Archives for 2019

Recently, Westminster hosted an Environmental Forum with Teri Kent from the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative (or C3). Teri spoke about C3’s initiatives such as the “Better Business Challenge” and the “Home Energy Challenge,” initiatives designed to empower the community to take more decisive steps to address climate change. Indeed, C3 has been instrumental in getting the Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to strengthen their climate action programs/standards. I will be working with Claire to help host house “power parties” in the future with members of the congregation as a way to introduce them to the goals and principles of the “Home Energy Challenge.”

Kendyl Crawford, who had returned to Westminster, discussed Virginia Interfaith Power & Light’s efforts to advocate for environmental justice, such as in the cases of the Atlantic Coast Pipelines Buckingham County Compressor Station and the Chickahominy Power Station. The most impacted by climate disruption, communities of color often live (near) the sites of fossil fuel infrastructure, fracking, oil spills, asthma-inducing pollution, and other environmental hazards. Faith communities are able to hold decision-makers accountable. The group’s advocacy efforts will culminate in Richmond on January 22, 2020, with a legislative lobby day at the beginning of the VA General Assembly Session.

The local IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together) is a coalition of about 25 churches representing the three primary faith communities here. Westminster has been a participant for IMPACT’s entire 11 years. Indeed, former pastor Jim Baker helped found the group with other pastors. The organization works for local improvement of social justice, addressing systemic problems in our community, going beyond acts of mercy. Over the years, the focus has been on issues of pre-K access in the public schools, expanded bus routes to under-served areas, a dental clinic for those without health insurance, job training programs, drug rehabilitation center for women, housing for homeless and, lately, a better inventory of affordable housing in the city and county. IMPACT can take credit for accomplishing much in these areas.

Westminster has been a steady financial contributor to IMPACT, but our personal participation has waned lately, due to lots of reasons, including frankly some dissatisfaction with IMPACT’s confrontational style with local policy makers. Much of that style has abated,, but IMPACT still understands that forging justice is hard work, and requires persistent advocacy. I remain committed to the organization for its steadfast attention to problems in our community, and for its interfaith/interracial composition.

IMPACT’s yearly calendar involves issue identification in the fall, a period of research on the matter and meetings with local officials, culminating with a Nehemiah Action, at which IMPACT congregations hope to turn out more than 1000 people in support of justice. The name is homage to the prophet Nehemiah who spoke truth to power amid injustice of the time. This year’s action is at MLK Performing Arts Center on April 11, with the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. We’ll be hearing updates on the difficult issues surrounding affordable housing, and pressing for a better governmental response. Join us, and stand up for social justice. Please see me for further information.

Steve Wilson

We hope you were able to participate in the interactive quiz (“How Much Do You Know About How To Solve Global Warming”) offered in this section in the February 14 edition of the church newsletter.
As we seek ways to care for God’s creation, we wanted to focus on plastics for a minute in this edition. The world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic each year and it is estimated that up to 91% of the plastic is not recycled, threatening the environment and poisoning animals. As a community, I’m confident that our recycling record is better, however, there are changes coming to the McIntire Recycling Center starting July 1 and I suspect to residential recycling services as well. Because of the lack of a market for some recycled materials the MRC will no longer accept plastics with a recycling designation of ♻️ 3 to 7. This also includes plastic bags, PVC pipe, and automotive containers.
Effective immediately, even though the McIntyre recycling center will accept these items until July 1, they will be shipped to Raleigh, where they will be placed into a landfill. This is not the best option for this beautiful earth that God has given us.
What can we do?
1) Refrain from buying anything plastic that is not designated in the 1 to 2 ♻️ category.
2) Refrain from using any “one use” product (i.e., straws, plastic utensils, plastic bags, paper plates and cups, etc.)
The Green Team

Westminster women of all ages gathered at beautiful Graves Mountain for a weekend to explore “Grace: Mending What Is Broken.” Starting on Friday afternoon and running through Sunday morning, April 26-28, the retreat was a great way to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Watch for news of next year’s retreat in the months to come!