Jan 23 green church

8/8/2019 Jan 23 green church

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Welcome!Welcome!


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What is the Green Church Initiative andWhat is the Green Church Initiative and

what do we hope to accomplish today?what do we hope to accomplish today?


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Its an incredible vision.Its an incredible vision.

andand

Its only what we choose to make of it.Its only what we choose to make of it.

With the earth and all of its inhabitants facing an unprecedented ecological crisis, our

spirituality compels us to take practical steps toward sustainability in all aspects of our lives.

It seems deeply moving and appropriate for our two spiritual communities to come together totalk about sustainability as a living art, the key to our childrens future, and the inspiration forrenewing our sacred relationships with the Divine, with our Earth and with each other.

It is inherent to both our spiritual traditions to seek to paths to living respectfully and

harmoniously with fellow human beings and with our beautiful and endangered Earth.

To this end Comox United Church Council and Comox ValleyUnitarian Fellowship Board have enthusiastically endorsed the idea of

forming a sub-committee inclusive of both spiritual communities, toexplore the meaning and actions of a Green Church Initiative.


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Greening Sacred Spaces is a practical programme developed by Faith & the Common Good toassist faith communities with both the educational and spiritual dimensions ofgreeningas well as

the "how-to" side of audits, retrofits and generally reducing the faith community's footprint. Thisprogram has developed a whole resource kit with workshops, posters, music, and more to helpfaith groups become community leaders in working towards a more sustainable future.

We wouldnt be starting

from square one.


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The United Church of Canada and theThe United Church of Canada and the

Canadian Unitarian Council areCanadian Unitarian Council are

supporting congregations in developingsupporting congregations in developinggreen church programsgreen church programs


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Spiritual Dimensions

Sustainability is fundamentally aspiritual Concern

Core questions of who we are, our purpose in life, how we relate to each other and

the natural world, and our vision of a healthy, peaceful, just and caring existence forall need to be understood and lived if we are to achieve a sustainable future.

Without the primary motivation to connect our purpose in life with the well beingand goodness of the cosmos then there is often not the courage to change. Each of

us needs to feel loved, inspired, and hopeful that we can contribute to making theworld a better place.

A GreenChurch Initiativewould open us to deeper spiritualquests and identify practical ways to express our spirituality in

our ownbackyard.


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Our BuildingOur Building

Our Church building is muchOur Church building is muchmore than simply a structuremore than simply a structureto protect us from the naturalto protect us from the naturalenvironment. Indeed, it is anenvironment. Indeed, it is an

integral part of ourintegral part of ourrelationship with the planet,relationship with the planet,or even the entire Universe.or even the entire Universe.

Are there ways we couldAre there ways we couldimprove our sacred space toimprove our sacred space to

help us interact in inspiringhelp us interact in inspiringways with creation whileways with creation whilebecoming more energybecoming more energyefficient and ecoefficient and eco--friendly?friendly?


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A Sustainability Audit

Does the church have an energy policy?

Has the church established energy reduction targets?Ventilation Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ReduceOperating Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Domestic Hot Water Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Refrigerators and Freezers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ReduceOperating Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Drafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Insulation . . . . . . .

Lights . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Appliances/Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .General Water Conservation Priorities . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.Landscaping Best Management Practices.Compact Fluorescent Lamps


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Our Building and GroundsOur Building and Grounds

First ImpressionsFirst Impressions

An average first timeAn average first timevisitor will make up theirvisitor will make up their

mind about returning tomind about returning toyour church within theyour church within thefirst ten minutes of theirfirst ten minutes of theirarrival.arrival.


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Our Lives

This is a serious topic, but will also be fun, as it ranges from

discussions on fair trade, to facilitating friendships withincongregations through ride sharing, or a blessing of the

bicycles. In dialogue with our congregations the initiative could

encourage the big vision green church plan, as well as considersome possible local and personal actions.


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An example: Cedar Park UnitedAn example: Cedar Park UnitedOur Covenant with CreationOur Covenant with Creation

Cedar Park United Church covenants to make everyCedar Park United Church covenants to make everyeffort possible to practice responsibleeffort possible to practice responsibleenvironmentalism by reusing, reducing, recycling,environmentalism by reusing, reducing, recycling,

composting, redistributing, and continually seeking newcomposting, redistributing, and continually seeking newways to improve our environmental practices in ourways to improve our environmental practices in ourchurch home and in our community.church home and in our community.

In committing ourselves to this ministry of ecology,In committing ourselves to this ministry of ecology,

Cedar Park United Church has adopted the followingCedar Park United Church has adopted the following

specific practices.specific practices.


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In ourIn ourWORSHIPWORSHIP, we commit to, we commit to Developing a theology of worship that reflects Developing a theology of worship that reflectsour call to live with respect in creation;our call to live with respect in creation; Raising awareness of ecological concerns in a Raising awareness of ecological concerns in atheological context;theological context; Challenging our members to be partners in this Challenging our members to be partners in this

sacred mission of caring for creation.sacred mission of caring for creation.


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In ourIn our BUILDINGBUILDING, we commit to, we commit to Surveying our energy consumption and fossil fuel use in the Surveying our energy consumption and fossil fuel use in thethree sections of our building (sanctuary, Christian Educationthree sections of our building (sanctuary, Christian EducationCentre, daycare);Centre, daycare);

Evaluating heavy users of energy with a view to reducing usage; Evaluating heavy users of energy with a view to reducing usage; Finding ways to rebalance the use of oil and electricity; Finding ways to rebalance the use of oil and electricity; Exploring alternative energy sources (solar, geothermal); Exploring alternative energy sources (solar, geothermal); Changing high Changing high--energy use appliances to higher efficiencyenergy use appliances to higher efficiencyappliances;appliances;

Identifying or creating venues within the community where Identifying or creating venues within the community whereused products and appliances can be reused and/or exchanged.used products and appliances can be reused and/or exchanged.


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In ourIn our KITCHENKITCHEN andand FOOD CHOICESFOOD CHOICES, we, we

commit tocommit to Using green products for cleaning whenever Using green products for cleaning whenever

possible;possible; Engaging in wet Engaging in wet--waste pickup programs aswaste pickup programs as

they are developed by the municipality;they are developed by the municipality;

Using fair trade coffee and tea; Using fair trade coffee and tea; Encouraging fair trade and local food Encouraging fair trade and local food

consumption.consumption.


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In ourIn our PRODUCT CONSUMPTIONPRODUCT CONSUMPTION, we commit to, we commit to Encouraging all users of our building to use recycling bins; Encouraging all users of our building to use recycling bins; Using products made from post Using products made from post--consumer materials;consumer materials; Meeting with tenants to encourage them to use chemical Meeting with tenants to encourage them to use chemical--freefree

green products and to reduce the use of disposable products;green products and to reduce the use of disposable products; Reducing our use of packaging materials, Styrofoam and Reducing our use of packaging materials, Styrofoam andplastics and asking the same of our suppliers, caterers, tenants,plastics and asking the same of our suppliers, caterers, tenants,etc.;etc.; Recycling printer cartridges; Recycling printer cartridges;

Increasing awareness about hazardous waste disposal and Increasing awareness about hazardous waste disposal andmunicipal ecomunicipal eco--programs through our website calendar;programs through our website calendar; Discouraging the use of bottled water. Discouraging the use of bottled water.


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In ourIn our TRANSPORTTRANSPORT, we commit to, we commit to Encouraging carpooling programs and use of Encouraging carpooling programs and use ofalternative forms of transport in our community;alternative forms of transport in our community;

Encouraging members of the community to buy and

Encouraging members of the community to buy andto advocate for cleaner cars;to advocate for cleaner cars; Encouraging members to make a conscious effort to Encouraging members to make a conscious effort toreduce their carbon footprint;reduce their carbon footprint; Emphasizing the benefits of alternative forms of Emphasizing the benefits of alternative forms of

transport;transport; Reducing car usage through teleconferencing or Reducing car usage through teleconferencing oremailing in lieu of meetings.emailing in lieu of meetings.


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Working together in common purpose to green our spiritualhome will deepen relations between our two congregations

and could be transformative.

You are warmly invited to join us.


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Sources/ResourcesSources/Resources

The Green Sanctuary program,The Green Sanctuary program,

http://www.uuministryforearth.orghttp://www.uuministryforearth.org

Greening Sacred Spaces,Greening Sacred Spaces,http://www.greeningsacredspaces.nethttp://www.greeningsacredspaces.net

The Green Church Program, offered by theThe Green Church Program, offered by the

Canadian

Cent

re forEcumenis

mCanadian

Cent

re forEcumenis

mhttp://www.greenchurchproject.org/green/http://www.greenchurchproject.org/green/

Jan 23 green church

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