Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church

A Welcoming Congregation 

Green Sanctuary Projects

Green Sanctuary Program, 2008-2010

Our purpose is to further affirm and promote the Unitarian-Universalist seventh principle: respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.  The Green Sanctuary (GS) committee’s goals also reinforce our Cedars affirmation to “take good care of the Earth because it is our Home.”

Under the Guidelines for Accreditation, “…the Green Sanctuary committee will coordinate activities... The role of this committee is not to ‘carry the water’ of the environmental commitment, letting the rest of the congregation off the hook. Instead, the committee will facilitate planning and provide logistical support to the congregation so that the activities can be accomplished more effectively.” The Green Sanctuary Committee activities focus on raising the consciousness of the congregation and the community about sustainability and earth justice issues and opportunities available to individuals and families, both in their homes and as citizens of the local and global community. Likewise, the majority of the Committee’s projects focus on learning and action for individuals and the community.

Over the 2008-10 biennium, the committee participants included: Leslie Marshall and Herb Hethcote (co-chairs); Barry Peters, Gerlind Jenkner, Donna Mohr, Robert Mohr, Bill Scarvie, Rod Kempkes, Stefan Paskell, Katie Jennings, Julie Katana, and Greg Hepp.

In 2008-2009, we sponsored 2 NWEI study groups on the new Menu for the Future course and continued to facilitate the Sustainability Book Group monthly. Our main activity was to organize the Environmental Film and Discussion series co-sponsored by Earth&Spirit at Grace Episcopal, Islandwood and Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, screening 6 hour-long documentaries followed by discussions led by prominent local speakers on the topic explored by the films over the course of 3 months. Some members taught in the summer RE program, helped publicize a ride-sharing map of where our congregants live, formalized our committee charter with the Program Council, publicized and attended Environmental Lobby Day in Olympia and Earth Hour events in Seattle, and sponsored (with Grace Earth&Spirit) an Interfaith Vigil for Climate Action led by our co-ministers.

In 2009-10, Green Sanctuary broadened its scope from ethical eating and sustainable economies to sustainability in energy and water and to zero waste. In accordance with our charter, we have agreed that ideally GS should serve as a catalyst for green activities in the congregation. We have done so 1) by sponsoring the Sustainability Book Group 6 times a year and displaying the books read in Webster Hall on Sundays (along with other information on sustainable living), 2) by writing one-line announcements on sustainability opportunities for the Sunday Bulletins and  “Hot Tips for a Cool Planet” for the Beacon, 3) by responding to questions and concerns about ‘how we can be more green’ from individuals and committees at Cedars (fundraising events, teen gatherings, Sunday coffee hours re: food choices and waste reduction), and 4) by organizing and/or supporting relevant volunteer opportunities in the congregation and in the wider community. We have supported Rev Jaco in encouraging members from Bainbridge and from North Kitsap to sign up for a Sustainable Outcomes in Unity and Love (SOUL) team at Cedars to help with implementing programs in sustainability in Kitsap County. In addition, we have 5) collaborated with other congregations’ green activists on special projects, and 6) ‘carry the water (or Eco-cups and coffee grounds every Sunday)’ on certain initiatives to decrease our planetary footprint. 7) One member continues to procure and deliver recycled paper for Cedars office.

Some specifics on our collaborations with other CUUC committees, other congregations and non-profits:

·         Following discussions arising from the successful spring 2009 Environmental Film and Discussion series co-sponsored with Earth&Spirit at Grace Episcopal, Islandwood and Eagle Harbor Congregational Church (EHCC), we coordinated a group of 16 or more volunteers from Cedars to assist with composting and recycling activities at the Suquamish Tribe hosting of 2009 Canoe Voyage on Aug 3-8, 2009.

·         Several GS members joined Earth Ministry and other NGOs to participate in the Climate Action Day rally in Seattle in July 2009 as well as at the 350.org events there in October 2009. We publicized the Earth-Ministry sponsored ‘Beyond Coal’ Town Hall at IslandWood on April 20, 2010, and assisted with an Earth Ministry event at Theo’s (fair-trade, organic) Chocolate factory on April 15, 2010.

·         GS collaborated with the Social Action Committee (SAC) on providing the August 25, 2009 Super Supper and participated in the October 4, 2009 CROP Walk. Following the Super Supper involvement, we arranged through the InterFaith Council (IFC) and EHCC the continuing use and composting of paper plates for the Suppers and posted signs in the EHCC kitchen instructing all providers how to do so.

·         GS members are working on sustainability issues (energy, food, water, waste management, economic) through the City Council, Sustainable Bainbridge, the Zero Waste Initiative and Positive Energy (formerly the BI Energy Challenge). With Earth&Spirit at Grace and EHCC, we co-sponsored the Earth Days 2010 events sponsored by the BI Energy Challenge (2 energy films followed by speaker presentations on April 24 and April 30), and co-sponsored the Island Press event with Darrin Nordahl, author of Public Produce, at IslandWood on April 28, 2010.

For more information on Green Sanctuary activities at Cedars, or to learn how you can take a more active part in those activities, please contact Green Sanctuary Committee Chairs Herb Hethcote or Leslie Marshall.