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2007-08-07 issue:

Conference pursues greener gatherings

Indiana-Michigan Conference uses mugs to save about 2,000 styrofoam cups.

by Jennifer Halteman Schrock

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The 350-plus Mennonites who attended the Indiana-Michigan Conference Assembly  at College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., June 14-16 encountered a few changes in the registration line.

First, they filled out a transportation survey describing how they traveled to the conference and how far they came. Later, they chose a mug to keep with them throughout the event.

The transportation survey was used to calculate the approximate cost to the environment in terms of miles traveled, gallons of gas burned and CO2 emitted. The mugs kept about 2,000 styrofoam cups out of the landfill.

Both measures were part of a greening effort inspired by feedback from previous years’ delegates.

Heidi King, logistics coordinator for the conference, enlisted volunteers from Mennonite Creation Care Network and the Michiana Mennonite Earth Group to work with these questions, and a planning group pursued issues related to transportation, food, recycling and facility.  

The assembly registration form asked attendees to bring their own mug to use at breaks. For those who forgot, planners gathered a collection of spare mugs from local congregations. Food providers were asked to avoid disposables when possible and recycling bins were available for all waste.

Most attendees responded positively to the mug idea.

“It is a small step, but it represents the fact that change is possible and we can all be a part of it,” says one attendee.

At the close of the Indiana-Michigan assembly, Lois Kaufmann, local coordinator, announced the results of the transportation survey: the group drove between 20,000 and 30,000 miles in order to be together. This required at least 1,000 gallons of fuel, cost at least $3,000 at the gas pump and emitted at least 10 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

“We recognize that our activities, even those that are important and worthwhile, take a toll on the earth,” Kaufmann says. Assembly planners acknowledged this fact with two gifts for the benefit of the earth: Indiana-Michigan Conference gave a garden cart to Goshen (Ind.) College for students to use when hauling recyclables and made a donation to a tree-planting project in Haiti through Mennonite Central Committee.

Prizes were also awarded for the greatest distance biked, greatest distance walked, largest carpool, best gas mileage and most creative travel arrangements.

At least 13 Indiana-Michigan participants walked a total of at least 44 miles in order to attend the annual sessions. Most walkers lived nearby, but a few were out-of-towners with lodging within walking distance. Several people in their 80s braved the June heat on foot.

Trish Shenk, Goshen, Ind., walked about five miles between her house and College Mennonite Church.

Shenk’s family is working at using their vehicles less often. Each day her family is able to go the whole day without using a car, they put $10 in a special fund.

“It is stretching me to realize I don’t need to get out a car every time I need to run to the bank or the store; I can bike or walk,” Shenk says. 

Ken Hollinger, Wildwood Mennonite Church, Engadine, Mich., who walked nine miles during the assembly, says being away from home gave him the leisure to travel more slowly.

“I was able to walk because I had no meetings and my cell phone was broken. It was bliss,” he says.

At least seven people arrived by bicycle, logging a total of at least 71 miles.

“I was encouraged to see a full bike rack,” says Doug Kaufman, pastor of Benton Mennonite Church in Goshen, who expected to bike about eight miles attending the assembly.

First place in the biking category went to Neil Amstutz, pastor at Waterford Mennonite Church, Goshen, who biked 21 miles in transit. Amstutz, a biker, recommends that people interested in biking invest in a lightweight bicycle.

Another green feature of the 2007 Indiana-Michigan Conference annual assembly was a workshop entitled “Stewardship of Creation as an Act of Faith.”

Led by Luke Gascho, the seminar addressed the question, How does care of the earth fit into congregational life, thought and action? Gascho is executive director of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College.

King intends for green efforts to be a part of next year’s gathering.

“We are adding another volunteer position to our planning—earth stewardship coordinator,” she says.

Reader Comments

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  • Posted by JMS at Friday, August 10, 2007 at 09:07 AM

    The plan to save money by using styrofoam cups instead of MUGS? What about the hot water and soap and labor to wash the cups?

  • Posted by delmer at Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 11:04 PM

    responding to JMS.. Having to wash mugs would be a major inconvenience in the north american throw-away society. You'd have to pay a $10 per hour labourer.. a real strike to the pocket....