By Jane Gargas
The Yakima Herald
June 13, 2010
YAKIMA, Wash. — Step by step, they’re leaving a smaller footprint.
They recycle. They walk, bike and carpool.
They eschew Styrofoam.
Light bulbs are CFL (energy savers known as compact fluorescent light bulbs). The garden is chemical-free.
In short, members of Wesley United Methodist Church are looking after the Earth.
For their efforts, the church has been named a Greening Congregation by Earth Ministry, a Seattle-based nonprofit that promotes environmental stewardship to Christian churches around the Northwest.
Wesley, with a weekly attendance of about 200, is the only church east of the mountains to merit the designation. Since its founding in 1992, Earth Ministry has extended the honor to 50 churches in Washington.
“Living in harmony with the Earth makes sense,” explains Sara Cate, a Wesley member. “It seems to be the right thing to do right now in this world.”
Taking a pragmatic look at how they’re affecting their surroundings, congregants have mounted an environmental educational campaign, audited energy use, recycled, organized hikes and reduced gasoline consumption.
“We’re very proud of Wesley; I brag about them everywhere I go,” says Jessie Dye, program and outreach director of Earth Ministry.
Good stewardship of the Earth means following in the Christian faith tradition, explains Dye.
“God created the world, and as we treat the gift, so we treat the giver,” she says. “Use the Earth so other generations can use it; that’s what the Bible tells us to do.”
In naming a Greening Church, Earth Ministry looks at four areas: facilities, worship, education and community involvement.
At Wesley, environmental efforts are organized by the “Green Team,” led by Cate. Heading up various projects have been Elmer and Marge Bigham, Wendie Hansen, Nita Reinmuth, David Huycke, Russell Maier, Roger and Eulalie Short, Erwina Peterson and Lois and Ron Hines. (Ron Hines is the minister.)
The focus, says Cate, is to practice what you preach.
“We try to model a different way of living, one that’s more conducive to protecting the sacredness of the Earth. . . .”