Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2012 Issue | Page 25

JUST WHAT IS A “GREEN” CHURCH?
TAL DAY
What’s at the heart of effective environmental ministry
at the church level? According to Fletcher Harper, an
Episcopal priest and executive director of the interfaith
environmental coalition called Green Faith, simply
“greening” a church’s consumption and energy use isn’t
enough. Instead, such work has to be rooted in a firm
belief that protecting creation is a religious value.

That’s a topic that the Stewardship of Creation
Committee will explore at their upcoming meeting on
Saturday, May 19 at Trinity, Fredericksburg. They’ll also
discuss important questions around the topic, including:
how can we support our churches in this ministry? How
broadly should we frame our goals?

Churches in the Diocese of Virginia are already under
a heavy environmental commitment. By resolution during
the 76th General Convention in 2009, the Episcopal Church
affirm