The Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN)

Diocese of
West Texas

Environmental Stewardship Committee

We began in March 2004 with eight members, mostly long term parishioners, and our chief goal was to begin an Environmental Stewardship Management System. After a year it was obvious our system was not working, primarily because:
1) no staff was available or willing to help with the copious paperwork;
2) lack of any financial resources;
3) the work did not jibe with the talents and interests of our committee.
What I realized as chair was that we would always have limited resources of money and staff available, but I had a very committed committee and a willing rector (all but one of the original members is still on board) – and since then our work has revolved around our interests and talents.

Here's what we have done in the last 2½ years:

1) Held three Environmental Stewardship Sundays, two in proximity to Earth Day, where the worship service includes "green" themes, but always coupled with an activity that required parish involvement; e.g.,

• Recycling Sunday, at which electronic equipment such as computers, monitors, cell phones, etc. where picked up by a local recycling company on the day of collection (over 3500 lbs. was collected on the two Sundays)
• Political Awareness, where state water issues were related at the church service, and then parishioners were encouraged to come to the parish hall and write their legislators (stamped post cards were provided as well as names and maps of their representatives)
• Specific Focus, reminding parishioners of our recycling program in the at the church, which includes large outdoor bins for paper products and aluminum cans (collected by commercial companies which give cash rebates that go toward church programs), as well as bins in the Parish Hall for plastic, cell phones, batteries and corks (yes, corks, and we get a bunch).
• Sale of Compact Florescent Bulbs, and over two Sundays we sold over $700 worth of bulbs, purchased at a discount at a local Lowe's store

2) Before getting into a serious environmental stewardship education program, we focused on the church facilities, e.g.,

• Replacement of all incandescent bulbs – this has been done over the past two years, except for the sanctuary lights that need dimming
• Toilet and heater replacement – when inviting our local water and energy companies to participate in our Sunday programs, we discovered a program where our local water system provided and installed 12 low flush toilets, several that were over 30 years old, at no expense to the parish. Also installed an "on demand" water heater in our youth building.
• Capital Campaign – With the campaign emphasis being on Renewal we provided input to our planning committee on purchasing environmentally efficient equipment, some of which provide rebates from our local energy and water providers.

3) Our Parish Education program really began with a showing on An Inconvenient Truth (provided by TX Interfaith Power and Light, an offshoot of Sally Bingham's creation), and 125 attended on a Saturday evening in our parish hall. Since then we have had an article in our newsletter each month on different topics geared toward our parishioners.

In the future we plan to continue these programs, with an emphasis on getting our neighborhood more involved in recycling, especially the apartment folks who are excluded from the City of San Antonio recycling effort.

For further information, contact Hall Hammond at hshammond[@aol.com] (please remove the square brackets before sending).

Diocese of Maine

Several Maine environmental proponents believe that the more grass roots support for the Genesis Covenant multifaith conference that can be demonstrated before next spring's conference takes place, the more likely it will be that the conference will take action with real impact. To show Maine's support the below Resolution will be presented at their fall Convention. Maine urges other Dioceses to consider presenting resolutions with similar intent. The more of us who show our support, the more impact we shall have.

Maine urges other Dioceses to consider presenting resolutions with similar intent. The more of us who show our support, the more impact we shall have. (If your Diocese's resolution deadline has passed you might consider presenting it from the floor when your convention meets)

RESOLVED : The Episcopal Diocese of Maine expresses it's full support for our Presiding Bishop's call for a multifaith conference a to launch a multifaith campaign on climate change, to be known as the "Genesis Covenant" and be it further

RESOLVED that within thirty days of the passage of this resolution the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine will write to our Presiding Bishop to express our support for the Genesis Covenant"

Explanation

Our Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, is inviting leading representatives of many faiths to meet in Seattle in April 2008 to develop a unified program to address climate change. The effort, known as the Geneses Covenant, was first proposed by Bishop Stephen Charleston, President of the Episcopal Divinity School.

The sponsors of the Resolution believe that unified action by the country's religious communities has the potential to be the catalyst for the nation to take effective action on climate change - to be, in essence, the "tipping point" .

The sponsors also believe that the more grass roots support we can demonstrate for the Genesis Covenant before the April meeting, the greater success that meeting will have.

We believe that other Dioceses in Province 1 and other Provinces are being urged to to express their support for the Genesis Covenant.

Diocese of Vermont

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bennington, VT has been a part of a goal (October 2006 - April 2007) for business owners and residents of Bennington to purchase and install 40,000 CFL's in Bennington. This past Spring this goal was reached, saving $1,489,603 over the lifetime of the bulbs. And, we removed 2,840,211 pounds of CO2 emissions in our community (the equivalent of taking 246 cars off our local roads). In cooperation with Efficiency Vermont, parishioners at St. Peter's, and other local faith communities, with business owners, residents, and schools, promoted and participated in this town campaign to make Bennington a leader in energy efficiency in the state of Vermont.

Province 2

Dioceses of Newark and New Jersey

Religious congregations in New Jersey are being offered the opportunity to purchase compact fluorescent bulbs at a discount through an agreement with GreenFaith of New Jersey and a provider. Congregations are invited to distribute order forms on one Sunday, and to gather them up the following Sunday with a public recognition of this act of environmental stewardship. Orders will then be filled and shipped to the congregation for the succeeding.

Diocese of New York

Province 3

Diocese of Southwestern Virginia

What has worked well for environmental stewardship for St James, Roanoke, has been replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, installing programmable thermostats in the building, and (soon) using rain barrel-collected water for the landscape plantings around the church.

Diocese of Virginia

Prayer and collaboration are major Virginian practices. Parishes are connecting with the Creator, recognizing that our traditions of hope and worship define and differentiate us from secular partners. We also collaborate with other faiths to better recognize the need to care for creation and to translate awareness into practical actions.

Province 4

Province 4

Collaboration is the one that thing that works best for environmental stewardship. That is "folding in" environmental projects with other ministries like ST&F, EPPN, ERD, EGR and other national and local networks. This prevents duplication of effort, fund raising and fatigue, as well as expands work effectiveness and efficiencies of leadership and program outcomes. Some parishes and dioceses in Prov IV prefer not having stand alone environmental groups. A few are considering reviving old and creating new approaches like:

Peace with Earth for Peace on Earth!
Reflection, Education & Action
SEE (Social, Economic & Environmental) Justice

Diocese of Alabama

The Alabama Task Force has a $6500 World Wildlife Fund grant, focused on "Watersheds and Warming," watershed impacts of global warming, and our response. In October, we are sponsoring an all-day Workshop and a weekend Care of Creation Retreat. Participants will receive a 6-week "Watersheds and Warming" Study Guide.

Diocese of Mississippi

With limited success and interest, I and others have presented a 5 part course on Stewardship of Creation to adults during the adult ed. hour between services. We've taught it 3 times in the last 18 months. The course is on a CD and was developed by the Diocese of Alabama.

Diocese of Southwest Florida

The one thing working best in our congregation is developing projects and classes that keep issues of environmental stewardship in front of parishioners. These have ranged from planting Florida friendly landscaping to sponsoring the film, Inconvenient Truth, placing rainbarrels, creation centered worship and animal blessing services and more.

Province 5

Diocese of Missouri

We have ordered a Do-it-yourself kit to make a 4' x 8' cold and hot weather greenhouse for intensive organic garden to work in coordination with our neighborhood food pantry. It contains one sheet of greenhouse plastic, one sheet of summer row cover material, one piece of semi-permeable membrane, all necesary hardware including hinges, screws, pvc tees, complete step-by-step assembly instructions with a "tools required list", and a materials list that tells you exactly what size lumber to buy from your local hardware store. The materials list will also instruct you to buy pvc, lava rock, and linseed oil. We will be able to give away fresh, local produce. Our plan includes building, installing and teaching this garden at neighboring apartment buildings (with subsidized rents). Members and non members alike want to get involved.

Learn more

Diocese of Missouri

The thing that has worked well for us, is the increased and specific education done on environmental stewardship in the congregation has led it to going from zero recycling, to a complete and very successful recycling program used throughout the building and in our homes this year.

Diocese of Missouri

St. Mark's in South City is upholding our reputation of doing small things well. This summer we have had monthly Grubby Sunday when we wear casual or downright grubby clothes to worship and stay afterwards to do our own building and grounds maintenance. We have made major strides in remodeling and repairing the former rectory, as well as creating some nicer garden spaces. We have appointed "EcoMan", Scott Shippey as our Environmental Steward to remind us of opportunities at home and to monitor our environmental habits at church.

Province 6

Diocese of Iowa

"Cool Congregations, Solving Global Warming One Family at a Time," adds a new dimension to stewardship programs in faith communities. Interested congregants pledge to implement energy efficient measures in their own homes – reducing their family contribution to global warming, often saving money in the process! (Program of Iowa IP&L)

Diocese of Minnesota

This summer, Bert Whitcombe introduced children and adults to the sacred nature of Earth and her bounty, the foods all life needs. He led groups through campgrounds, Churchyards and byways, sharing understanding and respect of plants and trees as food, medicine and shelter, they finish by grinding indigenous grains into bread for Eucharist.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Ely, held its most memorable Northwoods Family Camp yet on August 19 at the South Kawishwi National Campground. The afternoon was led by Bert "the plant man" Whitcombe who led a group of parents and kids on a Northwoods hike.

web article from the Diocese of Minnesota

Diocese of Minnesota

The one outstanding piece of Environmental Stewardship activity in our diocese is the work of our Commission on Environmental Stewardship. It meets quarterly and communicates with the diocese on a regular basis via the weekly diocesan e-mail news.. I cite several important work that they sponsor or have initiated: A Web site, Mary Brown Environmental Retreat Center in Ely Minnesota, sponsored a Spirituality of Food Production Resolution adopted by our Diocesan Convention, Guidelines for Environmental concerns for diocesan Church Buildings and property, workshops on the spirituality of food for church organizations and groups, Support of Locally grown and organic foods, networking with the wider Episcopal Church organizations on environmental concerns, Advocating to reduce green house gases, advocating for wind energy purchase by churches and individuals, and a host of other related issues.

Diocese of Minnesota

St. John's Eveleth does tecycling and plan to install ceiling fans.

Diocese of Wyoming

Wyoming people whose religious faith motivates them to support environmental stewardship will gather this fall (Sept. 27-29 at the Lander Community Center) with conservation advocates from around the state for three days of activities, outings, speakers and workshops.

The “On Sacred Ground” event has been many months in the making and will include provoking dialogue, inspiring speakers, practical conservation techniques and an opportunity to build partnerships. There will be numerous workshops, field trips, worship and group dinners which will include our featured speakers. Speakers and presenters will include Peter Illyn of Restoring Eden, Peter Sawtell of Eco-Justice Ministries, Rebekah Simon-Peter of Bridgeworks, Geoff O’Gara of Wyoming Public Television, Sr. Marya Grathwohl of the Order of St. Francis, Harold Bergman of the University of Wyoming Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, Susan McGuire of the Wyoming Association of Environmental Education, Bob Budd of the Wyoming and Natural Resource Trust, Terry Cleveland of the Wyoming Game and Fish, Carol Prochaska of the United Church of Christ and many, many more.

more information (link valid until conference dates).

Diocese of Wyoming

St. Mark's Episcopal Church has done highway clean-up since 1997; we stuff 70-plus large orange bags twice a year The sign on our 2-mile stretch of I-25 reads "St. Mark's Episcopal Church Stewardship." The bags and the sign are visible reminders to value our environment.

Province 7

Diocese of Arkansas

The one thing that has been most fruitful at St. James', Eureka Springs, has been our Planet Home group. We began a community organic garden. We also try to raise awareness through an article in our newsletter. We also have made available canvas and string Eco-bags at cost for our parish and others to use alternatively.

Diocese of West Texas

The Episcopal Church of the Reconciliation holds Environmental Stewardship Sundays where the worship service includes "green" themes, but always coupled with an activity that required parish involvement; e.g., Recycling Sunday, at which electronic equipment such as computers, monitors, cell phones, etc. were picked up by a local recycling company (over 3500 lbs. were collected) and Sale of Compact Florescent Bulbs, and over two Sundays we sold over $700 worth of bulbs.
Complete details in the article Hall wrote for this issue.

Province 8

Diocese of Arizona

This year our "Celtic Connection" program has attracted interest from 12 parishes. At St. Andrew's in Sedona this month, over 35 people attended the program, which was featured in two local newspaper articles. This ancient part of our Anglican tradition encourages us to experience God in Nature, the little tasks of daily life, and community.

Diocese of California

The Diocese of California has a new exciting team of leaders. Barbara Bisel, Sally Bingham and intern Josh Griffin have joined together to inspire environmental stewardship among our parishioners. Beginning with full support from Bishop Marc Andrus and his wife Sheila, we have already put together a contact list of liaisons from 50 of our 85 congregations and will work throughout the fall to have a person in each congregation.

We are having regional meetings in order that the liaisons don't have to travel to attend. We asked each church to join the CA Interfaith Power and Light Program and use the resources provided through CIPL with the intention of cutting Green House Gas Emissions 30% over the next year. We are providing networking among the churches so that no church needs to act alone, but rather in partnership with others. Two of our churches have already installed solar, many have cut emissions in ways that can be duplicated by other interested churches. Even our Cathedral is exploring solar. We are sponsoring an outdoor service on St, Francis Day, hosting an event and book signing for Claire Foster and David Shreeve from the Church of England. Their book How Many Light bulbs does it take to change a Christian? will be for sale.

The thing that has made the most difference in our work is the support of the Bishop and the willingness to have a paid intern to help us. The people in our diocese are inspired to do something to alleviate global warming and the collaboration with the Interfaith Power and Light Campaign has made this easy and possible. California Public Utility is giving rebates for solar installation making this a financially feasible option for churches.

Diocese of California

At All Souls Episcopal Parish in Berkeley, CA, we're just finishing a year-long pledge drive to reduce our individual/family environmental footprint, and it has already proved successful through our educational efforts and participation (100+ people).

Dioces