Churches Espouse Environmental Stewardship

  • By: Karen Skubik
  • February 18, 2014
  • 393
                        
Planet earth faces significant environmental challenges and many churches are taking issues like pollution, resource depletion, species extinction, and climate change to heart….and soul. “Our faith urges us to strive for eco-justice”, noted Carol Vagnini from Wooster’s First Presbyterian Church. She explained, “Defending and healing creation while working to assure justice for all of creation and all things who live in it” are goals in their commitment to environmental stewardship. “If we each could take just one more step, whether it is in worship, education or outreach, then we would walk more gently on this Godly creation, our Mother Earth.” First Presbyterian has been certified as an “Earth Care Congregation” proving they are walking their talk. According to Vagnini, “the designation was awarded by the Environmental Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is based on fulfilling a rigorous set of actions in the church. The congregation pledges to integrate environmental practices and thinking into all facets of its church life and completed projects and activities in the areas of worship, education, facilities and outreach.” Local Presbyterians are attending environmental programs, participating in Adpot-A-Highway, tending community gardens, and signing up for energy assessments. Likewise, Trinity United Church of Christ congregants are promoting local events like The Scarlet Grey and Green Fair, inviting speakers from Green Energy Ohio, the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network, and Smith’s Dairy who discussed the conversion of their trucks to natural gas. The Reverend Dr. Kevan Franklin frequently uses stewardship of the earth references in his Sunday messages, and their monthly newsletter includes articles on recycling and other earth-friendly topics. Carol Eberhart can be found leading the environmental charge at Trinity and shared a long list of their efforts both in their building and in the greater community and stated, “We are all called to be caretakers of the earth and if humans are to survive in the long term, we must care for the earth in the short term!” St. James Episcopal Church is setting an example using earth-friendly building updates and is following recommendations from the Interfaith Power and Light Organization. Member Louise Plusquellic provided examples including: installation of a new energy-efficient dishwasher, replacement of parish hall windows with more energy-efficient ones, and installation of low-energy light bulbs. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County (UUFWC) building, dedicated in 2006, has been “green” since its conception with the church design received a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. Reflecting the congregation’s strong commitment to sustainability and concern for the environment, the UU’s have continued building upgrades including the recent installation of a rooftop 23.52 kilowatt solar array in partnership with the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network and Third Sun Solar. The local UUFWC congregation is dedicated to The Green Sanctuary Program, which was designed to help congregations work towards creating a world that cultivates a sense of reverence, gratitude and caring for the living Earth. According to the national association website, “The program provides a path for congregational study and reflection and a call to individual and collective actions in response to environmental challenges.” In addition to recycling cell phones, eye glasses, ink cartridges, and the usual paper and aluminum products, the UU’s started a group with a two-year commitment: 20 People 20%. According to Margo Curl, group convener, “The purpose of the group is to provide information and support to help people/households reduce their carbon footprints (by at least 20%).” Curl stated, “I try to be environmentally responsible, but there are always ways to do better. By participating in the 20P 20% effort I have a group of like-minded people with whom to learn and share ideas." As congregations work towards being responsible stewards, they strengthen their connection between religious and spiritual practices and Earth consciousness. In the words of the Reverend Dr. Elaine Strawn of the UUFWC, “We owe it to ourselves, to our children and to our sisters and brothers who share this beloved Creation.”


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