Sorry, Kermit…Being Green Can Be A Very Good Thing
By Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP
Diocese of Lansing Office of Pastoral Planning

If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution that can be a boost for the environment and pay off in reduced expenses for your parish, then consider joining in the work of the Michigan Interfaith Power and Light Coalition (MIPL).

  Several years ago, Father Charles Morris, pastor of Saint Elizabeth Parish, Wyandotte, Michigan, founded MIPL and today the organization boasts a membership of more than 100 congregations across the state.  The group’s mission is to involve communities of faith as stewards of God’s creation by promoting and implementing energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and related sustainable practices.  As an important by-product of their efforts, MIPL members are now saving up to $20,000/year and 40% on their utility bills.

The coalition is an ecumenical body comprised of environmental advocates working to educate congregations about consumer safety, clean water, clean air, quality of life issues, pesticide use and chemicals in food preparation.  These initiatives at the parish level are led by so-called “green teams.”

According to Michael McDonald, co-chair of the green team at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Parish, Lansing, “We are out of time environmentally.  Our team at IHM is working to bring the parish and its families aboard this idea one household at a time and we are finding that this approach makes a tremendous difference.” 

He and his parish co-chair, Barb Smith, began to form their green team in October, 2008.  Together, they have introduced the concept of “Cool Congregations” to nine Catholic Churches and two other churches in the Greater Lansing Area. “Cool congregations” in turn develop another generation of green teams whose members are given manuals, trained, and established in networks before they return to their parishes to conduct an audit of the carbon “footprint” of their parish properties.  Out of their efforts, recommendations flow on how their churches can become greener and more energy efficient.

Based on the parish-level efforts, individual member families can also do carbon footprints to learn the environmental impact of their own CO2 emissions.  This is where the one-family-at-a-time approach makes a difference.  CO2 emissions are measured, energy efficiency tips are given, and, when the CO2 emissions are again measured after the tips have been acted upon, the results can be very impressive.  IHM’s green team sees a connecting line between energy efficiency and poverty. 

Father John Byers, IHM’s pastor, says:
“This ‘green’ program which addresses how we care for and use our natural resources, fits under the umbrella of our commitment to stewardship as a way of life.  Our first major step will be to participate in the energy audit to identify what we are doing well and what improvements we can make especially with respect to natural gas and electricity usage.  This initiative has been scheduled for early 2009 and, based on this audit our green team will oversee our environmental strategy under the guidance of the stewardship committee.” 

The energy audit comes free of charge with membership in the MIPL.  Armed with the audit results, the parish hopes to reduce the use of energy and save money in the bargain.  To encourage parishioners to consider the benefits of considering this type of a life style change, a tip of the week is included in the church bulletin each week.

Father David Howell, pastor of Saint Mary Magdalen, Brighton, agrees that to be a ‘green’ parish is to be energy efficient and to be energy efficient is to save money.  In his view, the effort is a stewardship value.  Saint Mary Magdalen had an energy audit done in the parish several years ago and the study showed there was already much in place that made the parish energy efficient.  As an added benefit, the entire parish is now even more consciously aware of energy efficiency and its relation to stewardship.

Founder Father Charles Morris strongly identifies ‘going green’ as part of Catholicism’s social teachings.  He cites Gerard Manley Hopkins’ view that the world is charged with the grandeur of God and that we, as human beings, are part of creation, not apart from creation. 

As Father Morris sees it, “Going green” is rooted in seven principles:

1. Stewardship –  money is saved that can be used for programs and personnel in parishes;
2. Justice – if we save on energy, that frees resources to feed the hungry;
3. Equity –  the older facilities are in greatest need and these facilities oftentimes serve the older generations;
4. Health – energy efficient lighting creates a better work environment;
5. Aesthetically beneficial – the air we breathe is breathed by other persons;
6. Security – our dependence on foreign oil leaves our nation vulnerable; and
7. Prophetic – we ‘walk the talk’ and become the sermon we preach.
   

He endorses the belief that, by saving money, we are doing the right thing for God’s creation.  The Gospel asks:  “Who is my neighbor?”  The poor particularly are impacted by the decisions others make individually and collectively.  Father Morris underscores that we must be conscious of future generations, too, who have no voice at the table today!

How can parishes get started on becoming green?  First, start with an audit of the entire facility.  Second, get a group together and begin to use the video and print resources available on the subject.  Many of these resources can be found on the MIPL website www.miipl.org.  Other parishes in the Diocese of Lansing have gone green and can help.  They are listed among the energy partners on the website.  Another valuable resource not to be overlooked is theregenerationproject.org. 

Poor Kermit the Frog.  For him, it may not be easy to be green, but, thankfully, for the rest of us, there’s plenty of “Green” to go around and plenty of help to find it!

For further information, contact:
Michael McDonald
mikemcdonald08@gmail.com