Green Action

Resolution for Green Sanctuary Certification

On February 13, 2013, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville Board of Trustees approved a Green Sanctuary Team in order to further affirm and promote “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

The “Green Team” led our congregation’s efforts to incorporate green initiatives into our church community. They conducted an environmental audit and created an action plan of projects within and without our campus. (You can read more about the Green Team initiatives below!) UUFH received our Green Sanctuary status in 2016.

The UUFH Green Team

The Green Team is an on-going committee and they continue to organize environmental justice and sustainability projects and activities.

The chair is appointed by the board and recruits committee members as needed. Members of the Green Team represent many areas of the Fellowship’s life, including Worship, Religious Education, Social Justice, and Buildings and Grounds. Our members come from a variety of backgrounds but all have a biding interest in Environmental Justice and Sustainability.

Mission

To help build a connection between spiritual sustainability and environmental consciousness in our congregation.

Goals

  1. To provide programs for both the Congregation and the wider community that will help integrate the UU Seventh Principle into our lives, both practically and spiritually.
  2. To guide the Congregation’s effort to seek accreditation as a Green Sanctuary.

Objectives

  1. Build awareness of societal environmental issues among our members specifically and the community in general.
  2. Generate commitment for personal lifestyle changes.
  3. Motivate our members to community action on environmental issues.
  4. Build a connection between spiritual practice, sustainability, and environmental consciousness.
  5. Build awareness of and work to rectify environmental injustices.

Green Sanctuary 2030: Mobilizing for Climate Justice

UUFH earned Green Sanctuary accreditation in 2016. At our recent Annual Meeting, the congregation voted to pursue re-accreditation through UUA’s Green Sanctuary 2030: Mobilizing for Climate Justice as our congregational project for 2023-2024. 

As we continue to explore climate justice through our worship services and educational activities, we are currently working on gathering information to complete our Opportunity Assessment and forming our Action Plan. 

In the following fiscal year (2024-2025), we plan to implement the Action Plan and submit a Final Report (Stage IV.) Following feedback and approval, UUFH will receive reaccreditation as a Green Sanctuary.

What is the plan?

The Green Sanctuary Steering Committee is a subcommittee of our Social Justice Team. We are working to identify the congregation’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the climate justice space by gathering feedback and offering opportunities for engagement to guide our next steps. Review the project proposal.

A Continuous Journey

This Green Sanctuary initiative will build upon our previous endeavors. 

  • 2022-2023 Congregational Project focused on Allies for Racial Equity
  • 2019-2021 Congregational Project focused on Environmental Justice
    • Web of Life workshop series
    • “GIVE LIGHT: SPIRITUAL SUPPORT for CLIMATE ACTIVISM” Workshop by Rev. Fred Small
  • 2016 Green Sanctuary Accreditation
    • Let the Sunshine In: Solar Energy Project
      • Several Forums were designed to inform members and friends of the goals for solar panels including the $40,000 cost of installation, tax benefits to contributors, environmental impact and witness, and aesthetic aspects.  These educational and interactive meetings ended with an opportunity to show financial support, resulting in raising 88% of the funds needed to complete the project.
      • The panels were installed in December 2015, and since then, the lifetime energy saving for solar panels is 110.98 MVVh and lifetime revenue $11,648.58, as of August 2023
    • Peace/Contemplation Garden
      • The Contemplation Garden, aka the Peace Garden, consists of a meandering path of colorful pavers painted by the children, a Zen garden complete with sand, rock border, and bamboo screen; solar bird bath, wooden sitting bench, peace pole with the word peace in four languages: English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Arabic, and native plantings. The overall effect is one of peaceful serenity, surrounded by nature.

View Previous Green Sanctuary Activities and Initiatives