• Build awareness of the significance and complexity of environmental issues
• Encourage personal lifestyle changes
• Engage in community action on environmental issues
• Strengthen the connection between spiritual practice and Earth consciousness
• Work to heal environmental injustices

How do you become a Green Sanctuary

After establishing a charter, the first steps of the process are to assess where we are right now through an environmental audit. In the audit we look at our facility, current management practices such as recycling or grounds maintenance and programs such as religious education and worship. We also have an opportunity to examine our own environmental awareness and practices. Following the audit, the church develops our plan of action for twelve activities in four separate areas:

• Worship and Spiritual Practice
• Religious Education
• Environmental justice
• Sustainable living

The assessment will cover several areas. The following questions will be answered.

• ENERGY: What are your energy usage patterns and current conservation practices?
• RECYCLING: What are the local recycling procedures and what is your level of compliance?
• NON-DISPOSABLE MATERIALS: What are the existing policies for use of non-disposable materials, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, etc.?
• PURCHASING AND INVESTING: What existing church policies govern purchasing and investing decisions? Are your investments in keeping with your environmental and other social values?
• LANDSCAPING: Do you have landscaping policies that direct use of native species, landscape chemicals, etc?
• RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: What current religious education programs relate to the environment for both children and adults?
• WORSHIP: How well does your worship integrate the wisdom of the Earth?

This is an on-going progress and this section of the website will include monthly progress reports and tips for helping our congregation go green.

Green Sanctuary Monthly Progress