October 1st, 2008 · 1 Comment

An awareness of the environment and especially climate change are generating interest among Muslims as well. London Islamic Network for the Environment (LINE - founded in 2004) founder Muzammal Hussain says that Islamic teachings emphasize “the importance of spiritual development…recognizing that ultimately everything comes from one source, and is connected. The development of this experience presents a profound basis to environmentalism.”

As Southern Baptists and others begin to embrace the concept of climate change, leaders are urging the faithful to find their own unique paths toward environmental awareness and action.

“The SBECI,” says Merritt, “doesn’t make specific policy or lifestyle recommendations. Instead, it is a call to open our eyes to what we see around us and respond to it in a way that would glorify God and exhibit love for our neighbors.

“That may mean Joe and Jane Baptist purchase a hybrid or switch to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), or it may mean that they begin eating differently and purchasing different or voting differently.”

ONE CONGREGATION STARTS THE WALK

At Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, members began an energy conservation program before the SBECI initiative came out, says Executive Pastor Mike Buster, head of the 27,000 member church, one of the largest megachurches in North America.

“In following Jesus’ command to his disciples in John 6:12, ‘Let nothing be wasted,’ we implemented a program in July 2006. By doing so, we’re not only being good stewards of our church’s energy use, we are saving money that is then used for ministry work – from building churches in the Amazon and water wells in Africa to helping hurricane victims…. Since July 2006, we have saved more than $2.1 million.”

Prestonwood examined everything that used energy and came up with ways to be more efficient. Among these, the church:

• Established set points for heating and cooling
• Turned off computers and office equipment during unoccupied times
• Installed irrigation controllers to more efficiently water the property
• Changed out all light bubs to compact, fluorescent technology
• Installed motion light sensors in bathrooms, meeting rooms and offices to turn off the lights when no one was present.

Not only that, says Buster, “we have started a recycling program for not only paper, plastics, etc., but for organic waste from our kitchen, allowing us to recover its nutrient value as compost and reducing the amount of landfill trash.”

Prestonwood, being such a large congregation, has many ancillary activities. It operates the Prestonwood Christian Academy, a pre-K through 12 school that has about 1,500 to 1,600 students. In addition, the church has more than 800 employees. Everyone, says Buster, is on board with the church’s environmental focus.

“When you have that many employees, you can make a huge difference by just implementing a new way of thinking. It’s also been embraced by our students at Prestonwood Christian Academy. PCA has a “Green Team” – a student group that looks for ways to practice and model environmental stewardship on the campus.”

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