PRESENTERS: STACEY KENNEALY REV. FLETCHER HARPER DR. DAVID RHOADS The GreenFaith Certification Program

Webinar Tips Everyone will be on mute until Q&A If you experience technical problems: If slide transition fails, logoff online and try again (but stay on the phone line) You will receive recording & PowerPoint afterwards

On Today’s Agenda Welcome and introductions The GreenFaith Certification Program requirements and resources The story of Temple Beth Rishon The story of Grace Episcopal Church Questions

Welcome! GreenFaith’s Executive Director Rev. Fletcher Harper Certification Program Director Stacey Kennealy

Welcome! Director, Lutherans Restoring Creation David Rhoads

GreenFaith’s Mission GreenFaith inspires, educates and mobilizes people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership.

What is the Certification Program? 2 year leadership program Roadmap & structure for religious-environmental leadership

What are the Benefits of the Program? Support and Guidance: Structure, resources, one-on-one support, an engaged community. ELCA-specific resources, and support from LRC. Member Engagement: "Participation in the GreenFaith program has opened up to us a whole new way of expressing our commitment to service and our sense of responsibility to our community and the world. In this way, the program has truly transformed our community not only physically but spiritually as well.". Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale Savings: One congregation saved $39,000, another $20,000, a small church $6,000 Achieving More, Holistically: “The possibilities for collaboration and inspiration make GreenFaith an essential partner.” Mark Niederman, Green Team Leader, Temple Beth Rishon

What’s Required of Participants: Holistic Actions Greening consumption is important, but not enough. The Certification Program does more:  Process steps  Spirit  Stewardship  Justice  Communications

What’s Required of Participants: Process Steps Mission Statement Audits Action Plan Communications Plan Progress report every 6 months

What’s Required of Participants: Spirit Worship 3 eco-themed worship services per year Religious Education 3 classes per year for adults 3 classes per year for teenagers 3 classes per year for children Intro education for ordained leader (webinar counts) Spirituality Encouragement from ordained leader to spend time outdoors One interfaith religious-environmental activity per year One intergenerational program per year

Worship Examples

Religious Education Examples

Spirituality Examples

What’s Required of Participants: Stewardship Energy Transportation Food Water Waste Toxics Grounds Maintenance Guidelines: Must choose from all 7 areas, both action and education, 25 initiatives in total * Credit provided for some past action steps

Stewardship Examples

What’s Required of Participants: Justice Environmental Justice Education 3 education programs over the two years Building Relationships with EJ Leaders At least 1 meeting per year with an EJ leader Advocating for EJ Participation in 1 regional EJ issue per year Participation in 1 international EJ issue per year

Justice Examples “Because we were working on the EJ requirement for the GreenFaith Certification Program, we recognized the need for a community forum to openly discuss concerns around the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, and to highlight why many of us in the faith community care about its potential effects. ‘Pipeline and Pie’ will be held shortly before the State Department comes out to hear Nebraskans testify about the proposed pipeline.” -Deacon Betsy Bennet, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Nebraska

What’s Required of Participants: Communications Internal Communications Eco-tips in newsletter Eco-theological reflections in newsletter 4 newsletter articles per year External Communications List of local & regional media contacts 4 press releases per year

Resources Provided Over 200 Catalogued Resources in Password- Protected Website. ELCA-specific resources—Lutheran Advocacy office, Earthbound film series, Energy Stewards Initiative Webinars  Getting Started, Biblical and Theological Foundations, Spirit, Stewardship, Justice, Sharing our Stories Virtual Community—Facebook & One-on-one and Telephone Support from GreenFaith Mentors & Staff

Application Requirements Formation of Green Team Green Team Commitment Form Governing Board Resolution Public Spoken and Written Commitment by Ordained Leader Application Form Next application deadline: December 1 st. Application available at:

Fee Structure Budget SizeRegular Tuition Fee Tuition Fee: 50% Assistance $500,000 or less$600$300 $500,000 to $1 million $1000$500 $1 million and up$1500$750 ELCA Congregations: 20 subsidies at 50%

Temple Beth Rishon 500 families Wyckoff, NJ Multi-use: Preschool, Hebrew School, Synagogue Their Story: Taking energy seriously pays off!

What Do You Think They Did Differently?

Small Actions Can Lead to Big Results.

Big Results. Reduced Electricity Usage by 30% Reduced Natural Gas Usage by 19 % Avoided 128 tons of CO2 emissions Equal to planting 321 trees, or taking 11.2 cars off the road for an entire year! $34, in 2 years.

At Grace Church, we believe God created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, as a community of faith, creation care is one of our primary responsibilities. We put our faith into action through environmental stewardship. Specifically, we celebrate creation in both worship and fellowship; we educate ourselves and our community on the environmental impact of our daily decisions; we work to protect and sustain our fragile natural world; and we show our love toward all life on earth through increased environmental responsibility. Grace Episcopal Church 200 families Chattanooga, TN

Farmers’ Market Saturday Farmers Market 10AM-12PM every Saturday April - Oct. and last Sat. of month 35 vendors

Brainerd Community Garden  23 non-church gardeners, 15 churched  Free berry garden  Education classes to support gardeners  Compost bin open to neighborhood  Pavilion with green roof with tools, etc.

Grounds Improvements Butterfly garden that is a Wildlife Habitat Added 8 shade trees to cover parking lot. Growing watermelons, sunflowers and annual zinnias between the new trees. Established a woodland garden under existing large canopy trees—converted habitat from hyper- groomed bare spots to leafy mulched, woodland ferns and perennials. Built a dry stream to help channelize rain run off and eliminate its concurrent erosion.

Food Activities Organic, fair trade coffee Meals featuring local and organic ingredients Vegetarian meals offered at Wed. night suppers

CFC bulbs Greener cleaners HVAC Recycling Green children's program Eliminate disposable dinnerware Bike racks Greening

Spirit Activities Outdoor worship services Hikes Interfaith activities Sermons with environmental message done frequently

Interfaith forum on the environment Jewish, Christian, Muslim representation Over 100 people in attendance Vegan meal Spirit Activities

Education Efforts Creation rotation for kids. Mural completed Book studies for adults Video studies for youth Sunday forums Breakfast events

Establishing a farmers’ market in Alton Park, a food desert EBT machine at existing farmers’ market Justice

Questions & Reminders Application available at: Questions? Contact Stacey at