GREEN SANCTUARY PROGRAM
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Greater Naples
6340 Napa Woods Way, Naples, FL 34116
239-455-6553 / www.uunaples.org
Earth is a Green Sanctuary for Life
*** Our Congregation Became a Green Sanctuary on June 28th, 2008 ***
The Green Sanctuary Program is a nation-wide UU program promoted by the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth that encourages congregations to practice the UUA’s Seventh Principle: respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The program is a means by which congregations can work toward focusing on the theological, spiritual and ethical aspects of human activities that affect the health and sustainability of the living earth.
Each participating congregation completes at least 12 projects in four focus areas: 1) Worship and Celebration, 2) Religious Education, 3) Environmental Justice, and 4) Sustainable Living. The first step is to conduct an environmental audit, providing a snapshot of where the congregation stands with respect to its environmental behaviors. An action plan of projects/events is developed and is submitted to the UUMFE. Once the plan has been completed, the voting membership of the congregation must vote on its application to the UUMFE for certification as a Green Sanctuary Program. The application is filed and, hopefully, approved by the UUMFE
The UU Congregation of Greater Naples’ Green Sanctuary Program Committee was established on November 14th, 2006. The environmental audit for our complete facility and programming was completed in February 2007; the Action Plan was completed in March 2007; and the Individual Member/Friends’ Survey was completed by June 2007. A vision statement from the perspective of the Green Sanctuary Committee in the year 2010 was submitted to the Strategic Planning Committee. Action plan items have been implemented, with some modifications or substitution.
On March 30th '08 the congregation voted unanimously to apply for accreditation as a Green Sanctuary; we recognize we've taken positive action in this time of climate action, and we're committed to learning how to live sustainably as individuals as well as a congregation. Our application for accreditation was submitted May 13th, 2008.
[click on underlined links to see documents]
