How green is my church?

Posted Dec 29, 2015 in Culture

With Christmas festivities wrapping up for the year, many of us are beginning to think about New Year’s celebrations. While not everyone cares for New Year’s resolutions, the beginning of a new year does make us question what we want to achieve. The Uniting Church SA Environment Action Group has often prompted congregations and communities to think about their impact on the climate and environment. With this in mind, perhaps seeking a “greener” future for you church or home may be something to consider for the new year!

Here Jeff Telfer, a member of the Environment Action Group, discusses ideas for churches wishing to pay greater attention to their effect on the environment.

Greening the church is an idea whose time has come. It is about the church being true to its understanding of the sanctity of the earth. God’s Spirit is nudging us to be aware of what we are doing to our earthly home and to all its inhabitants, including humans. Among our number are many people who are raising awareness, alarmed at the way we as a species are destroying the environment which gives life to us and all living things on this planet.

The “Green Church” movement is a collective response by people of faith to the issue of how we can face up to such a multi-dimensional challenge to how we live. Acting together helps us as individuals to maintain our commitment, and to feel that we are part of something bigger. We can make a stronger witness when we work together.

Many denominations, congregations and individuals are taking action to reduce their power and water consumption. There are churches with solar panels on roofs; inefficient lights have been changed to types that are more energy efficient; water tanks have been installed to reduce the consumption of mains water; water heaters and heating for buildings have been updated. These are all worthwhile things to do, and are reflective of what many people have done at home. With incentives from utilities and the government they are often cost effective, too.

One of the challenges facing churches everywhere is how to maintain buildings at the standards that are expected in our generally affluent and materialistic society. If we can make simple changes to reduce consumption of water and energy at the same time as doing upgrades we will be playing a small part in making a greener world.

Changes outside buildings are more visible, and are likely to attract attention and influence passers-by. One of the ways some churches have done this is by setting up community gardens.

The photograph above comes from Pilgrim Uniting Church in the centre of Adelaide, and shows what can be done even in built-up areas. The Adelaide City Council provided soil and materials, and church members put together the portable plant beds. Produce is available to anyone wanting it, and provides nourishing fresh vegetables and herbs, in addition to acting as a symbol of the church’s engagement with the wider local community.

Maroubra Junction Uniting Church in metropolitan Sydney has received awards for its innovative and energetic approach to spreading the message about the need to consume less. The church has installed water tanks, grey water recycling systems and solar water heaters to reduce energy and water usage. Members have been encouraged to buy green power to reduce greenhouse emissions from electricity production. The church also owns a small car and some battery-powered electric mowers which are available for use in the community at a low cost. It makes a gentle statement to the community about the need to conserve and share, values which are often forgotten in the competitive world in which we live.

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