There are many strategies that can be pursued in the course of greening a seminary. What follows are some suggestions to consider as you chart you own course most relevant to your seminary and most appropriate to your assets and opportunities.
Keep the larger purpose in mind . Any effort to green the seminary is related to the degradations of the eco-system of Earth and the human efforts to restore rather than to destroy our Earth habitat. We are called as human beings to be servants and keepers of God’s creation, both human and non-human. The seminary efforts are part of a larger ecclesial movement to incorporate care for creation into the life and mission of the church. The role of the seminary is (1)to serve as a model and (2) to prepare people who will give eco-justice leadership in the congregations and communities where they serve.
Double your commitment to human justice . Every ecological problem affects the human community, usually having the greatest impact on the most vulnerable—the poor, people of color, third world countries, the elderly, the disabled, and so on. Every human justice problem is exacerbated by the degradation of creation. It is sometimes thought that social justice and care for creation undercut each other. The truth is that we desperately need commitment to both causes as one commitment, because the concerns are inextricably intertwined. Therefore, as you articulate your care for creation, double your commitment to human justice as an integral part of caring for creation, because the recognition of the role played by the environment will give you an awareness of the full extent of the injustice. So, as you plan activities, ask: How does this further the care for all creation?
Keep the immediate goal in mind . The goal is to transform the life and mission of the seminary so that care for creation is incorporated into every aspect of the seminary. The key here is that the “environment” is not one more issue among others. Rather, as we define it, the care for creation is fundamental to what it means to be human. It is as fundamental as “Love God, love your neighbor, and love creation.” Hence, the approach is to make the care for all creation an integral part of every aspect of the life of the institution.
Seek to act out of gratitude and grace . In response to the ecological state of the world, it is natural for people to be motivated by fear or grief or guilt or outrage. While these emotions are indeed appropriate responses, they are not a solid basis to make wise decisions and they will not sustain one’s efforts in the long run. This is true both for your own sources of life-giving support and for the motivation you seek to engender in others. Be alarming without being alarmist. Do not become the environmental police. Avoid raging against the powers that be. This in no way means we should minimize either the problems or our part in them or the urgency of the situation. We should seek to work positively and constructively out of the deep reservoir of God’s grace present in nature itself.
It only takes a few to change the whole . The task requires a small group of dedicated and committed people who are willing to grasp a vision for the seminary and to stay at it for the long term. One individual or a small group of people who are employees of the seminary can then embrace as many others as possible to do the planning together and to carry out the projects from year to year. Seek to diversify involvement in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, age, and so on. Students will comprise the most important part of this group and also provide some continuity over the time they are at seminary. Always have open meetings promoted so that all who wish to participate may do so.
The strategy of the Committee is to green the whole seminary . It is crucial to recognize that the purpose of a committee is not to do all the “care for creation” activities but to serve as leaven to green the seminary as a whole. The committee functions as a catalyst to lead other committees and offices of the seminary to incorporate eco-justice concerns into their arena of responsibility. In this way, everyone participates and takes ownership at different levels and in different ways. The committee serves the whole seminary, such that care for creation becomes part of the ethos of entire seminary.
Develop an Action Plan: It is important to have a plan for greening your seminary. Otherwise, the process will be scattered-shot and haphazard. It is also important for the plan to be comprehensive. Otherwise the actions will be quite limited. We recommend the following model to use when making an action plan. It has five areas: Worship, Education, Building and Grounds, Discipleship, and Public Ministry. (action plan page) We encourage you to keep coming back to this action plan each year so that you keep the larger picture before you and that you keep the process of brainstorming and planning as an ongoing part of your work.
Make it policy: Institutionalize and regularlize the actions as quickly as possible. This way, it will not depend on the committee to suggest them anew each year. For example, if you celebrate Earth Week one year, seek to make it a regular part of the worship schedule for every year. Do not reinvent the wheel each year!
Do not try to do it all at once: Do not be overwhelmed by all that there is to do or all that could be done. The idea is to choose projects that are manageable and that have a good chance of coming to fruition. You cannot do all of them at once. So pick and choose. You will find that there are good starter projects. Then, as you reach a threshold of interest and support, other more ambitious projects will be possible. Celebrate what you get done without worrying about what does not get done. You can only do what you can do!
Work cooperatively and realistically . One goal of the committee is to foster eco-justice decisions and events among all activities and offices of the seminary. You may want to work with the maintenance staff on lawn care. Or you may want to work with the chapel staff in order to incorporate care for creation in the worship program. Or you may want to develop a relationship with the continuing education office to hold the next conference on environmental issues. Look around to see assets and opportunities. The role of the committee is to suggest, encourage, support, and offer resources—rather than to take over any decision-making or job belonging to another. Do not try to do too much at once. Work realistically and cooperatively with people. In a small, close-knit community like a seminary, there is little place for pressure or protest. Invitation, cooperation, influence, and support will go a long way.
Assess assets and opportunities . Find ways to identify the people who are already committed to eco-justice and seek to determine the nature of that commitment. Reflect on the programs, offerings, and structures already present at the seminary. The seminary is a notoriously busy place. So, as much as possible, work with the structures already present. See ways in which these already existing features of the seminary can express a commitment to eco-justice or incorporate care for creation. Build a green seminary around the opportunities at hand.
Get everyone involved at some level . Strategize how to get everyone involved in some aspect of the greening of the seminary. There is no need for everyone to join the committee. Engage people at the level of their involvement in the seminary, in relation to the things they already care about—some in worship, some in teaching, some in community activism, everyone in recycling and conserving energy, and so on. Try to identify the nature of everyone’s potential involvement—the president, deans, curriculum committee, worship leaders, offices of the seminary, administration and staff of the seminary, students in various programs, library, and so on—and then work to make it a reality.
Keep care for creation before the attention of the community . Through worship, community lectures, course work, occasional conferences, green notes in the seminary newsletter, with displays, and so on, let people know the importance of the work of becoming earth-keepers who care about ecological justice. If one goal is to shape the ethos of the seminary, then care for creation needs to be part of the atmosphere!
Provide structures that carry over from year to year . Because of the rhythms of academic life, the turnover of population at a seminary, and the occasions of sabbaticals and internships, it is so easy to let the movement drop for a period of time and then have to pick it all up again. Hence, it is important to devise a strategy that keeps the commitment going and keeps the concern before the seminary community. For example, the committee may sponsor or urge the seminary to sponsor some of the same key events each year, such as:
Presentation at orientation for new students
Fall worship service in which members make a “covenant with creation.”
Blessing of the Animals on St. Francis Day (October 2)
Open committee meetings with an educational component
One or two open lectures for the community with guest speakers
Senior Dinner in which graduates are given materials for their ministry
Earth Week worship
Such a structure will give a familiar pattern to the program from year to year and engage committee members in keeping the care for creation before the community. Plan only those activities that you have resources and energy to carry out.
Seek to be in touch with nature . The feelings of closeness to nature are crucial for the commitment to care for creation. Nurture this relationship for the community—whether through greening the chapel with plants or getting a naturalist to show you the area of your seminary or providing occasional retreat opportunities for the community. We seek to restore nature by being in solidarity with all creation rather than manipulating it from above. We are called to love creation as God does. We will not save what we do not love.
Develop a description of the tasks of the committee . It might include items such as:
Work to green every aspect of the life of the seminary
Prepare an action plan and carry out the plan
Network and cooperate with the offices and programs of the seminary
Organize and sponsor meetings, lectures, workshops when feasible
Promote care for creation among the members of the seminary community
Because there are new students each year, it is necessary to re-acquaint the committee and the community at the beginning of each academic year with the goals and tasks of the committee. A brochure may help in this endeavor.
Publicize, publicize, publicize . Community organizers say that in order to promote effectively a movement or an event, you must do so in seven different media. Try e-mail, newsletter, posters, personal contact, phone trees, announcements, bulletin boards, among others. Even if fewer people than you had hoped show up for an event, the whole community knows what is happening.
Get Authorized . It may be helpful to locate the committee in the seminary structure. It may stand on its own, for example, under the community life office. Or it may serve as a subcommittee of another committee, with a member of the oversight committee serving as a liaison member. It may simply be necessary for the small group of people working to green the seminary to let the president, the dean, and the person in charge of community life know of their work and seek their blessing or authorization to proceed. Report regularly to those to whom you are accountable and let your activities be known to the whole community.
What’s in a name? It is important to name your endeavor or identity. People will respond to a name and remember what your seminary is doing in becoming green. You will want a name that refers to the whole seminary: Green Seminary, Green Zone, Eco-justice Center, Caring for Creation, and so on. Draw on the symbols and ideas from your tradition to connect your efforts to your denomination. Develop a logo that reflects your purpose. You may want to name the committee accordingly or have different name. It might help to call it a “team” (such as The Green Team or The Eco-justice Working Group or The Creation-Care Group) rather than a “committee” in order to emphasize the idea that it is not one committee among many but a catalyst and leaven for all the committees and programs.
You will need people resources . To a greater or lesser degree, you will need both persons and money to carry out activities of the action plan. Volunteer work from students, faculty, and staff is crucial. You may also want to see if the Community Life Office may provide annual funding for one or two workers (3 to 4 hours a week during the school year) who could work for the greening of the seminary under the supervision of a faculty or staff person. In addition, as activities are incorporated into the life of the seminary, the worship teams, for example, will carry out worship commitments, and so on.
You will need financial resources . Of course, there are many activities and events that do not cost the committee or the seminary. However, it may be possible to get a line item in the budget of the seminary. Or the committee could apply for some of the funds made available by assessment for student organizations and activities. The seminary may be willing to support a special event. Your committee may be able to cooperate with other groups or organizations that have funds. It may be possible to work with the development office to obtain grant money for your efforts.
Make the transitions . At all seminaries, there is a three month hiatus in the summer. Also, every three or four years, students graduate. At many seminaries, most students leave in the third year for internship and then return and leave again after their senior year—an arrangement whereby two-thirds of the seminary community leaves each year! How can you get organized so as to hit the road running every fall at the beginning of the school year? The key is to choose the leadership for the next year in the early spring of the year before. So, in March, select the workers or elect the leaders who will plan during late spring for the events to take place at orientation and in the early fall. They can even arrange ahead for the fall organizational meeting. Otherwise you will find yourselves having to get organized all over again each fall with a new seminary community, while precious time is lost.
Seek accreditation as a Green Seminary . The committee and the seminary may wish to seek accreditation from the Green Congregation Program as a “Green Seminary.” The accreditation program is in process of being set up with an independent, ecumenical panel assessing the Action Plan and the reports of activities. Please visit the Green Seminary Certification Program page of our site. Such a program will give focus to your efforts. The achievement of the accreditation will also give publicity and a boost to the efforts. And there will be incentive to develop ongoing plans as means to maintain the accreditation.
The success of the program will draw students and donors . Prospective students who learn about your environmental activities and the greening of your seminary will often consider this an important factor, perhaps even the decisive factor, in their choice of a seminary. The emphasis on care for creation can draw interested donors. And specific projects can be very attractive to fund-granting organizations.
Be visionary . Instead of thinking about change as incremental in relation to what now exists, imagine the seminary as it might be 50 years from now in an ecological age when every aspect of the life and activities of the seminary will be ecological restorative—a place where the love for all creation and the care for all human and non-human creatures is obvious. Such a vision may lead you to make a leap forward in some areas and act in prophetic ways to live out our call to be servants and keepers of the Earth.
Conclusion . These are some ideas and suggestions for your consideration when setting up your own program. You will find what works best for you and what the pitfalls are as you go. The helpful thing is that when you have done a certain number of activities, you will attain a threshold of support that will enable you to do things you could not do before. Make the best use of these moments. Then when you have done further activities, you will attain another level that thrusts you even further. Before long, there is a climate at the seminary, a sense of identity, which empowers you to generate personal and institutional commitments that were not otherwise possible.
Please send comments and suggestions to us about your ideas and experiences for the benefit of others who may wish to take this path. Tell others your story. Send suggestions and contributions to The Green Seminary Project at webofcreation@lstc.edu.
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