the green church

i am excited to see this article (via: john @ methoblog) on a methodist church that is going green. green, as in being environment friendly. green technology generally has cost more on the front end of construction, but pays off in long run, not to mention the conscience of minimizing one's global impact. spiritually this could be considered a witness of sorts.

The $8 million Live Oak church will be Santa Cruz County's first to go “green,” including solar power panels disguised as roof tiles and skylights to let in the light. Construction could begin this summer with completion in a year.

“The building itself could be a witness to our values of sustainability and good resource management,” pastor Michael Love said, noting a self-sufficient church fits perfectly with the core values of the Methodist community.

“It's our responsibility to be stewards and caretakers of natural resources,” he said.

The 17th Avenue church will be home for three congregations that merged in May 2003, including the flock from the landmark Grace United Methodist church that was gutted by fire in 2000.

The church parking lot will be paved with an asphalt concrete that absorbs water, draining it into the ground below. Some of the stained-glass windows from the old church will be reused, and the furnaces will be higher efficiency.

Comments

[John]

It's something that all churches engaging in new construction should consider. That, and zombie-defensive preparedness.

[gavin]

i would think that churches should look at renewal projects using & remodeling buildings that are already built.

[Rev. Michael Love]

John, Thanks for the heads up on the zombie thing. (Especially here in Santa Cruz--the not-too fictional film location of that classic, "Lost Boys") Good idea.

Gavin, All churches in new construction definitely have an obligation to consider what kind of earth-impact witness they are making. But I also agree with your assessment that renewal and reuse is a rich opportunity to further that witness.

[gavin]

zombie construction is still a ways off. thanks rev. michael for your church's witness & being progressive in using new technologies to better live out our social principles