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Prairie Climate Stewardship Network |
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Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota Environmental Stewardship Committee |
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Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota Environmental Stewardship Committee: appointed by Bishop Michael Smith with support of a resolution passed by the Diocesan Convention in October of 2006 and chaired by Rev. Bruce MacDuffie. The committee members network and provide each other information about the steps, actions, and programs undertaken in parishes. Some initiatives undertaken by the committee as a whole include:
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Excerpts from an article on the committee, by Rev. MacDuffie, appeared in the Sheaf (May/June 2007) One at a Time: a Report from the Environmental Stewardship Committee of Diocese of North Dakota (one person, one household, one congregation, one diocese at a time) Such seems to be the method of the Spirit, working in you and me as stewards of God's Creation. This article summarizes a few activities done by ONE congregation at a time, sometimes by one person at a time. While climate change and global warming have been in the forefront of our committee concerns, we are caring for all the rest of the creation when we care about the human causes of global warming. Species loss is at an all time high, as high as 1000 times the usual rate according to some sources. (The BBC news on May 14 reported that studies now are concerned that as many as one billion people may be displaced by a combination of desertification, political unrest, and the effects of global warming.) Does it seem insane to say this is also a time of great hope? The challenge of this largest of challenges brings us together in new and creative ways to find common solutions. Perhaps we relearn the joy of a simpler life style, a simpler age, where relating to each other and finding joy in each other builds a new mutual respect all across this globe. We learn Benedictine hospitality where we treat not only each visitor to our homes and churches, but also each neighbor, each creature, as though that sister and brother creature were Christ. We treat Mother Earth as well as we would want our biological mothers treated, with that kind of respect. Working together to make our beautiful island home sustainable, we learn to cooperate with each other across class and ethnic and ideological boundaries. |
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St Pauls' Grand Forks: Linda Gunderson of St. Paul's organized a lecture and film series earlier this spring re climate change. On Earth Day, St. Paul's, the Unitarain/Universalists, and Presbyterians sponsered a "free" showing of The Great Warming at the Empire Arts Theater. Jackie Bernacchi, along with Roman Catholic Deacon, Larry Lang, and about-to-be deacon Bonnie McNaughton organized an Earth Day showing of An Inconvenient Truth in the Devils Lake area, and assembled a "distinguished panel" to discuss the concerns. Reports are that the day began with a special service at St. Thomas Church, Ft. Totten. St. George's, Bismarck: Zanne Ness reported that possibilities of response to environmental stewardship are discussed in the newsletter and on the bulletin board. St. Luke's, Ft. Yates: Carmine Goodhouse reported that she began enticing folks to share chili at her home and to see the film, An Inconvenient Truth. She showed it at school, and her work place. Then it was shown at St. Luke's Church itself. The Parish bulletin lists the concrete steps individuals can take. St. Luke's plans to become more energy efficient and to plant trees to shelter the church. St. John's, Dickinson: St. John's, with a volunteer electrician's help, is surveying all its lighting to install CFL's wherever possible. (MDU offers a small incentive for such change). The film, An Inconvenient Truth, was shown both privately and at Dickinson State University to over 200 people in Dickinson, and also at Sacred Heart Monastery. The Great Warming will be viewed next by similar numbers with some opportunity for discussion by scientific and energy experts. Several people are keeping the concerns in front of the public with letters to the Dickinson Press. A recycling committee has been established in Dickinson, and the city and school system have both undertaken efficiency upgrades to all their buildings, with the savings in energy expenditure actually fully amortizing the cost of doing so. Hebron: Episcopalian Jane Brandt, editor of the Hebron Herald, persuaded the Hebron Business Club to sponsor a showing of An Inconvenient Truth at the Mayer Theater in Hebron, free of charge. About 30 folks attended, and discussion ensued after the film. Jane retained the DVD to circulate further in the community. |
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Edgewood United Methodist Church, Fargo,ND In the spring of 2007 we replaced incandescent bulbs in our sanctuary and hallways with compact fluorescent bulbs. We also sought to replace outdated incandescent light fixtures with higher efficiency fluorescent tube fixtures. We run our heating system on timers so as to maximise efficiency. We also recycle our bulletins, office paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, magazines and newspapers. (Pastor Cody Schuler) |
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Basilica of St. James, Jamestown, ND Stewardship of our gifts and resources has been an impelling force for me in my life. This was an important aspect of our geo-thermal heating and cooling system. We have continued this by looking at our lighting system in all of our facilities but especially in our Church. At first we experimented with a few fluorescent bulbs of different sizes and different k’s (K stands for Kelvin & indicates the color of the light). We finally found that the 2700K lights were the best for our church situation and wouldn’t change the look and feel of the inside of the church. With the incandescent system we were using 11,400 watts when all the church incandescent lights were on. We have now replaced these with fluorescents lights ranging from 13 watts to 150 watts per bulb. The total watts we now use is down to 2250 watts or a savings of 9150 watts. Not only does this decrease the amount of electricity we use, but it also decreases our peak demand so that we should be able to get into some lower price structures for the electricity. Another key factor in using fluorescents is that their lifetime expectancy is about 7 years for our application. This means that Paul, our maintenance person, will have to spend a lot less hours building scaffolding and changing light bulbs. Not only is this time consuming, but it is also hard. You know, an older age is always creeping up on us and we have to find easier ways of doing things. As you might have noticed in the bulletin, we are also taking a much closer look at our responsibility of recycling as much as we can and making it possible for other people to do the same. This past week we put 2 different containers in the office so that we will recycle more magazines and more office paper as well as newspapers. I plan on reviewing the recycling possibilities in our community and researching ways of doing it more effectively and more easily. Using something once and then putting it in the landfill does not seem very moral. (Fr. Al Bitz) |
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Jamestown College ECOS (Ecologically Concerned Organization of Students), November 29, 2007. Hosted an evening presentation and discussion on "Human-Induced Climate Change: Paying Attention to the Science and Signs, and Engaging in Constructive Solutions and Actions." Led by Prairie Stewardship Network. The Jamestown Sun Article (PDF). Concordia College, November 5, 2007. Global Warming Solutions: A public forum with polar explorer Will Steger. Featured impacts of climate change as witnessed by Will Steger and solutions with a public policy focus by Fresh Energy. Faith reflections by Bishop Larry Wohlrabe, NW Minnesota ELCA Synod. Event included a resource fair on solutions. ND Conference of Churches Rural Life Convocation: "A Faith-Filled Response to Energy and Climate" August 19-20, 2007. Sponsored by the ND Conference of Churches and its Rural Life Committee. |
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Lowering thermostats: St. John's (Dickinson) fuel consumption is down perhaps 30% due to our simple efforts of lowering thermostats more conscientiously. (Bruce MacDuffie, January 13, 2008) |
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