The UUA Congregational Stewardship Services has accepted the recent submission of the WHUUF Green Sanctuary Action Plan and Application for Candidacy. This acceptance leads to a two year implementation of the Action Plan followed by an Application for Accreditation as a UUA Green Sanctuary. More information on the WHUUF GS Program can be found under the Green Sanctuary Category.
Congregations and congregants working together to restore Earth and renew Spirit.
November 17, 2008
West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Green Sanctuary Committee
Don Merrick, Chair
8470 SW Oleson Road
Portland, OR 97223-6977
Dear Committee,
With this letter, the Unitarian Universalist Association, Office of Congregation Stewardship Services is very pleased to formally welcome the West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship as a candidate to the Green Sanctuary Program. A Green Sanctuary Review Committee has examined your application and is impressed with your plans for meeting the program goals.
Your organizing committee broadly represents your congregation and includes many very involved members. The committee has assessed your environmental situation and developed a well rounded action plan.
Your environmental assessment format is adequate, especially since your congregation is possibly undertaking a building and remodeling project. If you do not end up completing the building and remodeling project at this time we would encourage you to complete a professional energy audit to help you assess what projects could be completed to conserve the most energy.
Your proposed projects for the Worship and Celebration focus area are appropriate for meeting the Green Sanctuary requirements. We are thrilled to hear that you are planning to create a Forest Sanctuary; we see this as a wonderful interconnection of projects and a great way to be closer to the Earth.
Your Religious Education projects – both Children’s and Adult – are very strong. From experience, we know that use of the Northwest Earth Institute curriculums for Adult Religious Education are successful – the “Menu for the Future” curriculum (which can be purchased at the UUMFE website http://uuministryforearth.org/) specifically will fulfill a Green Sanctuary Program requirement and get your congregation involved in the Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI) – Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice for 2008-2012. Another way to get involved in the CSAI would be to check out the Ethical Eating guide, which offers suggestions and resources on Ethical Eating, at http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/ethicaleating/index.shtml. Overall, the projects in this focus area are very comprehensive and strong.
Your Forest Enhancement for Wildlife Habitat is a noble project and we are glad to see that you are providing justice for non-human species. We encourage you to make sure that any installation of trails or an outdoor sanctuary would come after the effects on the habitat are considered. Your Water Privatization Project has potential to be a great Environmental Justice project. We encourage you to be very clear on what specific issue you plan to take on. In your accreditation application, we will want to know specifics about which issue you worked on and what you did. Specifically focusing on how your work helped to better provide justice for disadvantaged or oppressed communities and focusing on projects that will build relationships to create a greater impact.
Your sustainable living projects are straight-forward. We encourage you to monitor results and share the results with your congregation. Additionally, in your accreditation application we will want to know more about how and what program you used to you discouraged congregants from using bottled water, how you helped congregants in substituting or eliminating harmful substances in their homes, and what your expected outcome for the socially responsible investing project is.
Overall, you have done a good job of assessing your situation and selecting projects that will work for your congregation that are looks diverse, well balanced, and exciting. We look forward to your continuing progress as you work towards becoming a Green Sanctuary. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns as you move forward. Congratulations and welcome to the Green Sanctuary Program!
To restoring Earth and renewing Spirit,
Robin Nelson
Robin Nelson
Program Manager, Congregational Stewardship Services
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
phone (617) 948.4251
fax (617) 742.0321
“It’s not easy being Green.” – Kermit the Frog
WHUUF Net
http://www.whuuf.net/article.php/20081123202022993