Green Sanctuary Application
There has been a
Unitarian presence in Cleveland since the first services were held in
1836. It was not until January 14, 1867, however, that a congregation was
formally gathered and incorporated. In 1880, under the leadership of the
Rev. Frederick Lucian Hosmer, the congregation erected its first building at
the corner of Bolivar and Prospect streets. One of the first free
kindergartens was housed in the church, along with a domestic science training
school and a cooking school. Hospitals and other charities were aided
financially, and the church collected clothing for distribution to those in
need.
During the years
1901-04, the congregation built a new church in the developing east side of
Cleveland. For the next few decades, the church grew in both numbers and
influence, becoming the center for liberal religion in Cleveland and a major
presence in the American Unitarian Association (now the Unitarian Universalist
Association). Unpopular causes such as the support of birth control and
the repeal of prohibition found a home among its ministers and members.
In 1946, with the city growing, the congregation founded a church on the west
side, West Shore Unitarian Church in Rocky River. In 1955 a new church building was dedicated
in the suburb of
Fifteen years ago an environmental committee organized within the church
remained small and had little impact on church practices or personal behaviors.
In contrast, the Ministry for Earth committee immediately attracted the
attention and participation of a wide range of members and friends. We are
lucky to have both ministerial and lay leadership who see stewardship of the
earth’s natural resources as a critical moral issue for the 21st
century.
Times may have changed, but our building has not; we still meet in the
1950s New England-style church, surrounded on three sides by a wide lawn. It is
a beautiful building, created by our predecessors in affectionate memory of
their former home. However, our current congregants have begun to view it
differently as environmental concerns have been allowed into consideration. We
see problems with heating, plumbing, lighting, use of our grounds, use of
building materials, and much more. We’re taking a fresh look at the
coffee we drink, dishes we use, vendors we patronize.
Because of interest within our church and community, the time is ripe to
make environmental upgrades in our church and in our personal lives. The Green
Sanctuary Program can help our Ministry for Earth committee move change forward
in a steady and systematic way.
In 2000 the Seventh Principle Committee was approved as one of several Social Justice Ministries. After initial activity it languished for a couple of years, but was revived in 2006 and the name was changed to the UU Ministry for Earth Committee with the intention of applying for Green Sanctuary certification. The Committee’s new mission statement was adopted in December 2006:
The mission of the UU
Ministry for Earth Committee is to
guide the congregation and individual members of the First Unitarian
Church to integrate respect for
the interdependent web of all life of which we are a part (the UUA 7th
principle) into worship,
education, social justice, advocacy in
the community and sustainable policies and practices in everyday behavior.
In February of 2007 the congregation held a week-end Future Search at which interest in greening the church and its practices emerged as a top priority. The UUMFE committee was charged with moving forward on several projects, including continuing the Green Sanctuary process. In April of 2008 an intergenerational Earth Day service was held, followed by a lunch featuring local, organic foods at which a draft of the Action Plan was presented and discussed by about fifty members of the congregation. The current Action Plan represents a refinement of that presentation.
The Committee is chaired by Nancy King Smith who is serving
as the Ohio Meadville District UUMFE Regional Coordinator and is a member of
the national UUMFE Board. There are about twenty active committee members who
bring a variety of environmental interests and are involved in many
congregational committees and activities. Barb Morgan participates with the
after school Open Doors program for at-risk middle school students and with
nature walks with the RE program; Dee Boswell greets members at the door and
serves coffee every Sunday; Carol Gibson (past church administrator) is a
member of the choir and the Friendship Covenant group; Sharon Sternberger (past
Director of Education) has led social justice efforts, works wih the Open Doors
program and teaches Sunday School; Scott Hare is a new member currently
chairing the Multi-Racial Action Committee (MRAC) and working with the
Interfaith Hospitality Network. Pam Gibbon is
member of the choir and a covenant group. Betty Root handles the recycling area and is
on the Membership, Usher’s, Lay Pastoral Care, Breakfast and Covenant Group
Steering Committees. Stephanie Ross is teaching the toddler group. Natalie Wardega heading up the
The environmental assessment has had four parts. The first was a process in which committee members interviewed the staff and other committees to get a picture of what was already happening in the congregation and to suggest possible actions to make the church more sustainable. Not surprisingly, just asking the questions produced a number of greener practices which have been documented as the second item. The third was an environmental assessment by an outside consultant focusing on energy and building usage. The fourth was a survey of all members of the congregation. The results of each process are summarized in the following pages.
1. UUMFE Committee
Assessment 2006-07
The assessment produced an overview
of current practices, identification of issues that need to be addressed and
about seventy possible actions. The
actions were prioritized by the committee to end up with the twelve activities
in the Action Plan. The assessment
without the issues and possible actions is summarized below.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING
General
This
assessment of First Unitarian Church’s environmental practices indicates that
there is a strong positive attitude that already exists within the church
community to promote green practices, and that many positive steps are already
being taken. There was a strong showing
of interest at the February 2007 Future Search and a team worked on
recommendations that dovetail with the UUMFE’s work on Green Sanctuary
candidacy.
Grounds
and Parking Lot
We
have a traditionally landscaped property with a number of large oak and maple
trees. There is a children’s playground and a memorial garden at the rear of
the property. A row of largely untended shrub trees screens the back of the
property.
There
is minimal pest and weed control and fertilization (lack of funds more than
designed policy). Conventional lawn-mowing takes place on a regular schedule.
Transportation
We
have a bike rack in the back of the building. We have a convenient rapid stop
down the hill from the church. Members on occasion bike to church and some take
the rapid regularly but most of the congregation drives to church. We have not
had any activities to encourage people to think about the way they get to
church.
Food and Kitchen
We have a well-equipped kitchen with adequate
serving capability for the congregation.
·
Ceramic mugs are used on Sunday morning and washed by the custodians.
·
Kitchen policy states that non-disposable dishes and table cloths are
to be used.
·
Procedures for recycling are posted through out the kitchen and
recycling receptacles have been conveniently placed.
·
Healthy snacks are required in R.E. programs, as of this year.Issues
Many church dinners and receptions use the regular
dishes, but on occasion the planners of an event will use paper and plastic for
convenience.
Recycling:
Paper:
Abitibi Paper Recycling bins in parking lot: All
paper products except corrugated cardboard and telephone books can be recycled
in the bin for weekly pick-up by Abitibi for which the church is paid by the
ton. Amounts of paper have warranted a
second bin.
Boxes in offices and
classrooms collect church paper
Cans and bottles:
Recycling Center at back of kitchen: UU Ministry for
Earth members take turns taking the recycling to a drop-off. Bottled water is
often used at church functions.
A UU Ministry for Earth
member regularly takes the recycling to a drop-off location.
New recycling bins in RE Wing and Fellowship Hall
Office Supplies, Paper
Supplies, Cleaning Products
There is not currently a coordinated policy to
promote the use of environmentally friendly products and procedures, although a
“green approach” is often used in specific practices
- Printing paper is made from recycled material.
- Leftover 1-sided fliers are recycled and cut up for use as note
paper.
- Orders of service are printed in limited amounts (only 20 copies
more than expected attendance).
Additional copies of the Church Directory are printed as needed.
rather than in an initial large amount.
- Used paper is recycled in parking lot bin.
- Recycling boxes are placed in each classroom. (Conservation is a theme stressed in the
R.E. curriculum.)
- R.E. Office donates used crayons to “Angel Fire”, a recycling
program, When 50 lbs. are donated,
the R.E. Program receives 50 multicolored crayons in return.
- Some products are nontoxic, e.g., permanent markers, dust free
chalk, although selection is based on cost.
Cleaning
Supplies and Storage:
·
Storage closets are being cleaned and old flammable materials removed;
2 of 4 now completed.
·
All exits have clear passage to outside. (Building recently passed fire
safety inspection.)
·
Cleaning products and paint are stored in custodian’s locked
office. Paint is stored in a metal
(inflammable) cabinet.
·
Custodian plans to find out about “green” cleaning products, such as
those used at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center.
Energy
- Burnt out incandescent light bulbs are replaced with compact
fluorescent lamps; all light bulbs will eventually be florescent.
- Classroom lights are not always turned off when not in use.
Investment
Policies
The
Investment Committee reviews the recommendations of investment advisors. They discourage investments in stocks focused
on military, smoking and alcohol, but don’t currently have an environmental
screen.
FAITH AND WORSHIP
- A service sponsored by
UU Ministry for Earth this fall featured singer, songwriter Andrew
McKnight on Sunday morning whose sung and spoken message was “Earth Day
Every Day”.
- Music regularly
includes earth awareness
- YRE Earth Day worship
service held
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Adult
Religious Education
·
About 20 people attended NWEI Choices for Sustainable Living course
this fall.
·
Adult RE Forums regularly include environmental themes, eg. Wayne
Jennings "The End of Peak Oil", David Beach,
"Bio-Regionalism", Fletcher
Miller "Alternative Sources of Energy",
·
NWEI Global Warming course starting
·
“An Inconvenient Truth” shown at Friday Flicks
Young Religious Education
A positive attitude and some specific practices that
support sustainability are present. A
formal “green” curriculum is not currently in place, but an addition is being
considered.
Each class has a recycling box, which students empty
weekly into the recycling bin. The
students are enthusiastic about this program, though difficulties sometimes
arise (e.g., children forget to empty the boxes, boxes are mistaken for trash
and thrown out by custodians, the staff coordinator does not always have time
to monitor the program). Other
conservation projects have also been suggested, but it was felt that it is best
to assure this program’s success before adding others.
Healthy snacks are recommended. An inconsistency,
however, is that disposable rather than
recyclable plates and cups are used.
The paper recycling program has been one way to add
the topic of conservation into the Y.R.E. curriculum.
An Earth Day youth worship service has been held.
The staff will be doing a curriculum review and considering a social action
curriculum that addresses sustainability.
ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
There
are not any specifically environmental justice programs though there are
opportunities with several ongoing projects and there is support from the
Social Justice Ministries Council for UUMFE activities.
Open
Doors After School Program. Students are
expected to put discarded papers in the program’s recycle bin. Drinking cups are washed and reused. Plastic bottles and cans are recycled. A unit on sustainable living is being
considered. Students and staff are
encouraged to use both sides of the paper when printing from the computer or
making copies. Concerned volunteers are
dedicated to raising consciousness of students, other volunteers and staff re
conservation of resources.
Assessment
continued
2. Accomplishments since starting Environmental
Audit, Spring 2006-Spring 2008
Sustainable Practices
- Started taking recyclables to recycling center:
- Created coordinated recycling center; now recycle CFL’s, thermometers, batteries, cell phones, ink and toner cartridges, pop tabs, eye glasses
- Installed recycling bins throughout building
- Created recycling center for hazardous items
- Continued Abitibi paper recycling, added a second bin
- Started collection of mercury thermometers
- Sold Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) and gave info about disposal
- Continued replacement of incandescent lights with CFL’s
- Built Compost bins
- Started composting kitchen waste
- Recommended solution to sanctuary roof that includes better insulation
- Installed more efficient boiler
- Started buying organic, fair trade coffee
- Bought local food for Michael Dowd workshop
- Visited the UU Fellowship of Wayne County to tour LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building
- Future Search process indicated broad interests in greening the church; task group created
- Held feedback session on Green Sanctuary action plan serving local-produce soup
- Conducted congregational survey on sustainable home practices
Religious Education
1. Started vegetable garden for class use
2. Sponsored Michael Dowd workshop with other UU churches
3. Held three adult forums on sustainability topics; two more planned for ‘09
4. Held four Northwest Earth Institute courses
5. Started Sustainable Living Covenant Group
6. Provided “green tips” regularly in newsletter and church bulletin
7. Preschool and toddler room using and washing dishes and napkins
8. Added recycling bins for each classroom
9. The kindergarten class is using a new curriculum focusing on living in harmony with the earth
10. The kindergarten class uses cloth napkins and washable/reusable cups as well as bulk packed snacks or fresh fruit or vegetables. The whole RE program is being moved towards these practices.
Worship and
Celebration
1.
Hosted environmental folk singer for service and
concert
2. Held intergenerational Earth Day service in April 2008 using play, Mother Earth vs. the Earth’s People
3. Stewardship of the Earth as theme of 1/25/09 worship service with sermon The Seventh Generation by Rev. George Buchanan
Environmental Justice
1. Conversations about gardening and farmers’ markets
2. Planning to show Van Jones’ Ware lecture with homemade pizza and discussion about green jobs
Assessment continued
3. Energy Audit
We
contracted with Aaron Godwin of the Renaissance Group to do an energy audit of
the building. He produced a detailed
document with a number of general recommendations and some specific to our
building. Between the time that he
started and produced the report the congregation purchased a new boiler (December
2007) that has already significantly reduced the use of natural gas.
·
Implement Building-Wide Lighting Replacements and Retrofits. All
T-12 lamps and Ballast Should Be Changed to T-5 or T-8 Lamps and High
Efficiency Electronic Ballasts. All Other Fixtures Should Be Changed to
Compact Fluorescents.
·
Increase Attic Insulation to at Least R40.
·
Repair or Replace Weather Stripping Building-Wide.
·
Seal All Building Penetrations On The Exterior of the Building and
Between Floors From Basement to the Attic With Caulk or Expanding Foam.
·
Retrofit One Test Room With Insulation Over Masonry Walls to Determine
Approach Impact and Building-Wide Viability.
·
Investigate Formal Heating System Commissioning For System Optimization
and Efficiency.
·
Investigate Further Segmenting of Your Heating System and Controls to
allow for Conditioning of Spaces on an As-Needed Basis and With Automated or
Scheduled Controls.
·
Investigate Regional On-Demand Hot Water For Bathrooms and The Kitchen.
·
Develop and Implement a Formal Carpooling Plan For Your Congregation.
·
Multiply Impact by Spreading Conservation Commitment to the Entire
Congregation.
·
Join With Other Communities and Organization to Share Resources and
What is Learned.
·
Consider demonstration scale renewable energy installations at your
facility.
4. Congregational Survey
The
UUMFE Committee created a survey to create a baseline for individual practices
of the congregation, using other congregations’ surveys as a starting
point. The survey was administered on
Survey Monkey and with hard copies for those who wanted them.
There were 55 responses, relatively reflective of the demographics of
the congregation. Those surveyed have strongly positive practices
in food choices, being a green consumer, disposing of toxic wastes and in
recycling practices. Areas of greatest interest in learning are: in
energy use at home- solar energy and home energy auditing. There is interest in
researching businesses and products to become more responsible consumers.
In the area of fresh water , 75% indicate not having a number of conservation
practices-dual flushing toilets. drip watering, Energy Star washers, on-demand
water heaters. The survey and its results can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=yvWtwg1mKD4XzAKIfIHvGMx_2fmt0dok_2ftbzv3wvupTMk_3d.
Action Plan
Project
Title: Seventh
Principal in Worship
Project Description: Promote continuing mindfulness of the Seventh
Principal in our Sunday worship. Establish the Earth Day Service as an annual
intergenerational event, with all ages participating. Include sustainability
themes regularly in services. (E.g.,
conservation tips in open space at end of order of service, periodic updates on
congregational green projects during announcements, periodic donation of Sunday
offering to local sustainability programs.)
Timeline
for Completion: April 2009, ongoing
Lead: Rev. Daniel Budd
Project
Title: Arts and
Environmental Stewardship
Project
Description: Plan
one or two events a year promoting environmental stewardship, spirituality, and
the arts (music, visual arts, dance) including
·
Presentation of music and readings based on a
hymn festival and readings presented by Oberlin College with David Orr scheduled for Fall
2009.
· Collaboration with Arts Committee starting
with a nature photography exhibit in Spring 2009.
· Hold
an annual May Day event starting in 2010.
Lead:
Fern Jennings and Arts Net Committee
Lead: Sharon Sternberger, (Rev. George Buchanan)
Project Description: Provide education about health and societal reasons for and ways to
move toward low or no-meat diets.
·
Include vegetarian recipes in church cookbook
·
Suggest In Defense of Food for
book group
·
Offer Menu for the Future course
(NWEI)
·
Hold canning days
·
Hold vegetarian potlucks
·
Engage congregation in Study/Action Issue, Ethical Eating
·
Present adult forums
Timeline for Completion: Plan 2009, Implement 2010
Lead: Carol Gibson
Project Description:
· Work with other UU and faith
groups to include a spiritual component in the Great Lakes Bioneers—Cleveland
and to encourage attendance to help participants see the connections between
environmental and social justice. Support InterAct Cleveland in adding
environmental justice to its scope.
· Participate in development
of Ohio Interfaith Power and Light.
· Partner with others on a
workshop for faith groups in Northeastern Ohio to share and learn about
initiatives that faith groups are using to engage in environmental stewardship
and justice.
Lead: Nancy King Smith
Project Title: Urban Food Systems
Project Description: Raise understanding about urban food systems and impacts on communities
by supporting urban farming and markets in the cities of Cleveland and East
Cleveland, including hands-on experiences that will help members connect with
people impacted by limited food options and learn about issues of food and
justice.
·
Support the Coit Market by supplying volunteers
·
Helping at special events: Spring Fling, Corn
·
Cleaning and providing maintenance assistance, organizing spring
clean-up and paint project
·
Partnering in putting on a fundraiser to benefit the market.
·
Assisting with the market newsletter and other publications.
·
Exploring possibilities for helping find farmers for acreage and/or
engaging with City Fresh
·
Provide support for a City Fresh Stop in Buckeye.
Timeline for Completion: Spring-Fall
2009 and 2010
Lead: Steve Botorff (Coit), Stephanie Ross (City Fresh)
Sustainable Living (4 required, 1 that addresses energy conservation)
Project Title: Recycling
·
Create recycling center for alkaline batteries, cell phones, CFL’s (compact
fluorescent lights), printer ink cartridges, thermometers and thermostats,
eyeglasses, aluminum cans and plastic water bottles (throughout building), and
paper (outside ABITIBI bins) Summer 2008
·
Set up and implement composting program Spring 2008
·
Educate congregation about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle 2009-10
·
Inform through newsletter and website about best ways of recycling all
materials 2009-10
·
Encourage members to advocate for strong recycling programs in their
municipalities 2010
Project Description: Work with the staff and Board to change the policies
so that there is a “green filter” on purchases and construction so that decisions are made
with criteria that reflect sustainable practices Make available educational
material and promote the purchasing of recycled content products,
environmentally preferable products and services, bio-based products, energy-
and water-efficient products, products using renewable energy, and alternatives
to hazardous or toxic chemicals. 2010
Timeline for Completion: 2010
Lead: Carrol Gensert, (administrator,Doug Aubin)
Project Description: Add insulation and caulking to all outside walls as
recommended by energy audit. This
can be accomplished by trained volunteers and raising some funds to pay for the
materials. Include workshop for home owners on energy audits and insulation. 2009-10
Timeline for Completion: Workshop
March 2009, work in 2010
Lead: Janet Gremba, (administrator,Doug Aubin)
Project Description: Create a sustainable practices event check-list for internal and external events, using
best practices for purchases, food service, dishware, recycling,
decorations. Ask that all event planners
review it and report changes made as a result of the list
Timeline for Completion: 2009
Project Description: Assist in the expansion and maintenance of the vegetable garden that is
used by Religious Education classes. Engage across generations by
· helping construct a fence
around the garden.
· assisting in finding a
solution to the deer problem in the garden.
· assisting religious
education teachers with garden classes.
· helping support “the
Stepping Stone fundraiser”.
· explore presenting a cold
frame workshop which is open to the congregation
· engaging more of the
congregation in helping with aspects of the garden.
· Explore curriculum
connections for use of the garden.
Lead: Natalie Wardega
Project Description: Work with the Investment
Committee to consider ways to add an environmentally responsible filter to the
investment policies. Explore strategies to ensure at least
10% of church investments are directed to maximizing environmental and social
good and secondly maximize financial return. Provide oppportunities to educate
membes of the congregation about various SRI strategies and filters with
encouragement to realign their own investments towards more socially
responsible investments.
Project Description: Conduct at least one Northwest Earth Institute course or equivalent
annually.
Hold Menu for the Future for Winter 2009
Plan next course, possibly Healthy Children, Healthy Planet. 2010
Lead:
Carol Gibson
During the two years that the environmental assessment has been conducted, the congregation has been kept apprised through articles in the monthly newsletter, occasional pulpit announcements and an all-church meeting at which the action plan was presented and discussed. Green tips have been included in most newsletters.
The expectation is that the newsletter and announcement information will continue with a more focused approach to the information about sustainable practices. We have started “Green Tips for White Spaces” so that when the Sunday bulletin has white space, a green tip is included, pulled from a list given to the church secretary.
A. Communication Strategy for Sharing Information
· Regular UUMFE column in The Unitarian, the monthly newsletter, presenting updates of the Green Sanctuary process, publicizing programs and environmental activities and promoting seasonal green tips.
· Continue Green Tips for White Spaces using the blank spaces in the weekly Order of Service for suggestions for sustainable living practices
· Timely announcements from the pulpit for church-wide environmental activities
· A Green Table in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour advertising educational offerings such as the Northwest Earth Institute courses and selling products such as CFL’s.
- Enhance the UU Ministry for Earth page on the church website with more information and links to the Action Plan, the application and national UUMFE resources.
B. Invite participation for the larger community and other UU congregations.
· Advertise special events to other congregations through District and cluster list-serves and publications.
· Link with other UU churches and the interfaith environmental community to publicize events and information.
· Share UUMFE activities with the broader interfaith community and the Bioneers network