Note: To become a Green Sanctuary, the church must complete a total of 12 activities and projects. Specific requirements are noted under each of the four program elements.
Goals:
Include a joyful theology (earth justice, morality, and spiritual connection) in our regular worship services.
Celebrate our seventh principle as well as the first and second principles as they relate to Earth, environment and justice issues.
Requirements: At least two activities involving worship, spiritual practice, and or community celebration.
The Minister(s), Intern, and Worship Associates
1. Devote some portion of Sunday morning services to Principle Seven in two or more services/month. Their offerings may include opening words, prayers, affirmations, readings, hymns, dance, closing words or other possibilities.
2. Include a celebration of the seasons each quarter as part of a service.
3. Schedule at least one or more services during the regular church year and at least one during the summer, which address Green Sanctuary topics such as environmental justice, sustainable living, and/or our relationship to nature. Such services may include the church ministers, guest ministers, guest speakers, and/or members of the congregation.
4. When a Sunday service during the regular church year is on a topic related to Green Sanctuary, the minister will endeavor to further discussion of the service by using the topic and related questions for covenant group discussions and discernment.
(One or more of the following)
1. In addition to the celebration of the turning of the seasons in Sunday morning services, each equinox and solstice will be marked by a special service coordinated by members of the congregation to be held on or near the date of the event. These joyful services will welcome children as part of their rituals and activities. (Craig and Autumn Labbe-Renault have made this their church project. Tom Jankowski has helped, too.)
2. Offer one or more Sunday alternative evening services during the summer, which may be held outside and would include music and poetry that focuses on nature or environmental issues.
3. Plan and execute easy hikes with a progressive worship service in nature.
Goals:
Integrate environmental, sustainability, and justice issues into worship & religious educational programs for children & adults.
Celebrate with joy and fun and with hope for a better world.
Requirements: At least two religious education programs, one for children and one for adults.
Members of the GS committee will work with the Minister and the Adult R.E. Council to develop adult religious exploration groups, which focus on the environment and sustainability. (Tom Jankowski, Mary Wind and Judy Moores will help with this.)
The GS Committee will host the Rev. Michael Dowd who will give a free evening workshop on the topic: “Beyond Sustainability: The Marriage of Science and Religion.” The aim of the workshop is to inspire people to relate to social justice and sustainability in a new way. (Tom Jankowski has arranged for Rev. Dowd to come to the UUCD on Friday evening, January 27.) The workshop will be announced in the local papers and notification sent to other churches.
The Religious Exploration Committee will provide curricula for children and youth that incorporates environmental and sustainability issues. This will need to begin in 2006 as the church is in the process of recruiting an assistant minister who will be working on religious exploration.
The Religious Exploration Committee and ministers will be requested to include stories, songs, outdoor activities, etc. that help children and youth to discover a sense of place and learn about Earth, making choices for sustainable living, and other “green” topics in most of its programs. (The GS committee will work with the new minister to be called and the Children and Youth R.E. Council concerning Project 4. Dawn Student has already begun to incorporate such activities into the pre-school curriculum.)
The Grounds committee working with the Green Sanctuary will develop a self-guided tour brochure and other materials to introduce congregants to our 6 acres of church grounds. (Judy Moores working with Roman Gankin and members of the grounds committee has developed an initial brochure, which was completed in the fall of 2005 and is being used by the Newcomers’ Orientation Committee. Additional tours are given occasionally for anyone interested.
The Library Committee and others have been asked to add resources for sustainability, worship, and environmental awareness and justice to the church library. (Mary Stohl, Library Committee Chair, has agreed to help with this.)
Goals:
Join with Peace and Justice Committee to promote church-wide awareness and understanding of societal environmental justice issues, develop and implement church projects that rectify environmental injustices.
Work with other churches and/or groups that rectify environmental injustices beyond the scope of just our church.
Develop and implement church policies with regard to finances that are in accord with our principles and environmental justice.
Requirements: At least two activities addressing environmental justice issues, at least one of which is a yearlong project involving the entire congregation and collaborating with one or more groups in the broader community.
The UU Church of Davis (members of the Green Sanctuary Committee) will work with the local Interfaith Group “Care for God’s Creation” to create an annual Spring conference to bring people of many faiths together and raise awareness of our need to work together for the good of the environment. The topic for May 2006, “Trees,” will feature Julia Butterfly Hill and will be hosted at the UU Church of Davis. The conference planning takes about a year and will involve many members of the congregation as helpers and attendees. Information springing from the conference will be shared with the congregation using church newsletters and bulletins and the entire Davis community through local newspapers. (Judy Moores and Mary Wind are part of the interfaith organizing committee.) Spring 2006
Three or more of the following:
1. The church will organize a spring “bike, carpool, or bus to church” day for the congregation. We could think about something fun to do with it (a fashion show of bike gear?) It may be possible to incorporate air quality issues and education, too. The plan is to work with other congregations to have a bike/carpool day and keep a record of the energy savings. Also, it would be great to ask the local bus company to run buses to some of the churches that lay beyond the usual city routes. We may need to reconfigure the church parking lot to be more accessible for buses. (Gail Kennedy and Virginia Thigpen will be helping with this project.)
2. The church board finance team will be reviewing the elements of green investing and then work to develop and implement policies to invest a significant percent of its investments according to good ethical investing that reflects our values as a church as well as giving a return on investment. The team includes Board Members: Bob Young, Gordon Lane, and Steve Burns.
3. The church community will contribute significant money, time, effort and goods on an on-going basis and in cooperation with other faith and NGO efforts to address local, national and international environmental and social justice efforts. As part of these efforts, the ministers, worship associates and others involved with particular charitable efforts will seek to relate the charitable effort to our UU values through the pulpit, church bulletin, church newsletter, etc. If possible, as we develop forums on and adult education classes, we hope to integrate environmental justice issues more directly with our charitable work.
At this point, our Church has made a significant effort to address the aftermath of Katrina.
• Members of the congregation joined the Davis Religious Community for Sanctuary to gather and pack supplies to help people affected by Hurricane Katrina.
• To kick off the work of the Green Sanctuary Committee, Jim Scott was brought to church on September 23, 2005 to present an evening of environmental and justice songs and stories. We were able to realize a profit of $340 from the sale of tickets.
• In addition, some individuals, including members of the Green Sanctuary Committee, gave separate donations to the church for a total of $1522. This donation was designated for the UUSC Katrina relief effort, especially for environmental justice projects. In addition, to the UUSC collection, our church did a special collection on Sun., Sept. 11, which raised $13,078 for Hurricane Relief via St. Mary’s Community Action Association Inc. and a second special collection on Sept 18, which raised $6,486 for the Red Cross. Then, on December 18, the church collection of $2,421 was sent to Rights Action for Hurricane Stan relief to help the indigenous Mayan communities in Guatemala, devastated by Stan. Therefore, this past fall, our congregation was able to raise a grand total of $23,507 for hurricane relief - by far the largest charitable effort that our church has ever undertaken!
• The Church has just completed a current major food drive for the local STEAC Food closet, which brought in over 3220 pounds of food. STEAC (Short Term Emergency Aid Committee) is a local non-profit that provides food, clothing, and furniture as well as emergency assistance with rent and electrical bills to low income families and individuals. As part of the church’s outreach, members of the congregation regularly and/or annually volunteer to work for STEAC.
5. The Green Sanctuary Committee will sponsor a class or lecture on living our UU values by investing in socially and environmentally responsible mutual funds.
The Green Sanctuary Committee is working with the UUCD Peace and Justice Committee to present a series of classes, starting in February 2006, on Water Justice using materials developed by the UU Legislative Ministry in California. The materials relate water issues to our UU values, give us a factual base and understanding of water in California, inform us on current issues related to environmental justice, and offer opportunities to be involved in water justice activities throughout California and beyond. The Committees will send notification to other churches in Davis and open the classes to others outside the congregation. Also, the UULM curriculum provides ways to include children and youth, which will be used if at all possible. (Leisa Huyck, Mary Wind, Michael Pach, Carlena Wyke, and others will be helping with this project. Marilu Carter, Chair of Peace and Justice, is supportive and will help as well.)
The UU Church of Davis will affiliate with the UU Legislative Ministry in California and help with environmental justice issues. As issues arise, the GS committee will provide the opportunity for members of the congregation to write letters of support, attend rallies, and other activities to promote environmental justice. (Sharon Hale, Board President, will help with affiliation.)
Goals:
Help church find a way to live our faith that is best for the earth and the community.
Work with established church committees as well as new ones to integrate environmental practices throughout the church that model good sustainable livable practices including such issues as planning any building or remodeling to be “green” by using sustainable materials, incorporating energy efficiency.
Explore a planned giving method for funding an LLC for solar power generation leading to the future zero energy expanded campus.
Install solar power sufficient to take care of a major portion of the current energy needs of the church.
Motivate, support, and encourage congregants in their personal and social actions for a healthy and sustainable environment and generate commitment for personal lifestyle changes.
Include projects that are fun and bring children and adults together in a meaningful way.
Leave the world a better place for the generations to come.
Requirements: At least four activities covering elements of sustainable living, including at least one energy conservation action.
The church building committee and the GS energy subcommittee will implement the low-cost/no-cost energy savings measures identified in the audit (lighting study and retrofit, pump study, insulating water heaters, shade screens.) This work will begin in February 2006.
The Energy Committee will work with the Board to establish policies for the Church to follow regarding appliance purchasing, building maintenance and new construction and remodeling design. This policy will require an energy committee to be appointed to assist in the design phase of any new construction or remodels.
The GS Committee working with its Energy Subcommittee and others in the church will work to find funding 25-30 kW of photovoltaic panels and arrange installation. (Within next 3-18 months).
Steve Brennan, Vincent Schwent, and Marshall Hunt are working on energy related topics: Projects 9 and 10. Donna Lott, Vince Schwent, Steve Brennan, and Michael Pach are helping with the financial strategies for Green projects and other related church financial issues.
1. The GS Committee working with Children and Youth Religious Exploration Committee will start an annual workshop for children and adults to make holiday decorations, cards and/or gifts from recycled and natural materials. This will be an opportunity to emphasize simplicity, recycling and a sustainable life. The first workshop was held December 10, 2005.
2. The GS Committee will provide church members with lists of alternative gift ideas that include both items that they can make themselves, environmental justice charities that need help, and resources to help them move toward a more sustainable future. Provide a place for individuals to share their ideas with others. (The Green Sanctuary completed this project and the office administrator posted it to the church website.)
(Two or more of the following.)
1. Home Energy Solutions for Congregants: The GS Energy Subcommittee will develop and present a slide show of practical home ideas on energy efficiency including the use of solar energy for people to implement in their own homes. This workshop will precede the 2006 Solar Homes Tour in Sacramento and Yolo Counties. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the tour. (Steve Brennan and Vincent Schwent plan to do this in the Fall 2006.)
2. Church Policy Concerns: The church board is working to set and implement policies recommending the purchase and use of janitorial supplies, including toilet paper that are minimally hurtful of the environment. Use 100% post consumer paper where appropriate (toilet paper, paper towels, office paper, etc.) Also, there is a need for policies regarding the use of alternatives to toxic cleaning supplies. Church polices might also extend to rental agreements, such as, discouraging the use of disposable dishes and cutlery. (See pages 64-66 of the GS Manual and www.newdream.org for its Responsible Purchasing Guide for Faith Communities.)
3. Getting to Know Our Environment: The GS will work with others to organize monthly or bi-monthly outings to the bioregion/watersheds, which should be geared to different groups within the congregations, families, young adults, general interest, young and old all together, etc. Such outings could include a trip to the Arboretum on the UCD campus, bird watching at the Yolo Basin, snow-shoeing in the Sierra Nevada, hiking in Stebbin’s Canyon, Cache Creek, Pt. Reyes, local biking trips, etc. Each trip should have a component that relates to our UU values.
4. Sustainable Eating: GS will work with Adult R.E. to provide classes in sustainable eating or “How to be a vegetarian and really like it.” Use and adopt the materials from the Portland church to help educate the church community. This will probably not be implemented until 2006-2007. However, there will be two classes on vegetarian cooking given the spring of 2006 for members of the congregation. (Jeannette Robertson, Judy Moores, and Gail Jankowski are giving the cooking classes. Dr. Charles Halsted, who is a member of the congregation and a nutrition expert, has offered to give a session on healthy eating.)
5. Reduce garbage. The GS committee will work to develop a clearer system for recycling and for trash disposal. Every area should have color-coded wastebaskets for paper (to be recycled); cans, glass, and plastic (to be recycled); and other waste. (Dawn Student has done some work on this.) This project should be completed by September 2006.
6. The GS Committee will advertise the Stop Global Warming Virtual March and invite members of the Congregation to join the march.
Weekly Church Bulletin: A short “Green Thoughts” article that will cover a ride range of topics and alert individuals to up-coming Green Sanctuary related events. (Judy Moores has been doing this, but others are invited to help.)
Monthly Newsletter: A Green Column with a longer discussion of a wide range of topics, which will relate to the current activities sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Committee and the other church committees that are involved. (Judy Moores has been doing this, but others are invited to help.)
Use the Church Website: Add a Green Sanctuary page to our church webpage, post links and materials such as “Giving Gifts the Green Way” and the list of GS projects. This will be done by February 2006.
Identify and recruit a P.R. committee to
1. Work on publicity for specific projects and get the word out to newspapers and other media as appropriate. Use Peace and Justice Committee’s format for promoting speakers and events, which includes a timeline of steps to follow and specific newspapers, other media, individuals and groups to contact.
2. Notify other members of our interfaith community as to what we are doing and open a number of our projects to the public.
3. Request that the Sacramento Bee follow our church as we move through the Green Sanctuary accreditation procedure. (The Bee has been approached and will be meeting with members of the committee in January 2006.)
Other Ways to Reach Out
1. When specific events are coming up, put up posters in the Great Hall on Sunday mornings.
2. Prepare flyers to post at church, put up around Davis, send out to other churches,
3. As appropriate, set up a table for ticket sales, and for letter writing for legislative and other issues.
4. Have GS Members wear special stars and ribbons on their nametags that denote their membership in the GS Committee.
5. Wear Green Hats or carry signs before and after services to announce specific events and projects.
6. Give out Green Stars to folks who help with projects. Note those who receive Green Stars in the weekly bulletin.
Additional Projects under development and consideration:
1. Some fund-raisers to support GS activities. Steve Brennan is planning a folk band concert in the fall. Tom Jankowski has scheduled Michael Dowd to come and give “A Great Story” workshop in January.
2. Sell light bulbs, shopping bags, thermal cups (so that everyone has his/her own to use), and or personal food kits (to bring to events).
3. Sustainable Living inventory: Develop an inventory that will be an education tool for members and friends to access where they are and challenge them to move toward sustainability. Keep a visible record of progress. The committee will be looking at New American Dream materials as well as those in the Earth Ministry Manual and adapting the materials for use in our church.
4. Creating a veggie garden to be worked on by congregation members as well as in the RE and give the food to STEAC’s food closet.
5. As appropriate, coordinating with any building committee to design a plan to institute the more extensive and costly energy savings measures (building up the roof on the Bridge House, replacing windows, etc) and to incorporate energy efficiency measures into the plans for the future building projects.