St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Little Rock has made caring for creation one of its missions, and the church took another energy-saving step Tuesday.
Crews installed 10 solar panels on the roof of the church's youth building. The panels are expected to save the church some money in electricity costs and reduce carbon emissions.
The project is also a symbol of the church's commitment to caring for the environment, said the Rev. Danny Schieffler, rector of the church.
Schieffler said it's the duty of the church to be an outward sign of the grace of God.
"As a sacred organization, it's our privilege and duty to look for ways to help that grace shine in the world," he said. "We have a responsibility to help all of us in the world to become better stewards, and churches can help model that for others and show it's economically feasible to do this."
The solar panel project was a cooperative effort between the church -- particularly parishioner Barbara Jarvis -- and Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light, Arkansas Renewable Energy Association and Stellar Sun.
Scharmel Roussel, executive director of Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light, said the panels will provide about 313 kilowatt hours of electricity per month.
"It doesn't come close to what they need to run the whole campus but it's a start, and that roof has a lot more area and it will be easy to go back later and add more panels if they want to," Roussel said. "It's symbolic. It's a symbol of their love for God's creation."
Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light is an affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light, a national organization that teaches people of faith and houses of worship how to be good stewards of the Earth's resources.
"It's made up of individuals and congregations who believe that the sacred writings of all faith traditions ask us to care for creation, protect the planet and preserve fragile ecosystems that sustain life," Roussel said. "We see environmental issues through the lens of faith.
"For us, they are stewardship issues."
Jarvis had attended several events organized by Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light, and she and Roussel discussed the possibility of a solar project at the church. With approval from the church, they began seeking grants and funds.
Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light and the national organization, as well as Arkansas Renewable Energy Association, gave seed money for the project, and Stellar Sun reduced the cost of installation. The church and members also donated money for the project, which cost about $10,000.
"It's a very community-based effort and I'm so thrilled with it," Jarvis said.
Schieffler credits Jarvis for getting the project approved.
"She has been the one in this congregation who has consistently and persistently encouraged and challenged and cajoled our church for years to take better care of God's creation," he said.
Jarvis started the EcoMark group at the church that provides information on stewardship of the Earth.
"That group, under her leadership, has gotten us to recycle everything we can, to use items that are reusable and if we can't reuse them, to recycle," he said.
Other projects have included installing water-saving devices and LED lighting in the church. She then turned her sights to a solar project.
"She's been the leader," Schieffler said. "It's a classic example that if somebody has a passion for doing something, they can move heaven and earth to make it happen. Who was I to say no when every box had been checked? We were happy to say yes, and it's been a blessing to participate."
Roussel said the project is the first time Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light has worked with a house of worship to install solar panels. She hopes the project at St. Mark's will inspire other houses of worship to think about using solar power, as does Jarvis.
"The physical presence of the solar panels will say, 'These people are trying to use clean energy,'" Jarvis said.
Information about the solar project and Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light is available online at arkansasipl.com. Roussel can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by calling (501) 772-9906.
Religion on 09/10/2016