As one of the churches in the Virginia Conference's
Green Church Initiative, we'll be exploring ways to improve our impact
on the environment as a church, as individuals, and as a community.
We welcome your ideas and support. We also invite you
to help with our church environmental inventory (described below). And
if you are a member of another committee that shares our goals and
mission, let’s look for ways to work together and help each other.
OUR MISSION
“We value and conserve God’s creation, and we strive to act in an
environmentally conscious manner in worship, service, mission and
activities.”
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Mount Olivet Environmental Inventory:
To move forward, you have to know where you stand. This inventory will help:
* Document the impact Mount Olivet has on the environment and resource use
* Survey the many steps Mount Olivet and its committees
have already taken to meet environmental responsibilities
* Identify new steps that can be taken
Becoming a Green Church. We have completed the requirements for becoming
a “Green Church” under the Virginia Annual Conference of the
United
Methodist Church. We are the second “Green Church”
in Virginia and the first in Arlington.
Awareness & Learning. We are
exploring ways to help our congregation understand the role that
stewardship of God’s Creation plays in our faith journeys. The recent Sacred Waters class offered insights into the place water holds in the Bible and in Christian teaching.
Grounds Management. Coordinating
with the activities of the Trustees Committee, we are helping to assure
that our landscaping and grounds management reflect good environmental
practices.
Certified Wildlife Sanctuary. The grounds of Mount Olivet provide a home for area wildlife. Several members expressed an interest
in what was needed to become a certified
wildlife sanctuary and helped Mount Olivet take the steps to become certified in October of
2007.
This is just the start!
To find out more, contact:
Jaydee Hanson