Environmental Stewardship

The 189th Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina in 2005 passed a resolution (2005-2), “On Energy Stewardship.”

In it the Convention requested vestries of member congregations to reduce the use of fossil fuels to improve human health and the environment by several means, including conducting an energy audit to identify further ways to conserve energy.

The Committee for Environmental Ministries indicates that energy audits can be done professionally, and local enquiries are necessary. The power companies and the North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network (NCWARN) - P.O.Bx. 61051, Durham 27715; tel. 919-416-5077; fax. 919-286-3985 - may also prove helpful.

The Committee has also provided what they call a "non-professional set of procedures" for an energy audit:

1. Recognize your sources of energy: sun, wind, electricity, gas/oil, water.
2. What uses that energy? lights, heating-A/C, hot-water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, faucets and toilets, sprinkler system, etc.
3. Where can you use less (this is a question of stewardship)?
   a. turn off lights not being used (put up signs); note outdoor spots
   
   b. flourescent bulbs use less than incandescent
   
   c. turn hot-water heater to 120 degrees (if it's at 140 degrees)
   
   d. caulk windows; weather-strip doors
   
   e. change furnace filter(s) regularly; clean off refrigerator coils
   
   f. when worship/meeting areas not in use, raise thermometer for A/C and lower for heating
4. Changes that cost more up front:
   
   a. replace appliances with energy-saving units
   
   b. install ceiling fans in worhip/meeting areas
   
   c. replace wooden windws with vinyl
   
   d. grow hardwood trees on South side of buildings.

The Environmental Energy Technologies Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has also designed a home do-it-yourself energy audit that you may find useful. 

If your church is willing and able, record what you audited and what changes you made; then, measure the effect by keep a record of bills over a six-month period.

Let the Committee for Environmental Ministries know by contacting Tom Droppers (336-855-7331):

The resolution also urged that parishes subscribe to North Carolina Green Power, which seeks to supplement the state’s existing power supply with more green energy – electricity generated from renewable resources like the sun, wind and organic matter. The program accepts financial contributions from North Carolina citizens and businesses to help offset the cost to produce green energy. A typical contribution of just $4 per month adds one block of 100 kilowatt-hours of green energy to North Carolina’s power supply.

The School of Ministry wishes to draw attention to additional resources for parish study about environmental stewardship:

• The Diocese of North Carolina has produced a cassette tape, Standing on Holy Ground, on the theme of environmental stewardship and providing questions for discussion. They are available through Education/Liturgy Resources in the Diocese.
• The Committee on Science, Technology and Faith has published on-line A Catechism of Creation: An Episcopal Understanding, for study in congregations.
  • Part I, A Theology of Creation, provides basic biblical and historical theological understandings of creation, with a strong emphasis on a trinitarian view of God's ongoing creative activity. Preachers, catechists, and other teachers will find in this section useful background material for their ministries. It is organized on a creedal pattern and offers scripture references.
  • Part II, Creation and Science, explores the interaction of religious and scientific ways of knowing, and offers models for moving beyond a conflicted understanding of the two domains. Part II also highlights the traditional Anglican view on the compatibility of evolutionary and theological understandings of creation.
  • Part III, Caring for Creation, offers a rationale for human stewardship of and partnership with the rest of creation, a discipline grounded in biblical and traditional theology.
• Province IV, of which we are a part, has recently released a five-session adult Christian Education curriculum on Care of Creation. The Diocese of Alabama, which took the initiative on developing this resource, has produced a good CD-rom available for parishes as well as a leader's guide. Contact the School of Ministry for details.
• Since 1983, the National Council of Churches has been providing opportunities for the national bodies of member Protestant and Orthodox denominations to work together to protect and restore God's creation. As part of that effort, they have provided program ideas and resources to help congregations as they engage in eco-justice. Their website provides details about their resources.
• The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, gave a lecture on "ecology and economy" at the University of Kent in March 2005. It's a thoughtful piece and may provide a good foundation for a discussion on the "integrity of God's creation."
• "To Serve Christ in All Creation" is a Pastoral Lettter on the Environment issued in 2003 by the Province One Bishops in New England, who expressed "an urgent concern for the health and stewardship of the world." This letter is acoompanied by a study guide designed to assist parishes in forming a four session "discussion circle." Participants examine the roots of their connectedness with God’s creation, both in scripture and in our Christian tradition. The study guide explores ways to live out the promise of our baptism and participate in God’s mission to restore all people and all creation to unity with God and each other in Christ. In support of the Pastoral Letter, it seeks to:
  • Increase awareness and acknowledgement of the urgency of the planetary crisis in which we now live;
  • Develop cohesive groups that celebrate the gifts of honor the sacredness of creation; and
  • Help these groups take action in ways that meaningfully demonstrate gratitude for the gifts of creation.
• The Episcopal Ecology Network (EEN), a nationwide network within the Episcopal Church.  Drawing upon Celtic Spirituality within our Anglican tradition, the EEN seeks to help our Church assume a leadership role in the worldwide environmental movement.  Their website is a key source for environmental and ecological information within the Episcopal Church, and includes liturgies, educational resources, information about General Convention resolutions, and actions to be taken.
• Climate Connection: The North Carolina Interfaith Eco-Justice Network recognizes the necessity for spiritual communities to be leaders in turning human acitvities in a new direction for the wel being of the planet. Participants include Ba'hai, Baptists, Buddhists, Disciples of Christ, Episcopalians, Jews, Lutherans, Muslims, Presbyterians, Religious Society of Firneds, Roman Catholics, United Church of Christ, United Methodists, and Unitarian-Universalists. For more information, please contact Alice Loyd, Coordinator at 919-781-0023 or by e-mail.
• Become an Energy Stewardship Congregation (formerly known as Energy Star Congregation) -- To find more about this stewardship, call the program office at 800-288-1346, located at the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Enviornmental Education or get more information on the web-site.