Becoming A Green Church

1
Becoming A Green Church

• James W. Mold, MD, MPH
• Cheryl B. Aspy, PhD
• Southern Hills Christian Church
• Edmond, OK

2
Why?

• Each congregation must articulate a compelling
  reason for the decision to become a green church.
  This could include
• Mission or Vision Statement
• Scriptural imperative
• Being Responsible Citizens
• Others? (Examples from the group)

3
SHCC Vision Statement

• Jesus Christ calls us to be a faith community
  that nurtures people in spiritually transforming
  relationships with God, others, and all
  creation.
• A spiritually transforming relationship with all
  creation requires that we reach beyond our
  concern for ourselves and those we know to human
  beings around the world, to those yet to be born,
  and to all living creatures.

4
How Do You Develop A Green Church?

• Given the Committee Structure of SHCC, we
• Proposed a new Committee to the Board
• Environmental Stewardship Committee
• Gave the Committee Cabinet Status
• Solicited Committee Membership/Participation
• Developed a Lenten Study on Potential Activities
  to launch the Committee

5
SHCC Committee Approach

• We focused our activities in 3 areas
• Activities/Actions within our church to reduce,
  reuse, recycle resources within our church
  building and grounds
• Teaching our church members to become more aware
  of their energy footprint and showing them ways
  to reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Activities involving the community to educate and
  facilitate reduction in energy use.

6
Church Building and Grounds

• We are changing from incandescent bulbs to
  low-energy florescent bulbs whenever possible.
• We recycle church bulletins and all paper
  trash. We have placed recycle bins around the
  building for both paper and aluminum/plastic.
• We serve Fair Trade Coffee during our gathering
  time between services on
• Sunday morning.

7
Church Building and Grounds

• Use washable plates, glasses, coffee cups, and
  silverware when possible
• Investigating energy efficient heating/air
  conditioning systems for when ours have to be
  replaced (soon)
• Planning for a community garden
• Investigating use of more environmentally
  friendly fertilizer for grounds.

8
Teaching Church Members

• We put an energy related tip in each Sharing
  Tree (our weekly newsletter). Each month is
  devoted to a new theme. These themes include
• August Bottled water
• September Wind power
• October Light bulbs
• November Home fuel conservation
• December Recycling

9
Teaching Church Members

• January Auto fuel conservation
• February Fair trade food products
• March Lawn care
• April Eating more veggies
• May Eating local produce
• June Conserving water

10
Examples of Community Activities

• Hosted a community showing/discussion of the
  film, An Inconvenient Truth
• Article in the Daily Oklahoman
• Environmental Expo to be held on April 27, 2008
  that will include information booths from
  numerous organizations
• Information for UCO students on environmental
  protection as part of the churchs outreach packet

11
Your Turn

• We have described one way a church might become
  green. What other ideas do you have for making
  your church green?
• Justification?
• Organization?
• Activities?
• Resources?

12
Ideas Generated in the Workshop

• Recycle communion cups
• See environmental stewardship as a form of
  evangelism.
• Install programmable thermostats for
  sanctuary/building.
• BOINC- http//boinc.berkeley.edu
• Install energy efficient air/heating systems
  perhaps before the current ones fail.

13
More Ideas

• Teach from the pulpit to prepare members for
  environmental stewardship.
• Use 1 Sunday School Class per quarter to focus on
  environmental stewardship.
• Get church volunteers to help the home-bound
  recycle.
• Sign-up for wind power.

14
Even More Ideas

• Check tire pressure regularly
• Challenge everyone to think of things they can do
  in their own area of influence.
• Provide seasonal messages appropriate to
  environmental stewardship.
• Become a recycling repository.

15
Yes, More Ideas

• Check city policy about taking trash from curb by
  sanitation workers.
• Use cloth grocery bags with church logo to make
  others aware.
• Make environmental stewardship a theological
  issue find words that work.
• Increase reuse of items
• Jim Wallace Sojourners www.sojo.net

16
Helpful Websites

• As faithful Disciples of Christ, God calls us to
  be good stewards http//www.discipleshomemissions
  .org/PublicWitness/environment.htm
• Green events planning guides http//www.homeland
  ministries.org/socialjustice/greenevents.htm
• Community garden http//www.discipleshomemissions
  .org/PDF/ReturnToGarden/GardenResource.pdf

17

• National Council of Churches of Christ- Eco
  Justice There are many resources referenced at
  this site. http//www.nccecojustice.org/grbuildin
  g.htm
• Assess your carbon footprint with the help of the
  Earthday Network. http//www.myfootprint.org
• Calculate cost and energy savings with the help
  of Energy Guide Home Analyzer
• http//www.energyguide.com/audit/HAintro.asp

18

• This page is from the United Methodists and
  provides scriptural support for becoming more
  environmentally focused.
• http//gbgm-umc.org/umw/environmental/mandates.htm
  lbiblical
• A USA Today story about All souls interfaith
  Gathering in Shelburne, Vt one of the greenest
  churches in the country. http//www.usatoday.com/n
  ews/religion/2008-01-06-green-church_N.htm?csp34
• This is the website for the National Religious
  Partnership for the Environment. Many resources
  for creation care are listed here.
  http//www.nrpe.org/index.html

19

• Brandeis University provides useful energy facts.
  http//www.brandeis.edu/energy/facts.html
• Popular Mechanics provides information and
  practical tips to reduce your energy footprint.
• http//www.popularmechanics.com/footprint
• Earth 911 delivers actionable local information
  on recycling and product stewardship that
  empowers consumers to act locally, live
  responsibly and contribute to sustainability.
  http//earth911.org/

20

• Interfaith Works is a non-profit organization
  partnering with religious organizations to
  integrate environmental stewardship with
  community outreach. http//www.interfaithworks.or
  g/index.html
• The mission of the Interfaith Coalition on Energy
  (ICE) is to inspire congregations to reduce the
  costs of operating their facilities.
  http//www.interfaithenergy.com/
• The Regeneration Project and the Interfaith Power
  and Light campaign are an interfaith ministry
  devoted to deepening the connection between
  ecology and faith. www.theregenerationproject.org

21

• The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a
  non-profit organization committed to expanding
  sustainable building practices. www.usgbc.org
• The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental
  principles for building a just, sustainable, and
  peaceful global society for the 21st century.
  www.earthcharter.org
• Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter celebrate the
  life of Christ. In Pentecost we celebrate the
  Holy Spirit. Now, in the season of Creation, we
  celebrate God, the Creator. www.seasonofcreatio
  n.com