Ministry for Earth
The Emerson Ministry for Earth is open to all—newcomers and long term members alike. Our group promotes the seventh principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association:
…to affirm and promote respect
for the interdependent web of all existence
of which we are a part.
Our mission is to educate ourselves and others about environmental issues; advocate public policies to protect the global environment; act locally in our homes, church and city; and connect spiritually with the web-of-all-existence.
…to affirm and promote respect
for the interdependent web of all existence
of which we are a part.
Our mission is to educate ourselves and others about environmental issues; advocate public policies to protect the global environment; act locally in our homes, church and city; and connect spiritually with the web-of-all-existence.
The 7th principle of Unitarian Universalism is “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” so it is natural that we include among our congregations' many ministries a group that focuses on the environment. It was spearheaded in 2000 by Ann May and Wes Johnson and was simply called “The Environmental Group”. The earliest project they worked on was protection of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles in Galveston.
Soon after, the UUA's new “7th Principle Project” sought to bring environmental awareness to all members of congregations instead of just a passionate few. The intent was to expand eco-awareness to religious education, service, worship and sustainability of UU churches' physical facilities. Churches that did a good job of this could earn the distinction of being a “Green Sanctuary”. You can see the certificate that Emerson earned in 2003 on display in Westwood Hall. When Emerson started talking about designing a new building, the environmental group asked the architects to consider green building procedures and gave them the “Lean and Green Challenge” - to go as “green” as possible without adding cost to the building budget! The architects did such a good job of this that they submitted the building for LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19 . When the 7th Principle Project was renamed, for clarity, as Ministry for Earth, Emerson's environmental group decided to adopt the same moniker.
Today's Ministry for Earth group at Emerson does education, consciousness raising, action and service projects. They facilitated the elimination of Styrofoam cups for coffee hour and continue to seek out paper cups manufactured with safer processes. It is the Ministry for Earth team that picks up the recycling around church and takes it to a drop-off site. Monthly service activities have included Marsh Mania (planting sea grass) with the Galveston Bay Foundation (www.galvbay.org), planting trees with Trees for Houston (www.treesforhouston.org), Adopt-a-Beach http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/ sponsored by Texas General Land Office; the Rivers, Lakes and Bayous Trash Bash (http://www.trashbash.org/index.htm) sponsored by Galveston Bay foundation and TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality); and assistance at the Last Organic Outpost community garden (www.lastorganicoutpost.com).
They have been focusing on sustainable food issues in the past few years. As Ann May says, “You vote with your fork every time you eat.” They host monthly “Sustainable Potlucks” to raise awareness of some environmental issues, including plant-based diets, overfishing, and bottled water.
If you want to learn and do, not just sit and discuss, this is the group for you! Watch the eblast and Order of Service for information about the next group dinner and workday.
Soon after, the UUA's new “7th Principle Project” sought to bring environmental awareness to all members of congregations instead of just a passionate few. The intent was to expand eco-awareness to religious education, service, worship and sustainability of UU churches' physical facilities. Churches that did a good job of this could earn the distinction of being a “Green Sanctuary”. You can see the certificate that Emerson earned in 2003 on display in Westwood Hall. When Emerson started talking about designing a new building, the environmental group asked the architects to consider green building procedures and gave them the “Lean and Green Challenge” - to go as “green” as possible without adding cost to the building budget! The architects did such a good job of this that they submitted the building for LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19 . When the 7th Principle Project was renamed, for clarity, as Ministry for Earth, Emerson's environmental group decided to adopt the same moniker.
Today's Ministry for Earth group at Emerson does education, consciousness raising, action and service projects. They facilitated the elimination of Styrofoam cups for coffee hour and continue to seek out paper cups manufactured with safer processes. It is the Ministry for Earth team that picks up the recycling around church and takes it to a drop-off site. Monthly service activities have included Marsh Mania (planting sea grass) with the Galveston Bay Foundation (www.galvbay.org), planting trees with Trees for Houston (www.treesforhouston.org), Adopt-a-Beach http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/ sponsored by Texas General Land Office; the Rivers, Lakes and Bayous Trash Bash (http://www.trashbash.org/index.htm) sponsored by Galveston Bay foundation and TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality); and assistance at the Last Organic Outpost community garden (www.lastorganicoutpost.com).
They have been focusing on sustainable food issues in the past few years. As Ann May says, “You vote with your fork every time you eat.” They host monthly “Sustainable Potlucks” to raise awareness of some environmental issues, including plant-based diets, overfishing, and bottled water.
If you want to learn and do, not just sit and discuss, this is the group for you! Watch the eblast and Order of Service for information about the next group dinner and workday.
