Methodist women embark on 3-year environmental sustainability project

The women of the Methodist Church, Kingstown-Chateaubelair, and Georgetown-Mt Coke circuits, have embarked on a three-year project to aid in environmental sustainability.{{more}}

The project, entitled “Methodists: Stewards of the Environment”, was launched during a ceremony at the Kingstown Methodist Church Hall on June 5.

The project, organized by the Millennium Development Goal Committee of the circuit, will assist St Vincent and the Grenadines in achieving Millennium Developmental Goal number seven – The Attainment of Environmental Sustainability by 2015. The slogan for the project is “Caring for the Environment: Our Christian Responsibility.”

According to Claudeth Lewis, who gave the project overview at the launching ceremony, the project has as its objectives the improvement of the overall aesthetics of church properties and to encourage church members to improve the environmental conditions of their surroundings.

Lewis added that the project is not intended to replace or limit government initiatives for environmental sustainability, but will complement their efforts.

Lewis added that the Millennium Development Goal Committee recognized that among God’s creation, mankind is the only species charged with the responsibility to take care of the earth. She added that the Methodist women regard themselves and everyone else as environmental stewards.

“As Christians, we should become more involved in protecting and preserve the environment in our communities,” Lewis stated.

Giving the feature address, Joan Ryan, Public Relations and Marketing Manager of the Central Water and Sewage Authority, stated that caring for the world is not just a mandate by the politicians or environmentalists, but it is a mandate handed down to us by God.

Ryan stated that for Christians, caring for the earth is and should continue to be the foundation on which they function. She added that church surroundings must be clean and spotless and inviting to those who already worship there and those you may wish to attract.

“Your efforts therefore must be local before they can become global,” she stated.

However, Ryan stated that one fact that persons must accept is that some of the persons who dump garbage or litter the environment actually go to church. This, she says, is an indictment against them, as it is against the laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines and it is an indication of persons’ refusal to keep the promise of caring for the earth.

Minister of Health Clayton Burgin, also giving brief remarks at the launching ceremony, stated that the project is an opportunity to start afresh to do our part in protecting the environment.

Also giving remarks at the launch, Maxwell Charles, Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, stated that the church always has a role to play in national development.

He further stated that the objectives of the project are noble ones and through the objectives of the project, in the next few years, there will be an improvement of Church properties around St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Elsa Davis, also speaking at the ceremony, stated that though the project is expected to last three years, it is expected that the impact of the project will last for generations.

Persons can assist in the project by donating finances, trees and other planting materials, tools, food, and competition prizes. Persons can also get involved in community or church beautification and clean-up activities, educational activities and by planting trees and vegetable gardens. June 5 was also celebrated as World Environmental Day.(OS)