FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: April 21, 2005

CONTACT: Jenny Holmes, (503) 221-1054, ext. 278

inec@emoregon.org

Oregon congregations recognized for creation care achievements

     Recipients of Oregon's first Green Congregations Awards were announced today by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon's (EMO) Interfaith Network for Earth Concerns (INEC). The awards recognize overall and special achievements by Oregon congregations in environmental stewardship. "Initiatives and projects to care for creation have become more sophisticated and increased in number over the past five years,” said Jenny Holmes, INEC program director. "Many congregations are making exemplary efforts, it's time to recognize them and inspire others.” Profiles of awards can be found at www.emoregon.org.

     St. Philip Neri Catholic Parish in southeast Portland and Forest Grove United Church of Christ, two very different congregations, received the overall achievement award. According to The Rev. Ross Miller of EMO's Environmental Ministries Committee, "Both demonstrated a high degree of integration of care for creation into to the whole life of the congregation—from management of their facilities to education; from community outreach to worship."
     St. Philip Neri is exemplary in its use of the Columbia River Pastoral Letter as a guide for congregational action. The Columbia River Pastoral Letter is a statement by the Catholic bishops of the Columbia River watershed on caring for creation and the common good. The church has taken responsibility for polluted water runoff from its parking lot by building a bioswale—a depression landscaped with native plants that collects and cleans storm water. Members were directly involved from fundraising to ongoing maintenance and involved neighborhood organizations such as the Hosford –Abernathy Development Association that give high praise to the church’s multi-faceted stewardship efforts.

     Ken Otto, chair of St. Philip Neri's Columbia River Pastoral Letter Committee, responded, "We are honored by this award but are humbled with the recognition that we have only begun. The protection of creation is a matter of justice and spirituality, so we are in it for the long run."

     The BEST! (Be Earth Stewards Today!) team at Forest Grove United Church of Christ stood out as an effective engine for a comprehensive creation care ministry. Its mission is to "foster individual, congregational and community changes in the way we live in order to be better stewards of our earth." BEST's first Sunday recycling program provides members with an opportunity to recycle items such as fluorescent bulbs that are not picked by local garbage haulers. The Rev. Dick Kroll and Todd Smiedendorf regularly weave earth stewardship concerns into their sermons and hymns with a creation theme frequently appear. The BEST team’s community outreach has included ensuring that recycled materials were incorporated into energy efficient homes the church helped build for low income families through Habitat for Humanity and partnerships with groups such as Tualatin River Keepers and SOLV. BEST Team leader, Elliane Whisler, noted “This award will encourage new members for our Team and inspire the old ones to keep trying.”

   Awards for special achievement were given to the following congregations:

·                                 First Unitarian Church, Portland: Education, Community Outreach, Lifestyle. Outstanding educational events and forums that engage the congregation and wider community.

·                                 St. Mary Catholic Church, Corvallis: Community Outreach. Catalyst for the formation of a new food policy council and support of local small farms through CSA relationships.

·                                 First United Methodist Church, Portland: Education and Lifestyle. Innovative lifestyle education programs on energy, transportation and food

·                                 St. Jude Catholic Church, Eugene: Energy Stewardship. Commitment to renewable energy and education and advocacy on global warming.

   Betty Dyson, a judge and pioneer in greening congregations from St. Paul, Minnesota, noted "The applications showed that many Oregon congregations are on the leading edge of faith-based environmental stewardship. These are great examples for congregations across the county."
     Compliments of Endura Wood Products, a specialists in sustainable wood, congregations will receive a plaque made from Oregon wood certified sustainably grown by the Forest Stewardship Council. Awards are being presented to congregation during their earth stewardship celebrations.
     INEC has been working to support and equip congregations for such ministries for over 12 years. It has conducted over 100 workshops and conferences on various aspects of faith and earth stewardship. Its liaison program supports over 75 individuals across the state involved in greening their congregations. INEC’s Oregon Interfaith Power and Light (OIPL) project is currently challenging Oregon congregations to reduce energy use by 20 percent to reduce global warming emissions. OIPL is offering workshops May 24 in Portland and June 2 in Corvallis on energy efficient new building and renovations for congregations. To join INEC, become an earth care liaison or report what your congregation is doing, call (503) 221-1054, ext. 278.
     Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Environmental Ministries connects, informs and empowers individuals and congregations to work for justice and the care and renewal of the earth. EMO is a statewide association of 17 Christian denominations including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox bodies working together to improve the lives of Oregonians through community ministry programs, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, environmental ministry and public policy advocacy.

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