A number of churches in the community are beginning to put their resources to good use for the betterment of the planet.
Over the last few years, the town’s places of worship have been coming together to fight climate change, from establishing green committees to taking on initiatives started by regional congregations.
Elaine Leahy is the founding member and chair of the Creation Care Team at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church and is also the executive director of Sustainable Marblehead. The team, which has 15 members, was formed to “care for the environment, our common home and all those who reside in it, especially the most vulnerable,” Leahy said. The committee bases its teachings on Pope Francis’ second encyclical Laudato si’, which focuses on caring for the environment.
Just last month, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, and its Creation Care Team won an award for its work on humanitarian and environmental issues. The group was recognized for its efforts in holding a canned-goods drive for Afghan refugees, starting weekly composting, and creating an eco-friendly library bookshelf at the back of the church for sharing religious books.
“All parishioners have played a role in winning the award when they have donated items to the Afghanistan refugees, use the compost bin, pick up litter, and visit or donate to our eco-friendly lending library, so it’s an honor for all of us at Our Lady, Star of the Sea,” Leahy said in a statement. “We thank Monsignor Timothy Moran for his support of our ministry.”
Another environmental committee, known as the Green Team, popped up in June at Old North Church. Started by Co-Chairs Mark and Marge Adams, the committee has taken on the “Green Congregation Challenge,” started by the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ congregations.
The challenge consists of four levels, with five different categories making up the first level: educate, organize, reduce/reuse/rethink, connect, and advocate. Before beginning the challenge, both Mark and Marge Adams and their Green Team had already completed many of these tasks, but realized that they could be doing more in the community.
The committee meets once a month and is now focusing on the fifth category of advocacy. In addition, Old North Church has partnered with other congregations in town to spread awareness and urgency on reversing climate change.
“For almost a year now, Old North has participated with other congregations in Marblehead in the church bell-ringing on the 11th of each month at 11 a.m. for 11 minutes to bear witness to the fact that we are indeed in the 11th hour of the climate crisis,” Mimi Hollister of Old North Church said. “Creation care is a theological, as well as moral, issue for all humankind.”
Hollister said the church is also considering partnerships with other churches and organizations such as the League of Women Voters and Sustainable Marblehead to educate others on the importance of advocacy.
Other congregations in town, despite not having an established green committee, are still aiming to make positive environmental impacts.
Rector Clyde Elledge of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church said that it is currently in the early stages of piloting a program that aims to help congregations become more “actively aware with environmentalism.” The effort will be a church-wide program and Elledge said that he believes it will be successful, as the church’s membership has been supportive in the process.
St. Andrew’s partnership with SPUR also serves a dual humanitarian and environmental purpose. SPUR’s Community Roots Garden, located on the grounds of St. Andrew’s, grows fresh and organic produce that goes to local food pantries and organizations fighting food insecurity.
The garden has been operating for several years and features a 3,000 square-foot base with 40 garden beds.