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UUCM's Green Sanctuary Program is an important component of our Social Concerns work and is guided by the seventh UU principle: "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." In 2009, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) formally recognized our congregation as an Accredited Green Sanctuary. Read the acknowledgement letter.
How Did UUCM Become a Green Sanctuary?
A Green Sanctuary is a congregation that lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable lifestyle for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Sustainable living is a choice: We choose to live in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as the sole determinant of happiness.
UUA's Green Sanctuary program invites congregations to:
- Build awareness of the significance and complexity of environmental issues.
- Encourage personal lifestyle changes.
- Engage in community action on environmental issues.
- Strengthen the connection between spiritual practice and Earth consciousness.
- Work to heal environmental injustices.
Green Sanctuary Program accreditation requires the involvement of the entire congregation. In fiscal year 2005-2006, the congregation chose to pursue this accreditation, from among several possible social concerns programs. A Green Sanctuary Committee was then sanctioned by the Board of Trustees.
 According to Green Sanctuary Program guidelines, congregations must commit to perform 12 core activities, from among these four focus areas:
- Worship Collaboration
- Environmental Justice
- Religious Education
- Sustainable Living
In fiscal year 2006-2007, we conducted an internal audit of existing environmental actions and programs, and then developed an action plan for implementing our 12 activities. The action plan was included in our March 2006 application for Green Sanctuary candidacy, submitted in March 2007. We received our accreditation in 2009, after completing all 12 activities.
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 Youth Involvement
Our children and young adults have participated in the Green Sanctuary program by:
- Counting trees on the UUCM property.
- Helping to plant native oaks.
- Learning about low carbon diets.
- Learning about barn owls, an important local natural predator, through a visit from the
Hungry Owl Project.
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Our Ongoing Commitment
Through the Green Sanctuary accreditation process, we learned that UUCM had been taking important steps to help our environment for a long time. The 12 activities we implemented to obtain accreditation built upon an already solid foundation of environmental action. We are committed to continuing these ongoing, daily activities in our congregation and in our homes. See the environmental audit and application for candidacy.
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Take Action
It IS Easy Being Green! Specific things congregants can do include:
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For more information about UUCM's Green Sanctuary Program contact Social Concerns.
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