Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
PO Box 11, Lyme, NH 03768
www.uuministryforearth.org 301-588-0944
Sponsors of the Green Sanctuary Program
Formerly the Seventh Principle Project
March 15, 2006
Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis
Green Sanctuary Committee
Judy Moores and Mary Wind, Co-Chairs
PO Box 73710
Davis, CA 95617
Dear Committee:
With this letter, the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth is very pleased to formally welcome Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis into the community of Green Sanctuary candidate congregations. The Green Sanctuary Review Committee has examined your application and we are very excited to see your ambitious plans for a well rounded program.
You have been thorough and focused in your audit and you have clearly used the results to build an exciting program. We did not identify any omissions or concerns in your application, and we did find several elements that particularly impressed us.
To begin with, your committee Charter represents a strong congregational commitment to the program vision. While clearly built on the basic Green Sanctuary Program goals, you have gone beyond the minimum to make your commitment specific to your church. Further, you recognize the role of the committee members as liaisons and catalysts for the work of the congregation. This should set up the expectation for the rest of the congregation that they must be engaged to carry out the program.
We are especially impressed with the deep level of expertise in environmental issues represented on your committee. You have used that expertise to good effect in the audit, and it will serve you well in carrying out the various projects in your action plan. You are blessed to have several energy engineers who were able to conduct your energy audit and recommend appropriate strategies. Few congregations are so fortunate.
By stating goals for each focus area in the action plan, you have created an overall context for the individual projects, reinforcing your comprehensive view of what could or should be done. Each project is then conceived in that context and, in some cases, broken into several different activities. You have truly gone beyond the simple requirement to do just 12 activities. And you have built in joy and celebration, and fun! In total, this is one of the more creative action plans we have seen!
Many of your projects are rather unique and creative. For example, I would love to participate in one of your “easy hikes with a progressive worship service in nature.” I hope you’ll report on your format and how well it works so we can share the idea with others.
I’m pleased to see you working with the California Legislative Ministry to address environmental justice issues. That new institution offers wonderful opportunities for public witness to promote “bending toward justice.” Again, your work in this area can be a model for others.
Overall, your program looks diverse, well balanced, and exciting. We look forward to watching your continuing progress as you work towards becoming a Green Sanctuary. I will be in touch with you regularly, and I hope you will feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns as you move forward. Congratulations and welcome to the Green Sanctuary movement!
With Hope for the Earth,
Rev. Katherine Jesch
Director of Environmental Ministry
503-236-3634
Katherine.Jesch@uuministryforearth.org