Here at FUMCSD we have to handle a lot of papers. Each Sunday we receive our bulletins in church. We also have bulletins for the Wednesday Vespers service. We have fliers we receive throughout the year informing us of classes and big events such as Easter and Christmas. We have our offering envelopes, the Outlook, paper towels, and the list goes on.
But, I have yet to see any of our papers have the Recycled Paper
1 logo on them. I am sure we support recycling. We have a recycling dumpster. We have the recycling barrels in Linder Hall. But, is that enough? Well, according to the United Methodist website, it is the responsibility of the church to make it a “higher priority.” Here is a bit from their website:
- In Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7 and Psalm 8:6, God created all people in God s image, and gave them responsibility for creation. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state: “all creation is the Lord s and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it.” The deterioration of the environment is a global problem. As Christians we are called to “place a higher priority on changes in economic, political, social, and technological lifestyle to support a more ecologically equitable and sustainable world leading to a higher quality of life for all of God s creation” (Social Principles ¶ 160). As members of God s human community, we are called to be stewards of the land.
Well said, if I as a Methodist I may say. But action on this issue seems to be a little behind the times, at least here at FUMCSD.
“Since 1972 the General Conference has requested boards and agencies to use recycled paper.”2 Also, local congregations have been asked to “Develop programs to incorporate the concerns of ecological justice into their work in evangelism, social concerns, mission activities, stewardship, trustees, and worship.”3
1972!!! Oh heavens, that is older than me. Okay, so I’m not the average age of our parishioner, but that is still over 30 years! And yet we still do not use recycled products. Shame on us.
There is good news though. Sunday drivers get where they are headed in the end, be it by faith or grace. And as Christians, even though I have seen some folks making smoke to get to choir, we are Sunday drivers.
One wonderful group at the church is the Earth Care group which has been active in supporting and nurturing changes here at the church, which have led to a healthier Earth.
However, I believe we must begin to take more action in order to be better leaders on this ecological justice front. Why not have bulletins and mailings that are printed on postconsumer recycled paper and coffee cups that are safer for the environment. By establishing a timeline to accomplish goals to 1) maximize Recycled Content Materials on campus and 2) Maximize environmentally-friendly products in all departments, so much more than recycled cups and recycled copy paper can be achieved. But it takes a vision and a commitment. Please share any ideas of how to make this positive change for ourselves and our children, blessing each of us with a cleaner earth.
1 http://www.gogreenap.com/docu-management_recycled-paper.php
2 ADOPTED 2000; See Social Principles, ¶ 160.
3 ADOPTED 1992, AMENDED AND READOPTED 2004
