Kanawha United Presbyterian Church
Chris Rogillio's children grew up when the "reduce, reuse, and recycle" lessons were being taught in schools. Her children brought these lessons home with them and they interacted with Rogilio's faith background, especially those scriptures about creation, scriptures that had always been dear to her. Although, she remarks, those scriptures are "easier to read than to put in place, because it takes effort." Rogillio makes that effort. She is the Director of Christian Education at Kanawha United Presbyterian Church (USA) in Charleston, WV (www.kanawhachurch.org).
This congregation makes an effort to be good stewards of creation. Recently they installed an energy-efficient water heater; they have purchased kitchenware instead of continuing to use disposable plates and cups; they recycle paper; the children collect aluminum tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House; and they replaced the many windows in their education center with stationary, double-pane windows for heating and cooling efficiency.
The people at Kanawha United do what they can with what they have, which is all anyone can do. Rogillio helped organize two different camp groups last year to focus on social and eco-justice. The camps and the responses from the children inspired Rogillio. She decided to do programs on what she calls "a different bent" with the children at Kanawha United. So this past fall, Rogillio combined the church year and Sunday school with ecology and social justice. She used her gifts and passions to write two curricula each for the elementary and middle school age Sunday school classes--four different programs in all. The first was on God's creation and the next on creation in the Psalms. Both curricula were about "God's creating, ... our part in it, and how everything has a part," as she describes it. "We tried to stay away from the things they get at school all the time," Rogillio says. She told me they are already taught about reducing, reusing, and recycling, so in Sunday school, she had them look at the seeds and roots of plants and our faith. The curriculum "blend[s] our faith journeys into how God has planned creation," notes Rogillio.
As Rogillio continued to portray the programs, she talked about how the students also juxtapose their faith journeys with the journey their food takes before being placed on the kitchen table. They talked about the various workers involved in cultivating, reaping, and transporting food and the social justice issues involved with the care and payment of these persons. Investigating these justice matters, the curricula promoted local foods that profit local farmers and have little to no role in the poor treatment of people or the land.
Continuing to think about how our food habits effect others, Rogillio's curricula teaches the children to be careful about wasting food. She says, "God has enough food for everybody if we share it and don't waste it. ... If we use it [the earth] right, it sustains itself." And the lessons and activities mirror these truisms. Rogillio says they never use food items for games or crafts, because there are hungry people in the world. They do have one exception to this rule, however: "candy, because we eat it [after we're done playing]," Rogillio amusingly related.
After Advent and Lent, the Sunday school turned again to eco-theology, using the study ReNew: The Green VBS. Although intended for Vacation Bible Study, Kanawha United used the daily lessons for consecutive weeks in Sunday school. ReNew slowly teaches the Parable of the Sower to children, focusing each lesson on a different kind of soil. During this program, the children planted seeds and enjoyed setting up a compost bin. Although the church does not generate enough food waste to maintain a compost bin during the normal year, Rogillio mentioned the children are excited to start composting again during the Kanawha Forum, an annual musical program that includes a number of meals prepared and served at the church (www.kanawhachurch.org/forumnew.htm).
As happened with Rogillio and her children, what the children learned at church did not just change the children. A group of adults helped build raised garden beds at a local assisted-living community. Their involvement in this project was what Rogillio called "an outgrowth" of the stewardship emphasis for the children. Rogillio is encouraging the adult classes to be involved in curricula exploring social and eco-justice. One group will be going through Robert D. Peirson's Becoming a Good Samaritan Church, which has some earth-stewardship in it. Indeed, as Rigillio notes, social and eco-justice go hand in hand: "you can't care for God's people if you don't care for the earth."
Rogillio and Kanawha United are great examples of how individuals and groups can use their gifts and their passions to serve God. Sometimes things fall into place, other times the Spirit gives you a little extra creativity. Everything has a place and our place as humans and as the church is in relation to God, neighbor, and this earth. We cannot ignore one of them without ignoring the rest of them. We cannot focus on one without focusing on all of them.
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Americana Thrift Shop
Thirty-nine years ago, Susanne Harris "had an idea," recounts Ruby Mareneck. Her idea was to start a thrift store for "people in our community and surrounding communities." From this idea came the Americana Thrift Shop, an outreach of Old Stone Presbyterian in Lewisburg, WV.
Mareneck is the "head honcho" at the shop, according to volunteer Helen Chesser. Chesser was described as the oldest volunteer, but Mareneck has been volunteering at the shop the longest. With a clever smile, Chesser reported, "the first time I came to Old Stone Presbyterian, Ruby asked if I played bridge." She doesn't play bridge, but Mareneck was determined to get invite her to be involved. Instead of playing bridge together, Mareneck invited Chesser to work at the Americana. Chesser continued, now speaking to Mareneck, "That's the best thing you ever did for me."
When the project began, Mareneck described the times as "before the recycling craze," before used or "retro" clothing was a fad. The shop followed Harris' original vision of providing cheap, quality clothing to those who needed that option. Since then, "the project has morphed," says Mareneck. Concerning their current mission, Mareneck says, "we don't like to say [the items are] for poor people, but for individuals looking for value."
This value not only encompasses economic value--quality items and "our prices are really low," as Mareneck puts it. The value also is for the environment. Used clothing keeps old, unused clothes from cluttering closets and landfills while also maximizing our stewardship of resources and preventing the further exploitation of many workers who make clothes in sweat shops all over the world.
The shop's works of love and justice reach into the local community in a variety of ways. Since its beginning, the shop has occupied a space the American Legion donated to Old Stone. The building is one room, smaller than many church narthexes. Volunteers pack the walls and much of the floor space with clothes and various household items like books, CDs, and kitchenware.
Chesser said "pants is the biggest thing" they sell, followed by "dresses, suits--men's suits--shirts." Mareneck added, "children's is the hottest seller. We price it at fifty-cents and a dollar." In the past few years, they had an issue with some of the pants they were receiving. The jeans were tattered, so "we were throwing them away," described Mareneck. One day a lady was in the shop and told them not to throw the jeans away, because they were purchased that way for over $50. Today, the 39 years-old shop is on top of fashion when they receive clothes.
On Tuesday mornings, Ruby says a few of the 13-person volunteer group "gather[s] and sort[s] the donations that come in." Despite their small, full shop, they keep items coming in and going out. In the last 18 months, one of the volunteers said three to four other shops opened in the town, but their sales have not been hurt. Mareneck says, "people like what we do with our money."
The shop doesn't keep any of its profits, all of the money goes to the Presbyterian Women group at Old Stone, of which Mareneck is also a part. The Presbyterian Women then dole the funds out to "a long list of community organizations," says the job description for Americana volunteers. Mareneck reports: "every month we give away $1,200, at least," and added, most of their regular charities "get $100 a month."
Mareneck stated further that the shop and the Presbyterian Women, "hear[s] pleas for help and respond accordingly." Most of the charities concern women and children, but they do not confine their money to those areas. Families in the area who lose their homes and possessions to fire are invited to gather clothes from the shop at no charge.
The ladies sorting recent donations prompted Mareneck to recall a few other pro bono stories. One woman contacted the shop looking for burial clothes for her adult son who passed away. After getting the suit, the woman also reported the need for a dress. Mareneck delivered the clothing to the funeral home and Chesser helped the grieving mother find the right dress.
While telling this and other stories, the ladies sorted donations with joy. They referred to their time at the shop as "work," but it was obvious they enjoyed themselves. Jane Coffman said being in the shop is "a nice fellowship," and Chesser quickly added, "we're a family."
Although the shop started from Old Stone Presbyterian, not all of the volunteers attend the church. Linda Babcock described some of their volunteers "not as committed [to the institutional church], but they're committed to what we do. And that's the church."
The little shop supports a number of local outreaches. All of their prom dresses are donated to Mackenzie's Closet, located at St. James Episcopal Church. The clothing closet lends prom dresses for free. This ministry started in honor of a "young family [who] lost their teenage daughter." The mother, Melanie Johnson, thought this closet was "the best way to honor her daughter," said Mareneck.
With their support of the surrounding community and the worldwide community, the people involved in the Americana Thrift Shop love their neighbor in large ways. They provide affordable clothing and other household items, financial assistance, and they take care of the earth on which we all live.
Edgewood Presby
Since Edgewood Presbyterian in Lewisburg, WV became "a self-supported and organized church" in 1989, it has only had two full time pastors. Rev. Woodard is the second and this is only her first pastorate. She speaks of the congregation adoringly and they have made as much of a change in her as she has made in them as an advocate for the stewardship of creation. She has made three major changes during her pastorate concerning recycling, the use of fairly traded products, and the use of natural resources.
Recycling
When asked how the church stewards creation, Rev. Woodard answered, "the biggest thing we do is our recycling program." The church has been involved in recycling since 1999 and has been a pet project of Rev. Woodard's, who takes most of the recycling to the proper facilities, although a few dedicated members share the responsibility with her. "Before I retire here," stated Rev. Woodard, she plans to get a one or more people to be officially in charge of taking the recycling to where it belongs.
Besides taking items to recycling centers, Edgewood takes newspapers and aluminum cans to a local, no-kill animal shelter. The newspapers line cages and the cans are sold to profit the shelter. When appropriate, certain items are saved for crafts, especially in preparation for Vacation Bible School. Currently, they are cutting up toilet paper and paper towel tubes and saving them for the children's crafts.
"I believe stewardship encompasses a lot more than what we do with our money," affirmed Rev. Woodard. According to her faith, "God entrusted us with his creation" and she lives out her faith accordingly. Rev. Woodard was advocating such stewardship even when living in a dormitory in seminary where she was in charge of recycling for her floor. She also attributes some of her recycling efforts to her long lineage of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. "We Scotch people really believe in not wasting anything," she describes, "including what is normally garbage."
When it comes to the church's role in caring for the earth, Rev. Woodard says, "I think the church should be a leader in it." As a servant in her church, she certainly is leading the church to be an eco-friendly role model.
And she knows she is making some difference. In 1999, she was preaching before a surprise reception and mentioned her "intense hatred for styrofoam." The sermon was based on Genesis 1. During the sermon, a few of the ladies in the choir exited the sanctuary, which Rev. Woodard assumed was for some last-minute preparations. Rev. Woodard was right, but wasn't privy to the full story. The ladies actually left solely to hide the styrofoam cups they set next to the punch and replace them with the glassware. Rev. Woodard said that experience was the first time she knew people were listening to her sermons.
Equal Exchange
The congregation still uses some disposable plates, especially at their less-formal meals and for their children. Rev. Woodard encourages biodegradable products, many "purchased from Equal Exchange." When they install their dishwasher, they plan to use the kitchenware more often. http://www.biodegradablestore.com/cip/cip_plates.html
They also recently purchased a large amount of coffee from Equal Exchange. Rev. Woodard makes her coffee purchases on-line and started buying the product for the church out of her own pocket, since the coffee is more expensive. One day, the Sunday School class with the largest thirst for coffee asked Rev. Woodard to order four cases of the coffee for the class to purchase (the company covers the shipping cost on orders of four cases or more). Rev. Woodard set an example and influenced her congregation by emphasizing Equal Exchange products in the church's newsletter and placing the product in the church.
Heating Costs
In the past three years, the church made a large change in their finances and fuel use. Rev. Woodard explains, "about three years ago [...] we were really in a financial crunch." Much of their funds were going into heating their buildings. To help solve the problem, they installed programmable thermostats and set them at 55ºF, unless a function was happening.
Complementing their new heating regime, they purchased two electric space heaters "that do not use a tremendous amount of energy," reports Rev. Woodard. The space heaters keep the church office area warm while people work in the church. Two families were inspired to join the church in this change, piggybacking on this order and purchasing two more space heaters.
The church also switched to a budget plan with their fuel company. They would produce an estimate on their fuel use based on past years and the company would divide the cost into monthly installments. After their first year, they had a $900 credit. For the next year--this past winter, which was extra rough--they re-estimated based on their new, earth-friendly and cost-saving techniques.
Rev. Woodard said they received their credit this month, July 2010, and they earned a $500 credit, although they were expecting to owe money, because the winter was so cold. Their serious efforts to save money and natural resources are simultaneously making a huge impact on their finances and the environment.
Future
In the future, Rev. Woodard foresees the church moving to non-toxic cleaners. She tried to hurry this change, but after purchasing eco-friendly "dishwashing liquid, bathroom cleanser, and toilet-bowl cleanser," she found the church had a large store of partially-used and never-used cleaning products. Many families in the church bring cleaners into the church when they plan to clean something. "It's going to be a while before we exhaust them," said Rev. Woodard.
She would also like to move more communication to e-mail for those willing. They already communicate via e-mail about "meetings, responsibilities in the church, whatever it is," said Rev. Woodard. She then mentioned ideas she has for transitioning some congregants to a newsletter via e-mail.
Rev. Woodard's future plans are nearly as important as the plans she has already implemented. Many ideas are just a few steps away from becoming achievements. Her voice, ideas, and achievements with the congregation set a great example for anyone trying to make a difference.
Websites: Cliffton PC http://www.cliftonpresbyterianchurch.com/id4.html
Old Stone
At Old Stone Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg, WV, they believe: "As children of God, we should see our stewardship of the earth not as a responsibility, but as a privilege," according to a informational pamphlet.
The church makes its home in "the oldest church building in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains," erected in 1796, according to the congregation's website. The historicity of their building prevents them from making some eco-friendly changes to their building, but they are still making strides in their stewardship of creation.
In order to preserve the building, central air conditioning has not been installed and the Reverend Dexter Taylor reports only a few rooms have window units. In the intense heat of this summer, they keep the building dark, saving on electricity while simultaneously keeping the building cooler.
Like many churches, Old Stone has a recycling program. When their program started, the "Witness and Service Committee" prepared a bulletin insert. Later, the insert reappeared in the church's newsletter as a reminder.
The insert provides a succinct, theological basis for why Christians should be involved in recycling. After the introduction, the pamphlet states data that puts recycling into fantastic, but understandable terms. For example, "For every ton of paper you recycle, you save 17 trees, 464 gallons of oil, 42 gallons of gasoline and 7,000 gallons of water," a factoid the committee gleaned from Seventh Generation, Inc.
The information proceeds to list a number of items individuals in the area can recycle and how. Chair of the committee, Rodney Weikle, explains the church doesn't want to "be in the recycling business," but rather, seeks to "advise people." He added, "that's where our job lies."
The church had already been doing a little recycling, but decided to expand it after the Witness and Service Committee invited Marcia Leitch to speak with them. Leitch is a member of Old Stone, an Stewardship of Creation Enabler for the WV Presbytery's Stewardship of Creation Ministry Team, and an advocate for eco-justice.
Spurred on by Leitch, Weikle and the committee were convinced to start advocating to the larger congregation. Although influenced, Weikle reports, "I don't know if Al Gore is right or not," but he believes we should listen and act "while you can still do something about it." And so the committee prepared the bulletin insert and set aside three bins for recycling batteries, ink cartridges, and fluorescent light bulbs.
These church servants are setting an example for the rest of the congregation. In fact, Weikle said, "I recycle at home now, because of this [program]." Through advocacy and setting an example, the church is making an impact on itself and the earth. According to their pamphlet, "we are doing for the greater good, something to illustrate our belief and faith in the stewardship that God has afforded us all."