Middlebury
Friends Meeting
Middlebury , Vermont
Date
of interview: November 21, 2004
Size of Congregation: 45
Denomination: Quaker
Interview with Cheryl Mitchell, congregant
Activities: Through the Quaker Testimony of simplicity and minimizing one's consumption, many congregants have made the decision to purchase more fuel-efficient cars. Additionally, many members of the congregation have gardens in order to promote sustainable food consumption. Almost all congregants have taken part in the Ten Percent Challenge, a Burlington-based initiative to raise awareness about global climate change and promote reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Motivations: Faith and Practice of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, the religious text that is used for discussions and meetings has a specific passage on stewardship of the earth. "Do you revere all life and the splendor of God’s continuing creation? Do you try to protect the natural environment and its creatures against abuse and harmful exploitation? Do you regard your possessions as given to you in trust, and do you part with them freely to meet the needs of others? Are you frugal in your personal life and committed to the just distribution of the world’s resources?" These questions are intended to spark thoughts and discussions about our actions and how we as individuals living on this earth treat the environment.
Challenges: The only obstacle to initiating environmental activities that was discussed during the in-depth interview was the presence of some strong personalities within the congregation and the difficulties that are often present when trying to organize large initiatives.
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