Utah CRC Awarded Green Grant

Two agencies of the Christian Reformed Church have awarded the third annual Green Congregation Grant to First Christian Reformed Church (CRC) of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The agencies involved are the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and the CRC’s Office of Social Justice.

To earn the competitive, $500 prize, congregations concerned about the environment must demonstrate "effective and replicable 'greening' through education, lifestyle, and theological initiatives."

"There are several worthy Green Grant applicants this year,” says Kris Van Engen, the denomination’s congregational justice mobilizer and the grant manager. “First CRC in Salt Lake stands out because of their plan to design an environment around their church building that demonstrates both good earth-keeping and love for their neighbors."

Van Engen, who works for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) and the denomination's Office of Social Justice, says that the Salt Lake congregation was challenged several years ago by the need to either raze their existing facility or improve it—and they chose the least resource-intense option.

"Salt Lake CRC is modifying its existing structure to make it more energy efficient," says Christie Oostema, a member of the congregation. "That decision allows us to maintain our rich ties with the past, enhance congregational life and outreach into the community today, and reduce our environmental impact in the future through careful remodeling. The choices we make about how we transform the space God has given us are an expression of our stewardship of it."

The first phase of the improvement project transformed the church’s entryway and sanctuary into an "urban oasis" that is now a peaceful invitation to pedestrians who regularly frequent the bus stop, bike lane, and wide sidewalk in front of the church property.

To achieve their remodeling goals, the church replaced the existing windows with air-tight, clear, low-e glass that reduces temperature shifts and makes use of natural light. They removed existing carpets and laid low-VOC carpet squares made with 39 percent recycled products and a linoleum alternative. When installing new, more efficient heating and cooling systems, the church included proper asbestos removal, and they also selected domestically-sourced timber for wood finishes.

By taking a "re-use" rather than a "replace" approach to updating their facility, church officers say they have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars that they are in part investing in quality construction products that have less environmental impact. The congregation has also chosen to "use existing resources" rather than go into debt to fund their efforts.

"When we chose to re-imagine our existing space," Oostema says, "we chose to do so with the financial means God provided as we went along. The Green Congregation Grant is now part of those steps of faith."

The church also experiences a five to 10 percent reduction in energy costs from their new, energy-efficient furnace and air conditioning units. It's a savings they expect to increase as new roofing and other projects are completed in the future.

Salt Lake CRC will use the 2011 Green Grant award to continue to enhance their visual presence in their urban neighborhood with a street-level outdoor seating area and kiosk in the public space in front of the church.

"Our front steps are already frequented by pedestrians looking for a place to eat lunch or wait for the bus,"Oostema says. "With the Green Grant, we can provide a servant presence in front of our building that creates an ongoing forum for community discussion and a place to sit comfortably during a busy day."

Among the many applications received for the 2011 Green Grant, evaluators chose Salt Lake CRC because the project's replicability, environmental impact, potential for congregational and community transformation, and creativity.

A thousand Christian Reformed churches across the U.S. and Canada had the opportunity to compete for grant last fall. Winners agree to share their ideas to encourage environmentally responsible behavior in other congregations. Grant submissions and links to other creation care materials for individuals, congregations, and institutions can be accessed at www.crcjustice.org.

For more information or interview about the 2011 grant winner, the Green Congregation Grant, or environmental action among Christian Reformed congregations, contact Rev. Kris Van Engen, congregational justice mobilizer, at cell 616-283-9717 or email [email protected].

For more information about CRWRC, visit www.crwrc.org, or call Beth DeGraff, media contact, at cell 616-648-7821 or 1-800-55-CRWRC.