A Time to Sow: Crafting Environmental Ministries of Spirituality and Justice Conference at Boston University

Joke: How many __(Insert your group of choice)__ does it take to change a light bulb?”
Answer: Change…you want me to change…

Yes, overwhelmingly the Conference “A Time to Sow: Crafting Environmental Ministries of Spirituality and Justice” on January 29, 2011 asked each of us to make a change to be better humans and environmentalists. After presenting very compelling scientific evidence on human-induced climate change by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the time is now for us to act and educate our selves and each other. Below are some tips and tricks shared at the conference by students, professors, priests, and concerned citizens to be better humans and environmentalists:

1. Ask why? Professor Reibstein who presented at the conference, a BU professor and attorney at TURP (Toxins Use Reduction Program), is doing just that when he visits companies that employ toxic chemicals to ask why is there waste? Are there alternatives that can be used to reduce toxic usage? Asking why may just start the next green revolution…

2. Rethink and redesign processes – One new idea I learned about PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy. Basically, it’s a way to finance solar systems or energy efficiency retrofits, where the city offers you a loan, and you pay it back through your property tax bills over 15 to 20 years. Thus, if the home is ever sold, the solar/energy system goes with it along with any tax liability. It’s amazing how one simple process improvement can yield substantial “green” benefits and new opportunities to embrace green technology.

3. Take care in the words we use – Consider always capitalizing “Earth” to reiterate how Mother Earth is entrusted to humanity and deserves the utmost respect. Consider using the term “natural goods” rather than “natural resources.” Consider using the term “creation” rather than our “environment.” Simple changes in speech can help us shift our and others’ paradigm.

4. Share ideas – Resources at Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light are sharing lessons learned and process improvements for church buildings across MA. Engage these resources to evaluate your church building…you may not only identify energy (and cost!) saving ideas for your church, but for your home and the Earth as well.

5. Consider your food sources – Educate yourself about the food you consume, where it comes from, and the amount of natural goods that are required to grow this food to compare with alternatives. For example, I learned meat is very natural goods dependent…do I really need to eat as much meat as I do today? Could I obtain my food at local producers?

6. Measure results – Just as we’d measure our current weight and on-going weight to ensure we are losing weight, we must be held to the same to accountable to results. ENERGY STAR (among others) offer a host of resources to measure your as-is and future-state, but also to reward your results.

7. Notice how good you may have it today – Have you ever realized you don’t live near the city dump or the city’s trash incinerator? Do you ever think about the people who do? Why is this? Think about eco-justice. Count your blessings and then go do something to provide equitable eco-justice services to improve their quality of life, our carbon footprint.

8. Take time to recharge – Being a passionate environmentalist may tap into your energy resources, so take time to recharge to keep your passion alive.


I feel blessed that we live in the progressive state of MA and that our church and our congregation are taking such an active role to better humans and environments. Thank you Boston University School of Theology for hosting this event and Greening Grace for sharing this opportunity!

Recommended reading/viewing:
· Book: Deceit and Denial
· HoneyBee Network: http://www.sristi.org/cms/en/our_network
· ENERGY STAR: http://www.energystar.gov/congregations
· Film: “Is God Green?”