REV. CHARLES MORRIS:
 




 
 
 
 
 
Founder and Director, Michigan Interfaith Power & Light, Morris was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1983. Since 1993, he has served as pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Wyandotte. Michigan Interfaith includes more than 120 congregations and promotes energy efficiency, energy education, renewable energy, and related sustainable practices among its members. St. Elizabeth reduced its peak energy demand by 60 percent in five years. In 2001, St. Elizabeth won the Energy Star for Congregations award. The St. Elizabeth rectory, partially off the grid with a hybrid PV/wind turbine solar electric system, has a solar hot water heating system and a solar attic fan. Morris has a master’s in sociology from the University of Michigan, a master’s of divinity from St. John Seminary and a master of urban planning from Wayne State University.


WHERE BORN: "Pontiac."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "Thomas Berry, after reading his Technology and the Healing of the Earth; in music, the Paul Winters Consort; Paula Scrimger, who was part of my parish. In 2000, Sally Bingham had an impact with starting the whole movement and I read about her work in Time magazine. And, people in the Small Business Association of Michigan to get this going."

LAST BOOK READ: "I’m reading a book about environmental endgain right now and just finished A View From the Center of the Universe by Joel R. Primack and Nancy Ellen Abrams."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Energetic, curious. Some people call me charming, idealistic, romantic, eclectic."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "With a carbon-constrained world, we’re headed toward a decentralized, greener world, more connection with the farming community and with biofuels. It’s moving us to a renewable economy. Fossil fuel is going to play more of a niche role in the future. People will be more flexible and adaptable with new technologies."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "My favorite gadgets are solar panels, especially in the winter."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Western Brook Pond in Newfoundland."

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "I like to hike and bike. I love the theater and museums. I like to read a lot."

FAVORITE FOOD: "I love ethnic food, all kinds – Thai, Middle Eastern cuisine, Lebanese."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "I play the penny whistle and Native American flute, too."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "As someone who tried to apply the deepest truth of his spiritual foundation to the needs of the 21st Century, that big truth being global warming."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.