T-shirts are pretty much a staple of things "churchy." Whether it's a mission trip, a summer camp, vacation Bible school, or anything to do with a youth group, most churches make and distribute tons of shirts. I even went to a t-ball game tonight to cheer on the team from one of my new churches and said after the game, "I've got to get one of these shirts."
One reason t-shirts are so ubiquitous is because they are fairly cheap. But, as with most cheap things, they have many hidden costs. Fast food is cheap but extraordinarily bad for you if eaten regularly. Plastic dinnerware and disposables are cheap, but they are made in toxic ways and take eons to decompose. We've discovered more and more about cheap clothing (and even some clothing that isn't so cheap) being made in sweatshops in developing countries. Most t-shirts also contain dyes and other chemicals that are quite harmful to the environment.
So, what if all churches and camps and youth groups and t-ball teams committed to having green tees only?! It might cost a few more bucks up front, but all the hidden costs would be eliminated. I received a great gift of a green tee in the mail the other day from my friend The Rev. Cody Schuler. Cody is a UM pastor in the Dakotas Annual Conference, and to raise awareness for environmental stewardship they distributed eco-friendly t-shirts. I've worn the shirt now about four times because it's so comfortable. The label (which looks like a nutrition facts label) guarantees no sweatshop labor, no pesticides, no plastic prints, and no harsh resins. The shirt is made from 100% certified organic cotton and was printed using water based inks. It truly is my new favorite shirt, and I think given the choice people would prefer more shirts like this. Cody's group used www.tsdesigns.com for their shirts. Check them out for your next batch.
Thanks Cody, and here's hoping green tees will catch on with church groups of all sizes!
23 June 2008
09 June 2008
The Church Bathroom
I have been in quite a few church bathrooms in my life. They have ranged from simple water closets to marbled rooms of luxury that put my last apartment to shame. However, most bathrooms function in the same way, and their primary footprint on the environment concerns water and paper usage.
First, let's look at the water usage from toilets and sinks. Last year there was a severe drought in the South. I doubt this year will be different. But the drought got so bad that at one point I heard about what seemed like an extreme measure to conserve water. At a college football game in Georgia, people were stationed in the bathroom who were responsible solely for judging when a flush was necessary! I remember a slogan from camp that likely came into play. Well, again this does seem extreme, but perhaps they were onto something. I suspect that this practice would be seen as too crude to implement in any way in churches. But I think our manners and daintiness often pose problems in the life of discipleship, and I tend to believe God would rather us be a little more messy if that led to more good.
During my time in seminary, my school opened a new addition and one of the main bathrooms contained "waterless" urinals. Soon after (or possibly even before) it became mandatory to use these in new buildings on campus. I thought they were great (once people learned how to clean and treat them), but likely way too expensive to implement in an average church. I did a quick check minutes ago and found that they are only about $100 more than typical urinals. Once you figure in the water savings, they are likely more economical (as most green products are).
Finally, washing and drying hands is at issue. Well, as much as I hate the "spring-loaded, pain in the ass, Alcatraz style faucets" (as Jerry Seinfeld calls them), I must confess they are probably the way to go when water conservation is key. Granted we would like to think people only turn the faucets on briefly, but we have all been there when people leave the water running for much longer than necessary. Sometimes you have to make good decisions for people by limiting their options. Likewise using small amounts of paper towels probably isn't that bad. But some people act like they are going to clean up the Exxon Valdez. I would say hand dryers are definitely the way to go. I have always been a fan. Even though they take longer, there's something about them I like - and my hands truly feel cleaner.
So we've solved it: waterless urinals, spring-loaded faucets, hand dryers, and guards to rule on flushing. If this isn't ministry, nothing is.
First, let's look at the water usage from toilets and sinks. Last year there was a severe drought in the South. I doubt this year will be different. But the drought got so bad that at one point I heard about what seemed like an extreme measure to conserve water. At a college football game in Georgia, people were stationed in the bathroom who were responsible solely for judging when a flush was necessary! I remember a slogan from camp that likely came into play. Well, again this does seem extreme, but perhaps they were onto something. I suspect that this practice would be seen as too crude to implement in any way in churches. But I think our manners and daintiness often pose problems in the life of discipleship, and I tend to believe God would rather us be a little more messy if that led to more good.
During my time in seminary, my school opened a new addition and one of the main bathrooms contained "waterless" urinals. Soon after (or possibly even before) it became mandatory to use these in new buildings on campus. I thought they were great (once people learned how to clean and treat them), but likely way too expensive to implement in an average church. I did a quick check minutes ago and found that they are only about $100 more than typical urinals. Once you figure in the water savings, they are likely more economical (as most green products are).
Finally, washing and drying hands is at issue. Well, as much as I hate the "spring-loaded, pain in the ass, Alcatraz style faucets" (as Jerry Seinfeld calls them), I must confess they are probably the way to go when water conservation is key. Granted we would like to think people only turn the faucets on briefly, but we have all been there when people leave the water running for much longer than necessary. Sometimes you have to make good decisions for people by limiting their options. Likewise using small amounts of paper towels probably isn't that bad. But some people act like they are going to clean up the Exxon Valdez. I would say hand dryers are definitely the way to go. I have always been a fan. Even though they take longer, there's something about them I like - and my hands truly feel cleaner.
So we've solved it: waterless urinals, spring-loaded faucets, hand dryers, and guards to rule on flushing. If this isn't ministry, nothing is.
03 June 2008
The Role of Technology in Greening
In the last post I discussed the impact of driving to our churches and possible alternatives we might consider. I am a United Methodist, and this week my annual conference is meeting. As the name suggests this happens every year. Clergy and lay delegates from every church in the conference gather for several days in the same location. It's a blessing in many ways. The fellowship and communion are generally a high point for many who may be in struggling churches. But again, I couldn't help but reflect on how many cars were in the parking lot of our meeting place, and how many miles were traveled by those in attendance.
This year the meeting is in Jackson, TN (my hometown!). It is a fairly central location in the conference. The border cities of the conference are Paducah, KY and Memphis, TN. I don't think any part of the conference is farther from Jackson than Paducah, which is roughly 120 miles away. So round trip plus a little in-town driving during conference equals about 300 miles. That's not a terrible distance, but it's easily a tank of gas. Now multiply that by 700-800 people, which I'm estimating by clergy and lay numbers is about the attendance, and you have quite an impact. Now I know this is only once a year, but I'm wondering if there are better ways of accomplishing our objectives without all the travel every year.
I won't get too technical, but one of the main reasons for meeting every year like this (other than it's in our rules) is that in United Methodism pastors are up for appointment (moving to a different church or moving to your first church) every year! Theoretically, everyone is up for a move annually. Now, we generally move less than in past years, but it still can be quite often. There is discussion about making appointments longer by conference action, so that it could be several years before a move was even considered - unless dire circumstances arose. But what about other solutions like using technology such as video conferencing?
This might not work for a gathering like annual conference, but I think lots of travel for church meetings could be eliminated by using conference calls or video. A good friend of mine recently introduced me to Skype, where with the addition of a small computer camera anyone with a decent internet connection can communicate via videophone with anyone else in the world! He and his wife demonstrated by talking with friends who currently live in the Dominican Republic.
Of course, technology is always a tricky friend. It seems that many people are relying on technology to "fix" issues of climate change rather than changing their wasteful habits. Trying to use cleaner fuels and better filters rather than driving less or using less air conditioning is one example of this. I also know that in ministry there is something to be said for a true human connection. God did not send a memo; God sent God's self in fully divine and human form. So there is something about the incarnation that changes the way we do things. I don't really approve of churches watching a sermon being simulcast from another church in their worship, and not only because it threatens my job! But I think this type of technology and others can be used, carefully, in beneficial ways.
This year the meeting is in Jackson, TN (my hometown!). It is a fairly central location in the conference. The border cities of the conference are Paducah, KY and Memphis, TN. I don't think any part of the conference is farther from Jackson than Paducah, which is roughly 120 miles away. So round trip plus a little in-town driving during conference equals about 300 miles. That's not a terrible distance, but it's easily a tank of gas. Now multiply that by 700-800 people, which I'm estimating by clergy and lay numbers is about the attendance, and you have quite an impact. Now I know this is only once a year, but I'm wondering if there are better ways of accomplishing our objectives without all the travel every year.
I won't get too technical, but one of the main reasons for meeting every year like this (other than it's in our rules) is that in United Methodism pastors are up for appointment (moving to a different church or moving to your first church) every year! Theoretically, everyone is up for a move annually. Now, we generally move less than in past years, but it still can be quite often. There is discussion about making appointments longer by conference action, so that it could be several years before a move was even considered - unless dire circumstances arose. But what about other solutions like using technology such as video conferencing?
This might not work for a gathering like annual conference, but I think lots of travel for church meetings could be eliminated by using conference calls or video. A good friend of mine recently introduced me to Skype, where with the addition of a small computer camera anyone with a decent internet connection can communicate via videophone with anyone else in the world! He and his wife demonstrated by talking with friends who currently live in the Dominican Republic.
Of course, technology is always a tricky friend. It seems that many people are relying on technology to "fix" issues of climate change rather than changing their wasteful habits. Trying to use cleaner fuels and better filters rather than driving less or using less air conditioning is one example of this. I also know that in ministry there is something to be said for a true human connection. God did not send a memo; God sent God's self in fully divine and human form. So there is something about the incarnation that changes the way we do things. I don't really approve of churches watching a sermon being simulcast from another church in their worship, and not only because it threatens my job! But I think this type of technology and others can be used, carefully, in beneficial ways.
26 May 2008
Should We Walk to Church?
For most of us one of the largest contributors to climate change is our automobile. I have cut back tremendously on my driving both due to my commitment to environmental stewardship and the absurd price of gas. But the day I usually do the most driving is Sunday when I make the rounds to all three churches I serve. This got me thinking about the decision to attend churches that may cause us to drive more than necessary. Put bluntly, should we just go to the closest church?
The three churches I serve are relatively close by car. Sometimes it's silly to me that all three still exist separately. After all, we believe the same things and worship in virtually the same way. Once upon a time, the separation was necessary because people did walk and ride horses to church. But those days are over, and now people might commute for a while to go to church - likely passing many other churches (perhaps even churches of one's denominational preference). So does this decision (which is admittedly one of luxury) contradict our good stewardship of creation? I would say so, at least a little. Clearly we are putting our wants ahead of what is best for the planet when we drive further than necessary.
Now, I realize it's extremely important to most people that they attend a church that fits them perfectly. People more or less church shop until they find a great fit. Well, here's a modest proposal: start with the closest churches to your home, and then spiral out. You might also consider that a church is not really a place to meet all your "needs" but rather a place to form you as a disciple, which entails sacrifice. Thus, you could begin the way of discipleship by sacrificing a few things you'd prefer in a church for the health of God's creation.
The three churches I serve are relatively close by car. Sometimes it's silly to me that all three still exist separately. After all, we believe the same things and worship in virtually the same way. Once upon a time, the separation was necessary because people did walk and ride horses to church. But those days are over, and now people might commute for a while to go to church - likely passing many other churches (perhaps even churches of one's denominational preference). So does this decision (which is admittedly one of luxury) contradict our good stewardship of creation? I would say so, at least a little. Clearly we are putting our wants ahead of what is best for the planet when we drive further than necessary.
Now, I realize it's extremely important to most people that they attend a church that fits them perfectly. People more or less church shop until they find a great fit. Well, here's a modest proposal: start with the closest churches to your home, and then spiral out. You might also consider that a church is not really a place to meet all your "needs" but rather a place to form you as a disciple, which entails sacrifice. Thus, you could begin the way of discipleship by sacrificing a few things you'd prefer in a church for the health of God's creation.
19 May 2008
What to do with Bulletins?
Lately I've pondered the amount of paper churches use with bulletins and the cost/rewards ratio. I serve three churches, and I make roughly eighty bulletins a Sunday. I encourage everyone to leave the bulletins behind to be recycled and most everyone does. Still, the bulletins are used for roughly an hour. So is it really worth the paper used? Keep in mind, I just use single sheets of paper folded. Some churches I know of use multiple sheets and make hundreds of bulletins a Sunday.
I simply think that the use we get out of bulletins is not worth the cost of paper and ink and even power to print them. I guess the problem lies in the fact that we are fairly tied to the structure and order bulletins provide (I speak mostly from my own experience and acknowledge this may also be something to work on).
Many churches are moving to some form of projection when it comes to ordering their worship. I generally think this is a good move. But some churches can't afford the equipment needed. So what is the answer?
I think a good solution for many churches might be establishing a basic order of worship to follow while making it generic enough to use multiple times and to allow for the movement of the Spirit. Imagine a laminated card that has "Scripture Lesson" and "Hymn" but no real specifics. I find that in most churches the pastor or music leader tells the people the scriptures and hymns anyway. Perhaps we could recover the use of boards with hymn numbers that older churches used (I think in many areas of greening returning to older habits will be helpful).
This is just one idea, but I think it deals well with both the issues of wasting paper and needing some (but perhaps not too much) structure. I would love to hear other ideas that might actually be in practice to deal with these or other issues from bulletin use. I hope to try my project soon and share the results.
I simply think that the use we get out of bulletins is not worth the cost of paper and ink and even power to print them. I guess the problem lies in the fact that we are fairly tied to the structure and order bulletins provide (I speak mostly from my own experience and acknowledge this may also be something to work on).
Many churches are moving to some form of projection when it comes to ordering their worship. I generally think this is a good move. But some churches can't afford the equipment needed. So what is the answer?
I think a good solution for many churches might be establishing a basic order of worship to follow while making it generic enough to use multiple times and to allow for the movement of the Spirit. Imagine a laminated card that has "Scripture Lesson" and "Hymn" but no real specifics. I find that in most churches the pastor or music leader tells the people the scriptures and hymns anyway. Perhaps we could recover the use of boards with hymn numbers that older churches used (I think in many areas of greening returning to older habits will be helpful).
This is just one idea, but I think it deals well with both the issues of wasting paper and needing some (but perhaps not too much) structure. I would love to hear other ideas that might actually be in practice to deal with these or other issues from bulletin use. I hope to try my project soon and share the results.
16 May 2008
Statement of Purpose
What is this blog all about? I'm going to try to keep it very simple. I believe in God, and I believe God somehow created everything that exists. These beliefs have, especially in the past few years, caused me to live a certain way. I try as much as possible to care for God's creation. I try to treat the earth and its resources as gifts. Gifts are to be treasured and received with great care. Few things hurt as much as giving a gift that is unappreciated or even abused. Simply, when we do not care for creation we mistreat both the gift and the Giver. So I hope this blog will serve as a reminder, particularly to others who believe creation is a gift from God (namely the Church), of the precious and delicate environment in which we live and a call to action regarding our treatment of it. Most of the content will involve immediate reflection on how churches can lead the way in the serious theological issues of sustainability and creation care. I welcome all positive contributions to this matter which affects us all.
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