Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

A standing ovation greeted the Green Sanctuary Task Force following the congregation’s vote to approve its UUA accreditation application.  To read Task Force Chair Sharon Baiocco’s talk, “Green Sanctuary Inspires Cultural Change” click on the link.

To read the entire accreditation report or view a video report, to to the Green Sanctuary Page. To join the Green Sanctuary e-list, mailto: green@uucharlottesville.org

We did it!  We’ve completed our 12 Action Projects, documented our results, evaluated Green Sanctuary’s impact at TJMC, and completed our written application.  To read the full report which we will ask the congregation to approve Jan. 29,  go to this link: Final Green Sanctuary Application. (Note: A Summary Report has been distributed throughout January.)

Don’t miss the Jan. 29 single-service and congregational meeting where a motion to approve our application will be made.  With the congregation’s approval, we will then submit this report to the UUA for Green Sanctuary accreditation, thus elevating us to one of 182 UU congregations who have received accreditation since 2002.

To read much more about our work, see photos, and find resources, go to our permanent web page: Green Sanctuary Home Page

The Green Sanctuary Task Force is issuing a new challenge to the congregation to live out our 7th Principle through carpooling to church Sunday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m.  Let’s double our number of participants! Because it is a single service, and important, we expect a crowd.  To encourage you further, we will be raffling off a Whole Foods gift card to all carpool riders and drivers.  Family members don’t count unless you have a full car!

There are only 120 parking spaces in our lots and around the church and more than 400 adult members, so carpooling may be the way to overcome the #1 limit on our church’s growth (parking space), as well as to promote energy conservation. During three Sundays in the fall we averaged nearly two persons per car, a significant improvement from two people every fifth car in the spring.  More than 50 individuals participated.   (Note: overflow parking is sometimes available on Sundays at UVA’s Culbreth Parking Garage, but you have to walk a few blocks.)  For help finding a ride or a rider, stop by our table in the Social Hall or consult the membership directory.

As part of preparation for submitting our congregational accreditation application, the Green Sanctuary Task Force asks you to complete its Individual Sustainability Survey.  So far, we have 70 completed surveys, and we are learning interesting facts about our congregation.  You may pick up a survey at our table Sunday or download a copy:  Green Sanctuary Individual Sustainability Survey, print it, complete it, and return it to the Environmental Action mailbox or return it at our table.  Countdown ’till we have our congregational vote — Jan. 29.  Don’t forget to carpool!

The Green Sanctuary Task Force will ask the congregation for approval of its final report and application for accreditation by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) at a January 29 Congregational Meeting.

After two years as a Green Sanctuary candidate, we have completed more than the 12 required action projects, evaluated the impact of our programs, and prepared a final report and presentation.  During November and December, members of the Task Force have attended Council and key committee meetings to evaluate how well our programs have achieved our goals, and we have found support for our application.

To view a YouTube Video Report and more, go to our web page at the TJMC UU website: Green Sanctuary Video Report on YouTube