By Mary Alice Gran

"It's not easy being green," sings Kermit the Frog, from Sesame Street. Today this takes on additional meaning as "being green" now symbolizes being ecologically friendly. As Christians, we have long been advocates for taking care of the world God has given us. With this issue, it is sometimes easier for church people to talk the talk rather than walk the walk. Now might be a good time to take inventory and see what is really happening in your church.

As we all know, developing new habits and ways of thinking in the church is not a smooth road. Change does not come easy. With continued advocacy, fresh thinking and constant practice on behalf of church leaders will encourage everyone to continue caring for all God has given us as individuals, as a congregation, and as a community. The longer we practice caring for our environment, the easier it will be to do it. It may not be easy being green, but it is certainly worth the work to do so.

1. With a group, make a list of what is already happening in your church that is "environmentally friendly." Include habits (like recycling church bulletins after worship), education (like studying the creation story and living as God's stewards), and practices (like a regularly scheduled energy audit). Also make a list of could easily be added without a lot of cost or organization (like publishing a list of local recycling centers).
   
2. Consider all the various aspects of our environment: facilities (energy, water, grounds, office, kitchen, cleaning, and more); food usage (healthy, organic, locally produced, or fair trade); recycling practices; care for animals and plants; people-health; land conservation; air and water. 
   
3. Ask the various groups within the church to talk about "What can we (the group) do to help our church be more caring of all God has given us?" Think about the possibilities if each group would lead one change or start a new program or modify a process.
   
4. Include education (on-going and special learning opportunities for all ages), communication (promotion and information), worship (celebrate and challenge).
   
5. Planning a new building or major renovation? Allow time to consider environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and healthy choices in the planning stage.
   
6. Join with other churches and groups within your community to advocate for community-wide, environmentally friendly practices.
   
7. Remember key words: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Simplify.  

As you attend to the business of daily life, you might continue your personal environmental audit and extend it, as appropriate, to the church's practices.

• How long does the water run for dishwashing, shower, brushing teeth?
• Do you consolidate trips to the grocery store, errand-running, transporting children to after-school activities?
• How much junk mail, soft drink cans, and plastic goes to a recycle center or the landfill?
• How long is the refrigerator or freezer door open while you decide what to put in or take out?

Mary Alice Gran is Director of Children's Ministries at GBOD.

The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church. See the section on The Natural World.

The United Methodist Book of Worship.  See, for example, #430, 556, 557, 608.

101 Ways to Help Save the Earth. Greenhouse Crisis Foundation and the Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches.   

Caring for God's Earth   (part of "Becoming a People of God" series; Cokesbury, 2002).
 
Check with your local library about possible resources.

Do an internet search for keywords like "church environment green" or "church green policies" or other key words and you will find a host of web sites that will provide resource help.