First Parish in Concord

Green Sanctuary Group

First Parish > Green Sanctuary > Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes

April 20, 2008

Present: Bob Andrews, Jay Barnes, Berni Jenkins, CC King, George King, Andy Proulx, Eric Vanloon,, Richard Ward

April 6 Service:  While there was a good deal of satisfaction with what our group contributed to the service, some of us felt that it could have been more action-oriented, especially the sermon.  While the importance of protecting and preserving our environment and fighting against global warming were affirmed, we were not challenged to do something different in our own lives.  Another year we would like to be integrated into the process of planning the service well ahead of time and either work with  the minister on developing the message or take full charge of the service, as the youth of the church do, and put in our own “reflections” as opposed to depending upon the minister to lead us.

Eric informed the group about a recent unanimous Standing Committee decision to endorse and support the investigation of First Parish’s becoming a Green Sanctuary church.  Conducting the investigation is to be regarded as Standing Committee policy. They also stated that they stood behind becoming a green sanctuary as a goal.  They inmtend to ask the staff to provide guidance and leadership in the parish in achieving this goal.  Going green will be made part of an FP “Ends Statement.”

There was a consensus in our group that Green Sanctuary principles and knowledge should be incorporated into all major church projects such as the Building Expansion from the beginning, as opposed to being asked to contribute after a good deal of the planning has already been done.

Jay  Barnes reported to the group on new green developments in the Religious Education program.. A whole new Earth-Centered  curriculum has been developed for the second through sixth grades, focusing on our relationship as humans to the earth as a whole. Themes from Native American culture will be explored.  This new curriculum goes a long way toward making us a green sanctuary church.  We agreed that we should publicize and celebrate it.

Jay also reported on the trash study that was to have been launched last Saturday.  Questions and concerns were raised about the approach, especially in terms of the participation of kids. It has been decided to resume with just adults and find some other ways for kids to be involved with us. 

Betty King had raised some questions about how we should pursue the special “green” shopping bags project. The type of bag we want, pricing, and the words to be placed on it were all discussed.  We agreed that we will make some bags available with green goods within them and some with no contents.  The full ones will cost $10-15.  Jay will work with Betty and others on the design of the bags and the selection of goods, which we hope to purchase locally from stores such as Crosby’s and the Natural Gourmet.