The Green Sanctuary Program
A Green Sanctuary is a congregation that lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Sustainable living is not about our material comfort (though these choices are an important part of the overall life style); it is about choosing to live in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as the sole determinant of happiness.

Program Goals
A. To build awareness of societal environmental issues among UUs.
B. To generate commitment for personal lifestyle changes.
C. To motivate UUs to community action on environmental issues.
D. To build a connection between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness.
E. To build awareness of and rectify environmental injustices.

Program Activities
The Green Sanctuary Program includes a total of twelve activities in four program areas:
1. Worship and Celebration
2. Religious Education
3. Environmental Justice
4. Sustainable Living

At least twelve activities or projects spread over the four program elements are to be completed. Some projects will be one-time events; others will be on going over a period of months. Please note: A minimum of two activities is required in each of the first three elements, while at least four must be carried out in the category of Sustainable Living, including at least one energy conservation activity. Two additional activities can be selected from any of the four program elements. One social justice project will be a major on-going activity in collaboration with another congregation or organization to address an issue of environmental justice in your community or in the world.

From the UU Ministry for Earth website at www.uuministryforearth.org

Is UUCA a Green Sanctuary?
Not yet! In 2004 15 members of UUCA formed a Green Sanctuary Committee and created an Action Plan. The first action was an audit of sustainable living, worship, religious education and environmental justice. With the unanimous support of the Board and the Program Council, the committee submitted an application for Green Sanctuary “candidate” status, including audits and potential projects, to the UUA Green Sanctuary Project in November 2004. In January 2005 the committee was notified by the UUA that our church was welcomed into the community of Green Sanctuary candidate congregations.

Since then most of the projects in the Action Plan were completed and other actions added:
1. The HVAC system and a refrigerator were replaced with energy efficient ones.
2. Light bulbs in the sanctuary and Sandburg Hall have been changed to compact fluorescents.
3. Since Earth Day 2005 we have sold over 300 compact fluorescent lights to church members. Over the life of these bulbs, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by over 120 tons.
4. We have switched to using UUSC Fair Trade Organic coffee.
5. We have developed and implemented a landscape plan of native materials.
6. Environmental issues have been regularly incorporated into worship services and RE classes.
7. Forums were held on global warming and sustainability issues; voluntary simplicity study groups and sustainability study groups were developed and are currently active.
8. Postcards and petitions regarding environmental issues have been sent to state and local officials.
9. We co-sponsored the Asheville stop of the Energy at the Crossroads Tour, which promoted the NC Energy Futures Resolution that was introduced in the NC State Legislature.
10. The Second Friday Film Committee showed Kilowatt Ours, End of Suburbia, The Great Warming, and An Inconvenient Truth. Between 30 and 120 attended these viewings.
11. Planning an Interfaith Power & Light float for the Asheville holiday parade.

What is the next step to accreditation as a Green Sanctuary?
Prior to completing the application for recognition, the congregation must vote affirmatively to submit the application and submit a record of the vote.

What will we do once we were a Green Sanctuary?
Becoming a Green Sanctuary congregation means covenanting with one another to accept responsibility for the earth, being intentional in the choices we make, and collaborating together as we seek creative and practical actions to living gently on the Earth.

We see Religious Education, Adult Education, Worship, Building & Grounds and the Social Justice Council already accepting this responsibility and working independently and collaboratively to promote the goals of the Green Sanctuary program. We are affirming and promoting "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."