Environment / Sense of Place

Citizens of Fort Worth Texas join in effort to draw attention to the Earth's pollution problem.
Visit 350.org to learn more about 350 and what you can do to help.

Green Man, photography by Wendy Vann

The Green Man archetype represents the deep relationship we have with nature and is found in varying forms in many world traditions.

The image of the Green Man whose face is swathed in foliage with shoots springing forth from his open mouth is a potent symbol of the earth's, and therefore our, fecundity.

Matthew Fox in his latest book The Hidden Spirituality of Men writes, "The Green Man is about relating to nature, about finding the essence of nature within our nature... in the Green Man we have an archetype for our relationship to both the cosmos and the Earth --- to Father Sky and Mother Earth."

The Green Man is a powerful image, therefore, of our interconnectedness with nature not just as a resource but as the holy matrix from which everything flows. To honor and protect this source of our provision, inspiration and beauty is crucial to our physical survival and our spiritual health as individuals and societies.

Nature is not just a resource to be exploited or a commodity to be bought and sold. It is not just a picturesque backdrop to our homes and for our entertainment. It is a gift from God and therefore must be wisely cared for and nurtured.

Green Woman, photography by Wendy Vann

Setting aside tracts and reserves for particular protection is, of course, essential to preserving the diversity and beauty of nature. But it does not end there. We cannot blindly develop and despoil our local areas and backyards in the name of progress, or more commonly, in the name of profit.

The urban sprawl, highway building, gas and oil well development I have witnessed in my home town Fort Worth and neighboring counties has brought into clear focus the need for a long term comprehensive plan that looks not just to economic development but to sustainability, quality of life issues and the protection and enhancement of nature. Too often the short term gains outweigh the future consequences to our planet's detriment.

The voices of concern sounded, eloquently, long ago. The impassioned voices of Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman and others tell us that this problem of despoliation is not new.

The stakes are higher now. Continuing to live at our current levels of consumption, exploiting the earth's finite resources with no thought of the future is intolerable.

At Unity Church of Fort Worth one of our core values states that:

We acknowledge that the earth and every form of life is sacred.

We are not just upholding this as a noble statement; we are endeavoring to live our lives from it.

Unity's Green Team, our congregation's ecological spearhead, has a five pronged approach:

• EARTH CARE COVENANT - Ways we as individuals can care for the earth
• GREENING our CHURCH - Ways for our church facility to be more ecologically aware and green in its practices
• HOME (Healing Our Mother Earth) - Ways to educate through articles, ideas, and eco-tips in our newsletter, website, etc
• ECO/SOCIAL ACTION - Advocacy in green and earth-care issues
• INTERFAITH ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE - Joining with other faith communities in Tarrant County to educate and make a difference

Here is our covenant:

My Personal Earth Care Covenant

I commit myself to honor and protect our earth home by doing some or all of the following 18 points:

Paul Roach and Wendy Vann

• Celebrate creation in prayer/meditation time, and spend time with nature
• Eliminate littering, pick up and clean up when I can
• Purchase as many locally grown, organic, and seasonal products as possible. Grow my own and/or participate in a food co-op if feasible
• Buy only what I really need, buy from a second-hand or thrift stores, and/or think of ways to use what I already have to meet the current need
• Buy as many items as possible that contain recycled products
• Avoid products that do not biodegrade
• Avoid excessive packaging and take advantage of reusable shopping bags
• Recycle, donate, compost, and otherwise reuse as many items as possible
• Monitor energy consumption. Weatherize home, adjust the thermostat, and use energy-saving light bulbs and appliances, when feasible, to save energy
• Use a source of clean/renewable electricity for my home electric consumption
• Monitor and reduce water consumption; re-use if possible (ex: cistern)
• Keep my car maintained and tires properly inflated
• Reduce driving by carpooling, planning efficient trips and using mass transit when possible
• Reduce or eliminate use of small gasoline engines such as mowers and blowers
• Choose paints, household and personal care products that are environmentally friendly, containing no or very low levels of ozone-forming Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) wherever possible
• Dispose of toxic materials properly by taking them to approved drop off sites
• Use native plants and organic materials in my yard
• Support our congregation in all attempts to go green by employing energy efficient and renewable energies in its programs and building operations, and by minimizing the use of items such as water bottles, disposable cups, plates, etc
  

I realize that every little thing I do, every small choice I make each day, adds up and makes a difference. I am grateful for this opportunity to be a steward of our earth home!

Interfaith Environmental Alliance

The Interfaith Environmental Alliance (IEA) began in Dallas, TX though the initiative of activist Gary Stuard. Gary, a former monk with Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh created IEA in 2004. The Tarrant County (Fort Worth) chapter was created in January 2009 as an alliance of faith communities in our county. For more information go to www.iea-ntx.org. You can also the IEA informational brochure for more information.