Green Sanctuary Congregations working together to restore Earth and renew Spirit Fourth Edition October 2007 GREEN SANCTUARY UU Ministry Earth For
Green Sanctuary Congregations working together to restore Earth and renew Spirit Fourth Edition, October 2007 Rev Katherine Jesch Director of Environmental Ministry e-mail: KatherineJesch@uuministryforearthorg Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth 1034 SW 13th Avenue Portland, OR 97205 (503) 595-9392 2007 by Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth All rights reserved
Green Sanctuary Congregations working together to restore Earth and renew Spirit GREEN UU Ministry SANCTUARY Earth For Contents Preface iii Guided By Faith iii Creating Earth Community iv A Brief History of the Green Sanctuary Program vi Fourth Edition of the Green Sanctuary Manual vii Chapter 1 1 Program Description 1 Program goals 2 Framework: Four Focus Areas 2 The Planning Process 3 Chapter 2 9 Starting the Journey 9 Understanding Change 9 Identifying Leadership 11 Introducing Green Sanctuary to the Congregation 13 Chapter 3 14 Conducting an Environmental Assessment 14 Personal Assessments 15 Congregational Assessment 15 Areas of Consideration for Environmental Assessment 17 Chapter 4 24 Creating a Comprehensive Program 24 Developing Activities and Projects for the Action Plan 26 Considering Possible Focus Area Projects 27 Green Sanctuary Candidacy 37 i
Chapter 5 40 Green Sanctuary Accreditation 40 Applying for Accreditation 40 Living the Legacy 41 Maintaining accreditation 44 Acknowledgments 47 Exhibit A-1 Green Sanctuary Committee Charter 49 Exhibit A-2 Green Sanctuary Committee Charter 50 Exhibit A-3 Green Sanctuary Committee Charter 52 Exhibit B-1 Environmental Assessment Format 54 Exhibit B-2 Environmental Assessment Format 59 Exhibit C-1 Action Plan 63 Exhibit C-2 Action Plan 66 Exhibit D-1 Communications Plan 70 Exhibit D-2 Communications Plan 71 Exhibit D-3 Communications Plan 72 Exhibit E Application for Candidacy 74 Exhibit F Application for Accreditation 76 Exhibit G Covenant 78 ii Green Sanctuary Manual
Preface The vision of Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth is a world in which all people make reverence, gratitude, and care for the living Earth central to their lives The Green Sanctuary Program gives roots and wings to this vision It invites congregations across North America to embark on an exploration of what it means to live today within a religious community on an imperiled Earth We are reminded daily that our world faces environmental challenges of a size and scale unheard of in modern history Global population more than doubled from 26 billion in 1950 to 64 billion in 2005 In the same period fossil fuel consumption increased five-fold and the use of fresh water tripled We face immense losses in species diversity, fragmentation of habitats, depletion of aquifers, desertification of huge areas of the planet, the loss of farmland and agricultural productivity, and the poisoning of every square inch of the planet s surface and the depths the sea with toxic chemicals All of this is impacting every species on Earth It is easy to despair, knowing as we do that we are the major cause of unprecedented climate change, species extinction, and degradation of air, water, and soil We sometimes feel powerless when we realize that, willingly or unwillingly, we are all living within the context of a global economy that depends on the Earth s diminishing natural resources Already conflicts and wars are tied to resources oil, water, land, and food What does the future hold for us and for our children? How can we insure that everyone has the basic human rights of access to natural resources and a clean environment, rights that are increasingly unavailable to billions of people? Religious leaders from most of the world s faith traditions have claimed that these environmental crises may be the greatest moral challenge facing humankind in the 21st century And some suggest that religions may be the only human institutions still able to respond to the challenge Guided By Faith How can we as Unitarian Universalists respond? Albert Einstein said, Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them For this reason, it isn t enough to leave this response to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Green Peace, and the Sierra Club We need to bring conversation about our relationship with and our responsibilities toward Earth into the heart of our faith communities A different level of awareness a spiritual awareness is critical We can begin to deepen this awareness by re-examining the religious traditions that have served as the context for how we live and work What new meanings are there for us seen in the light of the wonders and complexities of life revealed by science? Theological meaning is first developed in the stories or mythologies that evolve to explain the world: Where Preface iii
did we come from? Why we are here? What is our relationship to nature? Science and technology can explain what we observe about the Universe, but only our deep spiritual reflections coupled with a profound and informed understanding of our role within a living system can lead us to the answers to these questions We can also rise to the challenges before us by recognizing that our spiritual orientation shapes how we see ourselves in the world, how we relate to one another, and how we respond to the interdependent web of all existence Our world view and moral values offer us the opportunity to reshape our participation in the social, economic, and political systems we have helped to create We are called to reexamine our daily patterns of living: how we live, what and how much we consume, and who controls the distribution of costs and benefits in our society How might the social and economic structures we participate in to sustain our families and communities better provide justice for others in the world? We can gather in community in our congregations to find support and sustenance for the work of making our lives congruent with our growing understanding of what it means to be human on this planet Local farmers prepare for a new season, 2006 Kids in RE classes and adult helpers (hidden from view) work together to clear and prepare the beds for planting UUS:E s third annual organic vegetable garden UU Society: East, Manchester, Connecticut The quest for justice and the healing of Earth rolling up our sleeves to work for a better life for ourselves, our families, and the larger world is one part of a life of faith But we must remind one another that a healthy spiritual life balances action with reflection In our faith community we can turn to liturgy and worship, celebration, study and reflection, prayer and meditation to find the courage, strength, motivation, and patience to keep up the quest for a just and sustainable future for all beings Creating Earth Community The challenges are great With our faith to support us, we must get to work! But it is best not to work alone; so UU Ministry for Earth offers a way to join our efforts, both symbolically and explicitly, with thousands of other Unitarian Universalists in congregations iv Green Sanctuary Manual
across the country That path is called the Green Sanctuary program Green Sanctuary is designed to help congregations like yours develop and work towards a vision of a healthier, more sustainable future Imagine for a moment a religious community that has a fundamental, bottom-line commitment to living in harmony with the Earth What would it look like? You might notice that the program of such a congregation is continuously infused with environmental ideas, actions, and Earth-centered ceremonies The children s religious education fully integrates wisdom of the Earth with all of the other religious teachings the children receive -- it s not a separate concept The adults create opportunities such as Simplicity Circles to help one another take action in their lives to minimize their footprints on the planet There are field trips to places of great natural beauty and also to sites of environmental concern Worship in this church often invokes elements of the Earth and our human connectedness to them Environmental prayers, music, altar objects, readings, and outdoor services are frequent worship elements, and sermons regularly focus on our relationship with the Earth The building this church occupies is accessible by both human-powered and public transportation It capitalizes on solar, wind, or other sources of sustainable energy to the fullest extent possible The building features sustainably produced native materials; it s well insulated, lighted with natural light, cooled by natural breezes and heated by the sun In recognition of the importance of living well in one s particular place, the landscaping reflects native and well-adapted species for the eco-zone of the church, and shading for the building has been integrated into the design Toxic chemicals are avoided A community garden is very much a part of congregational life providing organically grown produce for a local soup kitchen as well as for social events for the congregation If this is an urban church, perhaps flowers have been planted around the children s play yard to brighten the scene The congregation may participate in a local community garden, growing relationships with neighbors among the rows of too many zucchinis Church policy in this congregation automatically assumes conservation in all its operations, including use of recycled paper products, reusable dishes, and non-toxic cleaners, soaps, and art supplies Church activities include mending bees, swap programs, work parties, and recycling of everything imaginable Church investments, of course, emphasize socially and environmentally responsible funds This church also embraces a community leadership role highlighting environmental responsibility in the larger community, especially in relation to issues of eco-justice Members recognize that poor people and people of color are the first victims of environmental toxins and natural disasters precipitated by human activities and settlement patterns The church undertakes projects in the wider community to rectify environmental injustices, encouraging appropriate land use, protecting wildlife habitats, cleaning up environmental damage, and empowering those whose voices cannot be heard The Green Sanctuary congregation recognizes that international peace and justice issues are thoroughly intertwined with our attitudes and life choices regarding access to natu- Preface v
ral resources, and the distribution of the benefits and impacts of their use Local choices about consumption and behavior patterns are made recognizing their global implications Congregational life also reflects the understanding that we exist not only in space but also in time, extending backward through memory and tradition, and forward through vision and legacy Respect for ancestors and concern for future generations are built into current decisions Green Sanctuary is a journey toward this ideal We start with one step, and as we move toward our vision of Earth Community, we gain from our experiences and build confidence that we can, in fact, create the world we see in our dreams A Brief History of the Green Sanctuary Program The Seventh Principle Project first introduced the concept of integrating our environmental consciousness into our faith communities to UU congregations in 1991 with the publication of the first Green Sanctuary Handbook That version began to imagine what it would look like if congregational life reflected the seventh principle of Unitarian Universalism The Green Sanctuary concept continued to circulate in congregations throughout the 1990 s, but there was no specific process by which the activists in an actual congregation could engage the rest of the members in transforming that concept into reality Finally in 1999, one of the early promoters of the concept, Fred Small, seized an opportunity to move it to the next level As his thesis at Harvard Divinity School, he developed a proposal for a comprehensive Green Sanctuary program modeled after the very effective Welcoming Congregation Program* This new program would invite congregations to carry out a series of actions addressing various environmental issues Successful completion of these actions would bring the congregation recognition or accreditation as a Green Sanctuary Following the presentation of this concept at the General Assembly 1999, a group of enthusiastic activists took on the challenge of translating Fred Small s proposal into a real program Seventh Principle Project member David Cockrell convened a task force to add new material to the original Manual and to craft a step-by-step process that could be implemented by a congregation That Second Edition of the Program was ready for distribution in the fall of 2000 Mr Cockrell called for a number of Founders congregations to pilot the program, testing how the concept would actually work and what resources would be needed to support congregational efforts Several congregations took up the challenge with five completing the program in 2002 and three in 2003 By early 2003, experience had shown that the concept worked well in congregations, but more flexibility was needed The program had to be accessible to congregations with different sizes and capacities, and it had to be able to adapt to issues that varied widely with geographic location and culture of the congregation *Welcoming Congregation is a UUA Program for congregations to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations The program provides study materials for workshops and guided discussions, culminating in UUA recognition as a Welcoming Congregation vi Green Sanctuary Manual
The Third Edition of the Manual was unveiled in 2003, inviting congregations to create their own program of activities and projects within a framework of four focus areas that covered all areas of congregational life Participation grew steadily in the following years, and by 2005, 31 congregations had been recognized as Green Sanctuaries A turning point was reached in 2006, both in attention to environmental issues by congregations within the Unitarian Universalist Association and in commitment to addressing those issues through a structured program That year marked the culmination of a two-year period of study and action in congregations on the issue of global warming Delegates to the General Assembly that year campaigned for and then voted overwhelmingly to adopt a Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming that is arguably the clearest and strongest statement by any religious institution to date This was a grassroots effort, tied very closely to Green Sanctuary work in many congregations At that same General Assembly, a record nineteen new congregations were recognized as Green Sanctuaries, bringing the grand total to fifty! For the first time, certificates were presented to those congregations in a very public ceremony on the plenary stage, dramatically increasing visibility for the program This plenary presentation of certificates was repeated in 2007 when nine more congregations were celebrated The rate of growth in participation shows no sign of slowing down, suggesting that the goal of certifying 20 percent of congregations by the tenth anniversary of the first certificates in 2012 is within reach Fourth Edition of the Green Sanctuary Manual Six years of experience has helped us expand and enrich the original Green Sanctuary concept into a thriving program with over 125 Unitarian Universalist congregations formally enrolled The Green Sanctuary Manual has become a popular resource for congregations formally enrolled in the program, and also for congregations looking for ideas to make basic lifestyle and programmatic changes that are congruent with environmental sustainability Like its predecessors, this Fourth Edition of the Manual describes the process for a congregation to become accredited as a Green Sanctuary, but there are some changes in the way it presents the program Here we provide more detailed information about how to manage the process and how to create a comprehensive program that goes beyond a checklist of tasks Chapter 1 contains an overview of the Green Sanctuary process for accreditation, including the conceptual framework of four focus areas addressing all areas of congregational life In this chapter, we introduce the basic steps of the planning cycle, from creating an initial vision before applying for candidacy in the program to completing the steps for accreditation Chapters 2, 3, and 4 get down to specifics in step-by-step program instructions Directions for a comprehensive environmental assessment and ideas and expectations for the action plan for your congregational program are included Chapter 5 outlines the details for preparing the application for candidacy Preface vii
When the projects proposed in the action plan are completed, the congregation is eligible to apply for accreditation Once accreditation is achieved, the congregation will extend the legacy, integrating its environmental consciousness into all of its programs and continually improving its practices and policies The process for accreditation and continuing to live this legacy are described in Chapter 6 A new element in this edition of the Manual adds a process for documenting your environmental activities and renewing accreditation every five years Another major change in this edition is the removal of issue-specific references and resources Since this Manual is only revised periodically, it makes more sense to move issuerelated material and links to other organizations to a more flexible format These resources will be placed on the UU Ministry for Earth web site, wwwuuministryforearthorg, in order to keep them more up-to-date and to make them more widely available We invite you to explore the following pages and consider the possibilities for greening your faith and healing the Earth The need is great and the opportunities are limited only by our imagination and willingness to commit Working together with our faith communities to sustain us, we are making a difference Welcome to this shared journey to a greener faith! viii Green Sanctuary Manual