April 2007
Issue 26, Number 3
PP 565 001/00190 ISSN 0726-2612
Greening the church Jill Freear
THE UNITING Church SA is going green and starting to question its impact on the environment. With climate change and greenhouse gas emissions hot topics, the church is determined to demonstrate good stewardship of God’s creation. Jenni Price Hughes, the Uniting Church SA’s solidarity and justice officer, said there are a number of environmental initiatives already underway within the church in SA including: • Congregations and agencies’ ecoaction groups. • Congregations taking part in footprint analyses. • Education through Adelaide College of Divinity and in individual congregations. • A feasibility and funding options study for UCA properties to become more self-sustaining with water and electricity. • Scots eco-faith ministry. • A think tank eco-group which will coordinate the church’s actions. Jenni said work practices within the Presbytery and Synod office are also being examined to see how habits might become more environmentally friendly. “We felt it was really important that the church take action in the state office as well as encouraging congregations and individuals to bring about change,” she said. “Any greening initiative fits well with the church’s new Strategic Plan where we are developing ‘a theological and practical response to environmental issues’. “We are also keen to carry out a ‘footprint analysis’ of the office which will pinpoint the most effective changes we can make. “We are already recycling paper, drink containers and toner cartridges – but there is always room for further improvement. “We will be introducing individual
Pancakes in the Mall; University students, from left, Megan, Emma and Katherine enjoyed eating pancakes in Rundle Mall on Shrove Tuesday. See page 7 for more on UnitingCare’s Pancake Day.
paper recycling bins soon to encourage greater paper recycling. “We may also review air and land travel and may consider a workplace ‘Travel Smart’ program. “Staff are also being encouraged to be more vigilant in turning off lights and equipment. “There is much we can do at very little cost, to reduce our ecological footprint.” The phrase “ecological footprint” is used to describe the amount of land and water a population needs to support itself and absorb its waste. An “ecological footprint analysis” measures the amount of ecologically productive land, sea and water required to sustain a population, manufacture a product or undertake
certain activities, by accounting for the use of energy, food, water, building material and other consumables. The calculation is converted into a measure of land area in “global hectares” (gha) per person. Ecological footprints have been used to show that current lifestyles are not sustainable. For example the average space available to each person is approximately 1.9 gha. In the United States the average ecological footprint is 9.5 gha per person. In South Australia it is 7 gha per person; in Switzerland 4gha; and in China 1.5 gha. Continued on page 11.
inside… Serious about leadership
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Strategic plan for all The ministry maze
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Support for refugees
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Fundraising projects
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Flipping for charity
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Aged care challenges
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DVDs for worship
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Please hand out at your church door