Environmental Justice – Compelled to Act
The First Church of Christ Environmental Justice Team is taking the Green Congregation Challenge. This Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ program challenges congregations to set attainable goals toward environmental protection and climate justice.
The Challenge consists of three levels. Each level consists of 18 goals and a church completes the level by attaining 12 of those goals.
First Church, led by the Environmental Justice Team, our conscientious Property Team, and staff, has met the Level One challenge and is working on Level Two. Level One included: Form a Green Team to coordinate and motivate efforts; install energy efficient fluorescent lights/ballasts; organize and/or participate in an event sponsored by 350.org or Transition Towns; have a recycling program that covers all offices and meetings spaces and includes the Montessori School in our efforts; and invite local experts to give presentation or hold panel discussions on environmental topics.
Now to Level Two! First Church is well on its way to completing this challenge. Some examples: We have shifted church communications from paper to electronic; banned Styrofoam and encouraged members and outside groups to wean themselves from single use plastic bottles and containers; installed occupant sensors in many meeting spaces, bathrooms, and hallways; and installed bike racks for use by church members and Montessori families. Some next steps in Level Two: Shift to organic landscape care; adopt an Earth-centered curriculum for the Children’s Religious Education Department; and develop a car pool system for church events/programs.
Level Three contains goals that would require a commitment of finances and people-hours: Create a “Green Fund” to be spent only on projects that reduce the carbon footprint of the church; install solar panels; replace old windows and doors with efficient models; replace outdated appliances with Energy Star models; and replace inefficient heating systems are a few.
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