Resolution #1 Energy Stewardship

The most impressive fact about this proposed resolution is the list of individuals and organizations that are listed as signers. Generally resolutions proposed to Synod Assemblies are signed by only one congregation or one organization. Therefore it appears that there has been a grass roots effort to give this resolution some momentum going into the Assembly. The major provisions in this resolution are:

1. All facilities measure their greenhouse gas emissions and establish a baseline starting point.
2. With assistance and/or support of the Synod's Creation Care team, conduct an energy audit to determine what options there are for reducing energy use.
3. Make a commitment to reduce their carbon footprint by a certain percentage over a specified period of time.
4. Share this information with the Creation Care team, Synod office, and any applicable ELCA congregational reporting forms and subsequently share what energy saving steps were taken, and measurable energy savings were realized.
5. This Synod memorializes the ELCA at its 2011 Churchwide Assembly to challenge others to do the same. The goal is to reduce energy use by 5% per year with a goal to reduce energy use by 25-40% by 2020.
 The issue of what this resolution will cost the Synod budget was answered: The anticipated result is a reduction in expenses for energy for individual ministries. Any costs for upgrading facilities, meters, etc. would be borne by them.

I'm guessing that this resolution will be passed by a large majority with few or no amendments. My experience with such a resolution was in the last Synod Assembly in Alaska I attended. A similar resolution was proposed in 2007. An amendment to include the carbon foot print of members travel to and from ministries was approved, but the overall resolution failed by a close vote. Obviously the attempt to measure the realistic total carbon foot print for a church became too inclusive to garner popular support for the resolution. If this resolution focuses only on the facilities of a church, it will probably pass. The interesting thing to follow will be to see how many churches actually respond and what percentage energy savings will be achieved. The building committee has informed your voting members that such an audit was done at Trinity three years ago. I will vote No on this resolution, because I feel that its only purpose is a political statement. I don't think a serious effort will be made to hold congregations to hard energy saving targets. I think its only purpose is to further the political "brand" of the ELCA as a good liberal citizen.