Through the support of church leaders and the dedication and initiatives of congregants, First Unitarian Church of Cleveland is promoting sustainable practices.

Mission

One of the Seven Principles for the Unitarian Universalist faith is “Respect for the interdependent web of which we are all a part.” The UU Ministry for Earth committee works to help the congregation live out this principle.

Educational Groups

The congregation has conducted Sunday morning forums on varying topics concerning the environment, energy, and climate change.

Events

• Many different educational events have been sponsored by the congregation.
• The congregation has conducted several open to the public Northwest Earth Institute courses, and will continue into the spring with Menu for the Future (previous courses included Choices for Sustainable Living, Healthy Children, Healthy Planet, and Global Warming).
• In conjunction with other UU churches in spring 2007, they hosted a public workshop on care for the Earth in an evolutionary context by Michael Dowd.

Green Building

• Most decisions are made with an eye to sustainability.
• The furnace was replaced with a more efficient model.
• Most incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with CFLs.
• Insulation has been installed in the ceiling.

Transportation

Waste Reduction

• The congregants work together to reduce waste.
• The church has installed paper recycling bins on the grounds.
• Cans and bottles are collected and recycled by an individual congregant.
• The church has a collection center for special items that are then recycled at the appropriate places (batteries, cartridges, CFLs, cell phones and thermometers).
• Kitchen scraps are composted.

Grounds

• The grounds consist of gardens and large areas of grass.
• Grass is untreated by chemicals (pesticides or insecticides).
• Grass clippings are composted.
• Vegetable gardens are tended, and also a memorial garden.
• Composted grass and kitchen scraps are used for the vegetable and memorial gardens.

Purchasing

• They have tried to switch to as many environmentally friendly products as possible.
• Recycled products are purchased.
• Organic, free trade coffee is used.
• When the UU Ministry for Earth committee hosts an event they try to purchase organic and local food.

Involvement in larger initiative

The UU Ministry for Earth committee is applying for Green Sanctuary certification.

Green Committee

The Seventh Principle/UU Ministry for Earth committee has worked for the past several years to help the congregation live out the Seventh Principle and develop an action plan to apply for Green Sanctuary certification.

The UU Ministry for Earth is a national organization that promotes the environmental activities of Unitarian Universalists.

The main goal of the UU Ministry for Earth committee at First Unitarian Church of Cleveland is to get the church involved in the Green Sanctuary certification process.

The group currently consists of about 20 members and meets monthly.

Contact: Nancy King Smith, 216 496 3543