2001 when he assisted with the small solar-and-wind setup at St. Elizabeth’s, generating just 0.89 kW, to 2017 when he led a project to install a 1,032-panel, 378 kW solar array at Madonna University, Fr. Charles has continually turned big dreams into real, measurable progress for creation care.
You can take the same simple, meaningful step as Fr. Charles by naming MI IPL in your own legacy plans or supporting our mission with a monetary donation at https://givebutter.com/miipl