Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
of the Eastern Slopes

Green Sanctuary is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, an affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The Ministry for Earth originated as the Seventh Principle Project, which supported the seventh principle of the UUA - "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part". Ministry for Earth states that a Green Sanctuary is "a congregation that lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Sustainable living is not about our material comfort (though these choices are an important part of the overall life style); it is about choosing to live in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as the sole determinant of happiness." Any UU congregation can gain accreditation as a Green Sanctuary by designing and carrying out a program that is approved by Ministry for Earth.

In October 2006 the UUFES Governing Board voted to begin the process of earning Green Sanctuary status. An ad hoc committee to begin the process was formed in January 2007 with Tony Federer as Chair. At the UUFES Annual Meeting on May 20, 2007, the congregation voted to amend the Bylaws to add a Green Sanctuary Committee as a Standing Committee of the Fellowship. The committee developed an Application for Green Sanctuary Candidacy, which was approved by the UUFES Governing Board on July 19, 2007 and submitted to Ministry for Earth.

This approval included the following purposes of the Green Sanctuary Committee:

1. To build awareness of sustainability, environmental, and ecojustice issues within the congregation and the community;
    

2. To encourage the Fellowship to utilize "green" practices and products in its building and grounds;
    

3. To generate commitment to personal lifestyle changes that reduce adverse impacts on the earth;
    

4. To develop ecospirituality in worship and religious education;
    

5. To lead the congregation in the process of gaining accreditation as a Green Sanctuary.

The application proposes thirteen projects (twelve projects are required in four assigned categories) to be carried out over the next year or two. These projects are the heart of our application for Green Sanctuary accreditation.

The Green Sanctuary process is designed to involve the whole congregation. Learning to live lightly and sustainably on Earth is not an action that can be carried out by an individual or a small committee meeting in a back room. The Green Sanctuary Committee conducts open meetings to encourage and record its progress and the progress of the congregation. The Committee is open to all and de facto includes anyone who shows up at any Committee meeting.

We hope that each member and friend of UUFES will participate in at least one of the thirteen projects. Please consider each project carefully; hopefully one of them will appeal to you sufficiently that you will contact the project leader with an offer to help.
 

INCORPORATE SUSTAINABLE AND EARTH-CENTERED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES INTO REGULAR WORSHIP

PLAN AND CONDUCT FOUR GREEN SUNDAY SERVICES PER YEAR

ARRANGE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD TRIPS FOR ALL AGES

GREENING THE R.E. CURRICULUM

ARRANGE STUDY GROUPS AND/OR PUBLIC TALKS

DEVELOP UUFES AND ADJACENT GROUNDS AS GREEN SPACE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES

Leaders: Claes and Vikki Thelemark
This project will lead the whole congregation in open discussion and planning of future uses for the "back yard" of the fellowship property. The project will make recommendations to be approved by the Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Board, and the congregation before any work begins. Some possible uses include an area for meditation, a natural area for children to play and learn in the outdoors, an organic garden and compost bins, plantings of native species, a yurt for small meetings, and bird houses, as well as expansion of our building and the parking lot.

SPONSOR TALKS, INDIVIDUAL, AND COMMUNITY ACTION ON RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

Leaders: Martha Chandler and Ellen Schwindt
We will seek to make current (limited) and future UUFES investments socially-responsible. We will develop an e-mail list of members and friends interested in socially-responsible investing and will arrange speakers and discussion groups both within the Fellowship and in the community.

COOPERATE WITH AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY EFFORTS

Leaders: John and Cathy Mersfelder
This project will seek out ways to interact with the larger community. Several examples are already in the works. UUFES will host the Tamworth farmers' market this summer. We will help with fundraising to purchase a conservation easement on the Birches Intervale Farm in Wonalancet. UUFES already has members who are involved with Sustainable Tamworth, which concentrates on locally-grown food, and other environmentally-based community organizations: conservation commissions, land trusts, and outdoor groups. Other possible organizations to cooperate with include Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Albany and Global Awareness Local Action in Wolfeboro.

UTILIZE GREEN PURCHASING AND PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

Project Leader: Leader needed
The scope of this project will strive to balance environmental and fiscal responsibilities in making green purchasing decisions. We will purchase products with the highest percentage recycled content available provided that the products meet acceptable use and performance standards. In addition, UUFES will strive to purchase materials that are:

•  Durable, as opposed to single use or disposable items
   

•  Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable
   

•  Highly energy-efficient
   

•  Recyclable, but if not recyclable, may be disposed of safely
   

•  Made from raw materials that have been obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
   

•  Manufactured in an environmentally sound manner
   

•  Locally-produced
   

•  Causing minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance
   

•  Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and or recyclable materials.

MINIMIZE ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN THE FELLOWSHIP

Leader: Dick Cary
The scope of this project is to identify and implement ways to reduce energy consumption. All aspects of electricity usage, building heating and domestic hot water consumption will be looked at. Means of reduction will include the mundane (i.e. signs to shut off lights) to capital improvements (i.e. on demand domestic hot water system). Comparisons of past usage will be charted against present usage.

CHALLENGE UUFES CONGREGANTS TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL CHANGES AT HOME

Leader: Tony Federer
At least bimonthly this project will invite the congregation to focus on a single issue that hopefully will lead to more permanent changes. Possible issues/activities include but are not limited to sharing garden surpluses, alternative gift-giving, Buy Nothing Day, book and magazine swaps, bulk purchasing including coffee and light bulbs, carpooling to church, a mentoring program, a monthly sustainability meeting, and production and sale of canvas grocery bags with logo as a UUFES fundraiser. Encourage congregants to read the leader's web site at www.ecoshift.net.

DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR REUSE AND RECYCLING IN THE FELLOWSHIP

Leader: Margaret Rieser
Procedures for reuse and recycling need to be developed, written, and overseen. Paper use will be reduced by changes in the Order of Service, encouraging e-mail distribution of Inclinations, and a "backside" pile. Collection bins need to be placed for recycling of paper, cans, glass, plastic, and cardboard, with someone responsible for processing them.