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Environmental Stewardship Committee
"The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the
rivers."
~Psalm 24: 1-2~
Our Mission
The mission of the Environmental Stewardship Committee is twofold:
- to help the congregation understand the Biblical mandate
for stewardship of the earth, which as God's creation, should be a reflection of his glory;
- to help members understand how individual choices effect
the lives of others, both locally and globally.
Environmental Stewardship Luncheon and Talk
The Environmental Stewardship Committee cordially invites you to attend
"PLANTS OF THE BIBLE"
presented by Pam Beck
Sunday, November 1, 2009 -- 12:15 p.m.
0012 Westbrook
A "green" lunch will be served at no cost to the first 60 people attending. The event will conclude by 1:30 p.m.
"PLANTS OF THE BIBLE" - Many of the plants mentioned in the Old and New Testament are surprisingly hardy and suitable to be grown in our public and private Southeastern landscapes. This entertaining inter-denominational slide lecture full of Biblical references, art, history and folklore is frequently requested by both social and religious groups desiring a deeper understanding of the plants of the scriptures, or for planning a Biblical garden of their own. |
Projects
Educational programming:
The committee works
to plan events and invite guest speakers with the aim of educating
members of the Congregation, the larger
Duke Chapel community, and the University about how to live
as faithful stewards of God's creation. This site also maintains a list of current Community Supported Agriculture sources (CSA's) (in an Excel spreadsheet) which gives individuals and families the opportunity to subscribe to the fresh produce of local farms.
Past Events
"The History of Sustainability"
presented by
Frank Phoenix, Greenbridge Development
Sunday, April 19, 2009
FAITH AND ENVIRONMENT PANEL- On Monday, March 30, 2009, the Duke Faith Council hosted an event entitled "Saving the Earth: What Can Faith Traditions Teach Us About the Environment?" A panel of five distinguished speakers representing Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Christian traditions was moderated by Dean Sam Wells. The event was held at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life, 1416 Faber St. in Durham.
On Sunday, January 18, 2009, an eco-friendly lunch and presentation on food sustainability by Dr. Jim Ferguson, professor of UNC-Chapel Hill who teaches "Eats 101", and Lauren Wilson.
Professor Ellen Davis spoke on April
13, 2008
The Politics of Food
As Dean Wells
noted in his April 6, 2008 sermon,
our choices regarding food are fraught with moral and
political ramifications. What we eat, and how we get it,
should be
informed by our theology of creation and God’s abundance. Click
here for a number of resources to help you begin
consuming in a way that replaces the excesses of the modern
food
industry with an acknowledgment of God’s gracious
gifts.
On Earth Day 2007, we hosted former Dean
William H. Schlesinger of the Nicholas School of the Environment
and Earth Sciences for an address on global climate change.
(See
04/22/2007 webcast - RealVideo required.)
Click here for his Powerpoint presentation.
The committee assists Congregation members, Duke Chapel,
and Duke University to identify and implement conservation
measures. For example, the chandeliers inside Duke Chapel
now run on energy-efficient bulbs, saving approximately $10,000/year
in electricity costs.
Water Conservation
For information on water conservation, see the excellent website maintained by the Duke University Sustainability Office.
Things to Do for Lent
- Use canvas shopping bags.
- Plant a garden.
- Turn off lights.
- Eat less beef.
- Change to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Hang a clothes line, and use it.
- Buy local foods.
- Carpool.
- Get a metal water bottle.
- Start a compost heap.
- Collect water for gardening in a rain barrel.
- Try riding your bike.
Resources
Committee Members
The Environmental Stewardship Committee members include Brenda Brodie,
Mary Eubanks, Nancy Ferree-Clark, Cynthia Gass, Jane Hix, Beth Keena (chair), Rick Keena, Melissa Mills, Susan O'Neil, Bruce Puckett,
Derrick Sides,
Nelson Strother, and
Lucy Worth.
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