ABOUT ECO MINISTRY FOR THE EARTH
Last sign on the 7 principles trail
OUR MISSION
To support and encourage the Church and its members/friends to take actions toward sustainability and better stewardship of Earth.
OUR VISION
We live in a world faced with several existential threats including the Climate Crisis and Loss of Biodiversity. Only through our actions on a personal, church, state and national level can we hope to avert the worst impact of these crises. We envision a world where people live in a more environmentally just and sustainable way with respect for all of the planet’s inhabitants. To this end, we plan activities for and offer information to church members so they can learn about and take action on environmental issues.
We honor the Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle of “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we all are a part.” We also recognize that all environmental work is directly connected to and honors the 1st UU Principle of “The inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
To support and encourage the Church and its members/friends to take actions toward sustainability and better stewardship of Earth.
OUR VISION
We live in a world faced with several existential threats including the Climate Crisis and Loss of Biodiversity. Only through our actions on a personal, church, state and national level can we hope to avert the worst impact of these crises. We envision a world where people live in a more environmentally just and sustainable way with respect for all of the planet’s inhabitants. To this end, we plan activities for and offer information to church members so they can learn about and take action on environmental issues.
We honor the Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle of “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we all are a part.” We also recognize that all environmental work is directly connected to and honors the 1st UU Principle of “The inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
CONTACT THE ECO MINISTRY
To ask questions, share a recycling/sustainability tip, add your name to an email list to receive (occasional) environmental news, or explore joining the Eco Ministry for the Earth, send an email to [email protected].
MEETINGS
Meetings usually occur on the first Sunday of each month and last 1.5 hours. As of September 2022, we still meet via Zoom at 1:00 PM but hope that we can resume in-person meetings soon. In the past, in-person meetings occurred at church 30 minutes after the last service ended (after coffee hour). If you’re considering joining or have something to share, you are welcome to visit. Please contact us about dropping in at a meeting.
ACTIVITIES
The Eco Ministry has hosted, planned, taken part in, and offered a wide variety of activities over the years, including Earth month and day activities, dinners with locally sourced food, movie screenings, workshops, speakers, gardening, composting, recycling collections, letter-writing campaigns, and demonstrations. A few of these are pictured on the Eco Ministry home page.
HISTORY
The Eco Ministry for the Earth began in 2007 as the Environmental Action Task Force or EATF, as an outgrowth of a church study series based on The Great Turning. An early activity was training for and then conducting energy assessments of church members’ homes and a Church energy audit resulting in several changes. In 2009 we changed our name to ECO, set a clear mission and became a church ministry with a charter. In 2023, we changed our name to Eco Ministry for the Earth to make it clearer what we do. The Eco Ministry's activities mostly focus on helping the church and its members and friends be more environmentally sustainable and better live the UU 7th principle.
To ask questions, share a recycling/sustainability tip, add your name to an email list to receive (occasional) environmental news, or explore joining the Eco Ministry for the Earth, send an email to [email protected].
MEETINGS
Meetings usually occur on the first Sunday of each month and last 1.5 hours. As of September 2022, we still meet via Zoom at 1:00 PM but hope that we can resume in-person meetings soon. In the past, in-person meetings occurred at church 30 minutes after the last service ended (after coffee hour). If you’re considering joining or have something to share, you are welcome to visit. Please contact us about dropping in at a meeting.
ACTIVITIES
The Eco Ministry has hosted, planned, taken part in, and offered a wide variety of activities over the years, including Earth month and day activities, dinners with locally sourced food, movie screenings, workshops, speakers, gardening, composting, recycling collections, letter-writing campaigns, and demonstrations. A few of these are pictured on the Eco Ministry home page.
HISTORY
The Eco Ministry for the Earth began in 2007 as the Environmental Action Task Force or EATF, as an outgrowth of a church study series based on The Great Turning. An early activity was training for and then conducting energy assessments of church members’ homes and a Church energy audit resulting in several changes. In 2009 we changed our name to ECO, set a clear mission and became a church ministry with a charter. In 2023, we changed our name to Eco Ministry for the Earth to make it clearer what we do. The Eco Ministry's activities mostly focus on helping the church and its members and friends be more environmentally sustainable and better live the UU 7th principle.
Eco Ministry members include (from top left): Jim George, chair; Al and Lois Howlett; Norbert and Judy Lechner; Laura Gilliom; and Jude McDivitt (not pictured).
In addition to regular activities, The Eco Ministry has:
- Led a multi-year effort, including identifying a fundraising mechanism acceptable to the church, for the solar array which came to fruition in 2014 (told we were the first UU church in NC w/solar panels).
- Initiated and hosted an Environmental “Collaboratory” of NC UUs in collaboration with NC Interfaith Power & Light in 2016.
- Initiated and collaboratively planned and carried out a Multi-faith Climate Vigil in 2017.
- Conducted special Earth Month activities, sometimes including the Sunday service.
- Conducted yearly Share the Plate collections for local, national and international environmental nonprofits for specific projects.
On June 12, 2022, the church recognized the Eco Ministry for the Earth (formerly ECO) with the Joe and Lucy Straley Beyond These Walls award.
IN MEMORIAM: Hank Rodenburg, 1935 - 2016
Hank was a founding member and co-chair of the Eco Ministry, and he led the solar panel project among many other contributions. He is greatly missed.
Hank was a founding member and co-chair of the Eco Ministry, and he led the solar panel project among many other contributions. He is greatly missed.