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FCC RESPONDS TO FAITH AND GLOBAL WARMING enviroflipchart

 

In response to the invitation of the Board of Mission, 24 enthusiastic people attended the roundtable discussion after worship on October 30,

  • To acknowledge our concern for the stewardship of the Earth
  • To share the ways each of us is personally responding to the call to "reduce, reuse, recycle"
  • To explore how our church building is and can be involved in conservation
  • To discuss ways we can have an impact on policy beyond the steps we take in our own homes and church.

After an introduction by Sue Spofford, Chair of the Board of Mission, the group viewed a short video featuring Sally Bingham, Episcopal priest at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and noted speaker on the subject of Earth Stewardship. DVDs containing this excellent video are available to members of the congregation who wish to view it.

Next, the group shared the various ways they are already working to conserve energy and resources, and exchanged tips, including:

  1. Unplugging a second refrigerator
  2. Biking to school
  3. Composting
  4. Turning the home thermostat down to 60
  5. Driving less, combining trips, carpooling, and reducing speed
  6. School Green Team: manual pencil sharpeners,
  7. Recycling paper, re-using the blank side of paper on the computer printer
  8. Using cloth grocery bags
  9. Reducing magazine and newspaper subscriptions
  10. Using reusable water bottles instead of purchasing water in plastic bottles
  11. Supporting local businesses
  12. Shopping online
  13. Using compact fluorescent light bulbs
  14. Installing solar energy
  15. Conserving water when showering
  16. Planting native plants
  17. Mindful purchasing of cars that conserve gasoline
  18. Purchasing beverages in cans rather than bottles

The group then explored the ways First Congregational Church of San Rafael is and can be involved in this effort. We learned what the church is already doing:

  1. Using reclaimed water for our landscape by Dec. 15, 2005
  2. Using recycling containers in the Community Room. However, they could be more clearly marked
  3. Installing double paned windows as windows need to be replaced
  4. Switching to "time of use" metering plan for electricity
  5. Using Advent to think about a Green approach to Christmas

Here are some possibilities that First Congregational Church of San Rafael may adopt in the future:

  1. Lower the thermostats.
  2. Keep exterior doors closed at all times in the cool or cold weather.
  3. Request a PG&E energy audit.
  4. Use mugs instead of Styrofoam cups for coffee and wash your own cup.
  5. Track our base-line energy usage.
  6. Share our learnings with other interested congregations.
  7. Consider solar collectors for the church building.
  8. Form a church Energy committee: see Louis Frost or Bob Spofford!
  9. Support the youth group effort to begin a recycling opportunity for Styrofoam (see the youth group article in this issue of The TIE).

Finally, we considered how our congregation can participate in public and/or interfaith advocacy of this vital issue.

1. Pastor Julianne Stokstad, based on our Mission Board's request and our ongoing concern for this issue, has involved First Congregational Church of San Rafael in the Congregational Covenant, sponsored by California Interfaith Power & Light, an organization led by Sally Bingham, mentioned above. The opening text of the covenant reads:

California Interfaith Power & Light seeks to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. This ministry intends to protect the earth's ecosystems, safeguard public health, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all. As a spiritual leader of my congregation, I pledge to support the goal of California Interfaith Power and Light

The full text of covenant is at the IP&L website, and you will notice that many of the goals outlined in the pledge are those we have already taken or are considering adopting. We discussed a number of other wider initiatives, including:

2. A church Green Committee

3. Church school education

4. Through Julianne, contacting other churches through the Interfaith organization in Marin

5. Access to information from the League of Conservation Voters. Alan Miller volunteered to get us information about this group.

6. Sue Spofford would like to establish a 90-second letter-writing center, similar to the one we use for Bread for the World each April, to respond to important conservation issues.

7. We can email our legislators about our concerns. One strategy is to befriend the administrative aide at the legislator's Washington office, to determine who on the legislator's staff works on issue of importance in this area.

8. Ask local merchants about their recycling practices

9. Go to the FCC of San Rafael Web site, where there are many links and lots of information. Click on the Environmental Awareness page.

All in all, the meeting was a terrific kickoff to a new awareness within the congregation of Environmental Awareness. Be sure to check the church Web site for additional information, and be watching for next steps in this important process.

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