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The UUC Green Team
Presents:
Living the Seventh Principle
The
Green Sanctuary Program
Overview:
The
UUC Social Action Committee’s survey of the congregation in
January, 2007, showed that the environment was the primary concern of
members and friends. In response, the Green
Team was formed to study and
act on that concern. The UU Ministry for Earth initiated the Seventh
Principle Project
in 1991, which has evolved into the Green
Sanctuary Program
as a guide for congregations seeking to promote “Respect for
the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”
With the approval of the Executive Board, we have adopted this
program to serve as our guide. Following are the objectives and the
process of the program, as stated in the Green Sanctuary Manual.
Green
Sanctuary Program Goals:
To
build awareness of societal environmental issues among UUs.
To
generate commitment for personal lifestyle changes.
To
motivate UUs to community action on environmental issues.
To
build a connection between spiritual practice and environmental
consciousness.
To
build awareness of and rectify environmental injustice.
Process:
Audit:
Conduct an environmental audit, considering energy usage and
conservation, recycling, use of non-toxic materials and cleaning
supplies, landscaping and grounds care practices, religious
education programs for adult and youth, worship services and social
justice action projects related to the environment.
Action
Plan: Develop a plan to correct any deficiencies found in the audit
and enhance what we’re doing right. At least 12 projects are
required, to include the areas of Worship and Celebration, Religious
Education, Environmental Justice and Sustainable Living.
Green
Sanctuary Candidacy: Apply electronically to the UU Ministry for
Earth for candidacy status with $100 fee, using the prescribed form.
The fee supports the program and entitles us to a 1-year membership
in the UUMFE.
Application
for Accreditation as a Green Sanctuary: With the affirmative vote
of the Congregation and its commitment to an ongoing program, submit
the formal application for recognition of the UUC of the New River
Valley as a Green Sanctuary. The application is to be supported by
documentation of the completion of the projects in the Action Plan,
a summary of the degree to which the above Program Goals were
achieved, and the changes in the life of the congregation resulting
from the Green Sanctuary Program.
Living
the Legacy of the Green Sanctuary Program: After Accreditation, the
Congregation will continue its awareness and activities to protect
and sustain the environment. Our commitment is ongoing, and will be
reflected in our future policies and practices.
Communication:
Providing information to and receiving
input from the Congregation is key to our successful completion of
the Program. We must do this together. We welcome your ideas and
need your participation. We will inform you of our activities and
progress through all available means: this web site, the newsletter,
the Sunday Order of Service, announcements during service and the UUC
listserv. In turn, we anticipate your wisdom, effort and guidance.
This is a work in progress.
We
will be developing this web site, and plan to provide links to
helpful information such as:
Recycling
- where to take your recyclable materials
Disposal
of toxic waste - how to safely get rid of the bad stuff
Car
talk -how to save fuel, choosing a vehicle
Green
news - what’s happening on the environmental front
Home
and garden - how to be green in maintaining your personal space
Community
connections — our UUC members are working on local groups
such as Sustainable Blacksburg the Cool Cities project, and
the Environmental Coalition.
And
more...
TALK
WITH US! JOIN US!
The Green Team: Bobbie Littlefield,
Dick Bauman, Barb Boyd...
(UUC
Home)
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