Workshops to focus on ‘green’ projects in faith community

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Center for the Environment at Catawba College will host Faith, Spirituality and Environmental Stewardship Workshops to bring together people who would like to share their experiences with green projects in their congregations with those who want to learn how to implement projects in their own faith communities.
“This workshop is based on the understanding that the people in the trenches are the experts,” said Dr. John Wear, executive director of the Center for the Environment. “We know that a number of ministers and Sunday School teachers and people in congregations throughout this region are initiating sustainable projects and practices in their faith communities.
“These workshops will offer people who have implemented green projects the opportunity to share their experience with those who want to learn more,” Wear says. “They can gather here and learn from one another.”
The events are scheduled for Feb. 7 and March 14. Light refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the workshops will begin at 6 p.m.
Facilitators will guide participants through discussions, inviting them to share their knowledge and experience on a number of topics.
The discussion topics for the Feb. 7 are:
• Less is More: Auditing and conserving water and electricity
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink: Lowering your waste, buying less and finding alternatives to “stuff”
• Green Kids: Getting youth involved and invested in green efforts
•Runnin’ on Sunshine: Investigating, funding and implementing solar and other renewables
• Teaming Up for the Earth: Starting a Green Team; raising and maintaining enthusiasm
The discussion topics for the March 14 are:
• Green Gardens, Green Food: Starting a community garden
• Go Green, Save Greenbacks: Learning about inexpensive ways to green your congregation that pay off quickly
• Teaching and Preaching Green: Sending a green message through sermons, religious education and events
• Campaign for Clean Air: Planning and implementing initiatives for your congregation using the resources provided by the Campaign for Clean Air. This will be held after the sessions at 7:20 p.m.
The workshops are free and open to the public.
For more information or to register, call 704-637-4727 or visit www.CenterForTheEnvironment.org.
The event is a Campaign for Clean Air initiative. Sponsors include the Robertson Family Foundation, Caniche, Schneider Electric, Salisbury Community Foundation, First United Church of Christ Foundation, Food Lion Charitable Foundation, F&M Bank, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Power Curbers, Piedmont Natural Gas and Duke Energy.