The Rev. Leroy Hedman knows that small changes add up fast. He has seen, for instance, how his church's utility bill dropped significantly over the course of a year because of energy-efficient lightbulbs. He can tell you the percentage saved here and there because of some simple awareness.
But frugality is not the true motivation of this pastor. His goal is stewardship of God's creation, and he believes every church can do its part.
"We believe that we are here to replenish the earth," said Hedman of his small congregation at Georgetown Gospel Chapel in Southeast Seattle. He refers to a passage in Collosians 1:16 and 1:20 of the Bible that says we are "to reconcile all things to Christ."
"We aren't told to reconcile some things and not others, but all things," he said. "That passage extended my theology."
Over his 21-years of ministry at this congregation, Hedman and members have slowly changed the church building from one of wastefulness to efficiency.
For example, with a simple exchange of compact florescent light bulbs for the usual incandescent bulbs, they now use one-tenth the electricity in the sanctuary as before. The water heater is turned off at night. Exit signs are now lighted with LEDs, and, when possible, baptisms are done with a sprinkling of water rather than immersion in the now unheated baptismal tank.
These environmental upgrades won the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency. In 1999, the congregation won the agency's Energy Star Award, the first ever granted to a church.
"Any church can do this," Hedman said of the conservation practices. "It costs more up-front, but you quickly recoup any of that."
The multicultural, non-denominational church is part of what many environmentalists hope is a growing trend among evangelical churces toward creation care. In a Feb. 6 Washington Post article called "The Greening of Evangelicals," writer Blaine Harden describes how the Christian Right is warily turning to environmentalism.
"Evangelicals should worry less about the moral authority of the president and more about their biblical obligation to care for Earth," quoted Hedman in the article.
In fact, Hedman can point out many passages in the Bible where creation care is mandated. One such passage is in Romans 8, the story of Jonah, and also a passage in Revelations that refers to the "healing of leaves."
"This isn't theology just for the soul's sake. We shouldn't be so concerned about getting from A to Z. We need to also be about the B and Y of life, too," asserted Hedman. "So many churches are looking at [environmental conservation] in brand new ways. What I find discouraging is the vast amount of evangelicals who still see creation care as creation worship. I don't worship creation; I worship the creator. Caring for the Earth is something we must do."
Hedman and members of the congregation have first-hand knowledge of the urgency behind these beliefs. The church is located in an environmentally compromised area of Seattle, only blocks from an active EPA Superfund site and several toxic "brown fields." The Georgetown Gospel Chapel is surrounded by industrial Seattle and the noise pollution of Boeing Field, and they are located a short walk from the contaminated Duwamish River.
Hedman now has asthma, and he knows of folks in the neighborhood who can't get bank loans to buy homes because of contamination from a chemical leak more than a decade ago.
Amidst all this, the chapel provides hope, hope that is clearly visible in the lush organic gardens that blanket the property. Hedman, a master gardener and composter, says gardening is one of his big passions. At the church, flowers bloom from every available patch of soil alongside blueberry bushes, apple trees, vegetables and herbs. It's a bounty that is shared when harvested.
"Neighbors know they can help themselves," he said. "We try to be an oasis here, to add a little flavor to the neighborhood."
Hedman is committed to organic gardening and teaches others how to garden without chemicals.
"If we don't put junk in the land, we won't be eating it," noted Hedman.
And regarding the dandelions in the church yard?
"I tell people to get used to them," he said grinning.
With its gardens and energy saving upgrades, Georgetown Chapel functions as a lab school of sorts for creation care. Hedman and others in the church see their roles as one of teaching others.
"I'm always happy to help other churches make the kind of changes we've made," said Hedman. "We often have groups come through here to see what we are doing."
Since becoming a Greening Congregations Partner with Earth Ministry, a faith-based organization dedicated to helping individuals and congregations connect Christian faith with care for the Earth, Hedman is often invited to speak to others. In recent months he has been interviewed for national publications and local radio shows.
"The connection with Earth Ministry has really expanded my ministry," Hedman noted.
This recent notoriety has been helpful to spread the message of creationcare to a wider audience.
"It's been important to realize that creation care is not just a ministry of this church," Hedman asserted. "It's a ministry that goes far beyond that."
Georgetown Gospel Chapel is located at 6606 Carlton Ave. S. Pastor Hedman may be reached at 206-767-3207.
To learn more about the work of Earth Ministry and its Greening Congregations Partnerships, visit www.earthministry.org.
This article originally appeared in the May 2005 edition of "The Source." Tricia Schug may be reached at editor@sdistrictjournal.com.[[In-content Ad]]
