Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California, is taking its concern for the environment seriously. Apparently, the faith and theology emanating from the church is altering the very lifestyles of its 350 congregants in light of the environmental crisis.
The church’s Environmental Policy Guidelines state:
The environmental crisis calls for us to change the way we live. We are becoming increasingly aware that how we eat, move about, procreate, and dispose of waste products are moral and theological issues. Montclair Presbyterian Church and its members have an opportunity to model responsible, just, sustainable, renewable lifestyles.
And model they are. Once environmental policy guidelines were adopted by a church session in December 1990, an "Eco-Steward Committee" created a "Conservation Checklist" for the congregation. The checklist calls church members to take on a long list of lifestyle modifications, including purchasing alternative products, pledging a 10 percent reduction in gas use, composting, gardening organically, carpooling, reducing, reusing, and recycling. Associate Pastor Cynthia Crowner explains that a full 20 percent of the congregation responded to the challenge in 1990 and successfully completed 80 percent of the checklist requirements.
"Since then," Crowner says, "we’ve extended our commitment to advocate for political change on environmental issues." According to Crowner, participation from congregants on an advocacy level is also very strong. Nearly 60 letters are written to Congress from church members on a given Sunday to advocate against over-development and endangered habitats, and on behalf of legislation such as the Clean Water Act. The Eco-Stewards of Montclair are also putting together a "Shopping Green Handbook" for the congregation, which offers "green" shopping tips in such areas as personal care and clothing, food, cleaning appliances, and garden supplies.
AS IF THAT weren’t enough, Montclair is taking its commitment to the environment one step further—"From personal responsibility to political advocacy to exploring the interconnectedness of spirituality with other faiths [in light of the environmental issue]," Crowner reports. Montclair has recently collaborated with religious leaders from around the Bay Area to form The EarthSpirit Council of Northern California. The interfaith group has come together to learn from one another, posing to each other the question: "What is it about your faith that sustains the environment?"
What advice does Montclair have for churches looking to follow its lead? Montclair attributes the popularity and success of its program to the small but practical steps it put forth right from the beginning. "People will feel powerless about responding to issues of global warming," she says. A simultaneous process of practical ways to become involved is needed along with environmental education.
Another piece of advice Crowner offers is not to hold the church social action committee responsible for all social issues. Montclair has formed a number of committees to deal with environmental stewardship alone, pointing to the need to delegate and diversify tasks and responsibilities.
Crowner indicates that a plethora of educational materials exist for churches to get started. Most major denomination headquarters now have environmental packets for congregations; however, you can also seek out the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, which recently issued 52,000 congregation packets aimed primarily at those just getting started. Contact Bill Somplat-sky-Jarmin at 100 Witherspoon St., Room 3069, Louisville, KY 40202; (502) 569-5809.
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