Submitted By: Susan JunFish (junfish@gmail.com) - Director, Parents for a Safer Environment
Challenge
Orinda Community Church 3 years ago used the conventional cleaning products and "Weed & Feed" lawn fertilizer/pesticides, and served run-of-the mill snacks and coffee during social hour after service. The challenge was and continues to be how to operate a church in way that is fully green and also educate members on how they can reduce their footprint at home.
Solution Details
Now, OCC is striving to become as green as a church can be, transitioning into greener cleaning products, using no pesticides, planning to install solar power panels on the rooftops, making & selling cloth reuseable shopping bags for fundraising, serving sustainable and socially responsible coffee (delicious at that) and healthier snacks, including organics during social hour, serving veggie burgers & organic meats for the Fall Picnic, changing bulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs and educating members with a "green corner" in its weekly newsletter on how each individual can make a difference in decreasing his/her ecological footprint and damage we can cause to our mother earth.
I was very impressed when the Church's Life Long Learning Committee, who have not spoken up in the past on environmental issues, per se, initiated the organizing of an event on eco-theology and invited as guest speaker, the Research Director, Gary Gardner, of the World Watch Institute. The November 10th event will provide discussion on the the means of the religious sector to make a huge difference in guiding members to decrease their negative impact on earth. After lunch, we will conduct an eco-footprint exercise, which will help us see where we can improve in our eco-footprint, even for those of us who may be considered environmentalists. I'm so excited about our Orinda Community Church transitioning from the ordinary church to the extraordinary church!
Orinda Community Church is at 10 Irwin Way, in Orinda, next to the Orinda Community park, up on the hill. My husband and I have found this church to be the most progressive and open-minded church in Lamorinda, full of people from all different walks of life, not afraid of listening to the young members coming in with different ideas, including the greening of the church! It is an open and affirming congregation, accepting gays and lesbians in our community. Join us some time and please introduce yourself as a member of Sustainable Lafayette so I can come and greet you! : ) And please don't mind the passing of the basket for donations, it is meant only for our members and regular visitors who benefit from the church's work... guests shouldn't feel obligated to donate... your presence would be the gift : )
Informational Links
Orinda Community Church - Web Site
Report - "The Greening of Orinda Community Church" (not sure this link is working)
