Dec
19
In The News – December 2011
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CHURCH/STATE
- Faith leaders don’t see an Obama war on religion
- Supreme Court won’t review NYC ban on worship in schools
- School district settles suit with Tennessee ACLU
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
- New Youth Agency Taking Shape as Two Close
- UTMB gets $45 million to continue prison health care
- Harris County inmates get job training
- Hoping to Reform Justice System, Groups Eye Sunset Review
EDUCATION
- Measuring the Impact of Historic Texas Education Cuts
- Super Committee’s Failure Will Spur Hefty K-12 Cuts Without A Congressional Fix
- Texas Schools Face New Rules on Financial Hardship
- Texas Teachers Say Classes Growing, Layoffs Widespread
- High-School Dropout Rates Are Highest Among Hispanics
- More students taking college entrance exams, but few hit state performance goals, TEA says
- Second school finance lawsuit filed
- Robin Hood an Accepted Reality for Texas Schools
- School Districts Shortchange Low-Income Schools
- Low-Income Schools Less Likely To Have Daily Recess
- Get Involved-Spotlight: Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
- Dozens rally against district plan to host charter program in East Austin
- Democratic Party rolling the dice on education
ENERGY RATE CASE
- The Baptist General Convention of Texas is speaking out against a proposed 80% Austin Energy rate increase on houses of worship
- The City Council will soon vote on a proposed Austin Energy rate increase (Audio)
- Austin’s faith community braces for potential utility hike
- Churches not happy with proposed energy rate hikes
- Austin Energy: We Were Affordable (Before the Proposed 23% Rate Increase)
ENVIRONMENT
- Austin eyes West Texas for solar power
- EPA: Fracking may cause groundwater pollution
- Interactive: Areas Exceeding EPA Ozone Air Quality Levels
- Ozone Pollution Spiked in Texas This Year
GAMBLING
- Democratic Party rolling the dice on education
- Texas lottery sales hit record
- Tiguas’ tribal leaders, members work to improve future
- Special report: Jack Abramoff’s regrets fall short for Tigua officials
- Special report: Tigua casino closure timeline
- Corruption in Mexico casinos takes a toll in the US, too
- Hearing airs tribes’ issues with Internet gambling
- Oklahoma tribe to be granted reservation between Las Cruces and Deming
- Indian claim over Park City land set in Kansas
HEALTH
- State to cover meningitis vaccine for college students
- New study shows health insurance premium spikes in every state
- Safety-net programs insure more Texas children
- Texas may cut Medicaid reimbursements to healthcare providers
- Column: Don’t take the ‘medi’ out of Medicaid
- Health care law changing behavior
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
- HSU Global Awareness Week highlights Fair Trade
- Texas gets a ‘B’ in fighting sex trafficking of minors | It’s one of 4 states getting the highest grade awarded
- Trafficking: False promises, desperation lure woman
- Two Sex Traffickers Convicted in State, County and Federal Probe
HUNGER & POVERTY
- States Hungry for Revenue Leave Billions in U.S. Food Assistance on Table
- More schoolchildren in Central Texas living in poverty
- Midlanders work to end food insecurity through Food Planning Association
- Updated: Interactive Map of Food Stamp Distribution and Economic Impact
- USDA focuses on small neighborhood stores as it fights food stamp trafficking
- Can the Cans | Why food drives are a terrible idea
- Congress Pushes Back On Healthier School Lunches, Fights To Keep Pizza And Fries
- Editorial: School lunch guidelines lose to cooks in Congress
IMMIGRATION
- Immigration Falls as Campaign Border Rhetoric Soars
- Feds offer new guidance on when to dismiss immigration cases
- U.S. to Review Cases Seeking Deportations
- Lawmakers Want Defense Technology on Border
- Immigration Report Raises Doubts About Obama-Backed Visa Program (Audio)
- Arizona Immigration Law Faces Supreme Court Ruling
PAYDAY LENDING
- Why We Spend, Why They Save
- OKC New Baptist Covenant takes aim at payday lending
- Reed pushes amendment to protect military families from abusive financial practices
- Birmingham, Alabama Announces a Temporary Ban on Payday Loans
REDISTRICTING
- Court issues new state legislative maps for Texas
- Court Releases Congressional Maps
- Court shouldn’t reject redrawn map
- Federal Judges Propose Maps for Texas Legislative Races
- Redistricting Orders Throw Texas Politics Into Disarray
- U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on Texas’ redistricting maps
- Texas AG Abbott accuses federal court of “undermining the democratic process” with redistricting map
- Texas attorney general accuses the U.S. of dragging its feet on redistricting maps
- Greg Abbott to challenge judges’ interim state districts map
- Attorney General Abbott Seeks Emergency Stay, Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Overturn Interim Redistricting Maps
- Abbott: Elections Should Use Legislature’s Maps
- State’s lawyer taking redistrict battle to Supreme Court
- State, feds argue over cause of delays in redistricting case
- State objects to court-drawn legislative maps
- Attorney general’s office has harsh words for court’s redistricting maps
- Speaker criticizes court redistrict map
VOTER ID
- Time running out for voter photo ID law in March primaries
- DOJ Tells State It Needs More Data on Voter ID
- Feds hold up Voter ID law, want more information
Nov
18
ISAAC Updates – November 2011
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The ISAAC Project hosted a training seminar on legal relief for vulnerable people in our society this past September. The seminar was hosted by Iglesia Bautista Houston, in Houston, Texas. Bianca Dueñas, an intern at the Christian Life Commission, attended the event and had this to say about her experience:
ISAAC Project Immigration Law Training Seminar
By: Bianca Dueñas
As a first time intern with Christian Life Commission, I had the privilege of attending the ISAAC Project –Immigration Law Training Seminar. It is a training I highly recommend to anyone with a willing heart who desires to help brothers and sisters through immigration counseling and aid.
The seminar is well equipped with information and resources for one to be educated on issues that affect a vast majority of our Texas population. Topics covered range from: permanent resident cards, citizenship, adjustment of status, hope for refugees, hope for battered women under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and more. I gained a lot of insight and I am hoping to continue to attend other trainings in order to be able to provide “good” help and not ill-founded knowledge. Immigration laws are changing and reform is not at the door as of today, through ISAAC trainings, one can stay up to date with changes and provide well-informed aid that can change someone’s life.
The training provided by the ISAAC Seminar is one that everyone should take advantage of, especially churches and their members. After the completion of required training hours, one can become accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and help individuals through a BIA recognized agency, which the church can become if desired. ISAAC Project provides “assistance in obtaining immigration law training and in completing the ‘recognition’ and ‘accreditation’ process.
It is a blessing to be a blessing. Take a look at the ISAAC Project
Nov
18
Good News Goods – November 2011
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Good News Goods Purchases Give Hope for the Holidays
This holiday season, I ask you to make a commitment to buy a fair trade gift for someone on your list. Even JUST ONE fair trade purchase makes a world of difference in someone’s life. And in fact, if every church-going Christian made JUST ONE fair trade purchase this year, it would be enough to see that one million families are lifted out of poverty for one full year. Can you imagine? What a joy it is to know that Texas Baptists can be leaders in spreading God’s love by shopping with a heart for missions.
Not sure where to begin? Here are some great gift ideas from Good News Goods.
If you have a coffee drinker in your family, I suggest giving them of some absolutely scrumptious Peace Blend coffee.
Buying Peace Blend coffee through Good News Goods will help farmers like Khainza Jane, a member of Peace Kawomera, the cooperative supplier who creates the Peace Blend.
Peace Kawomera has taught her how to care for her coffee so that yields have increased while also earning a fair price for her coffee. Nine children live in her home, and she says she is able to educate her children, provide clothing and even purchase small animals like goats because of her work through Peace Kawomera.
Or maybe you have a tradition of lighting candles during this special season.
Lighting candles nestled in these holders from Green Sahara Gifts symbolizes hope for our brothers and sisters around the world who face adversity every day. Green Sahara Gifts gives Moroccan artisans dignified employment with a particular focus on building cultural bridges through art between Morocco and the West. We are reminded of God’s love for the “least of these” when we read of Green Sahara, for this group employs disabled and the extremely impoverished artisans, when others choose not to hire them.
There are plenty of other gift ideas, and stories of hope and love, on our website. I hope you will shop with a heart for missions this Christmas season, and share the powerful love of Christ around the world with your friends and family.
Nov
18
Orphan Samuel’s Miraculous Story
Myanmar…A couple of friends walking to work decided to take a different path along the railroad track. They were engaged in their usual early morning banter when a puzzling sound surfaced. It wasn’t a cry. It was more like a heavy wheezing. As they came around the bend in the road, they saw a small shape laying between a couple of railway ties. They quickly determined it was a child. Dirty and covered with insect bites, there was a little boy clinging to life.
They took turns carrying him as they made their way to the neighborhood clinic. As they entered the clinic, the wheezing stopped. They handed the little boy to the nurse fearing it was too late to save him. They went to work wondering how the little boy got to the railroad track.
They shared their morning’s experience with their co-workers and learned a sad truth about poverty in their country. They learned that sometimes parents would leave their children on the railroad track in hopes that their son or daughter would be killed quickly rather than experience the slow death of starvation because they didn’t have enough food for all the family.
The next day, they stopped by the clinic to learn about the condition of the little boy. They were surprised to learn that he was alive. A few days later, the little boy was taken by a director of one of our Christian orphanages. She had been contacted by the clinic staff who was aware of the good reputation of the orphanage, and knew it was the little boy’s only chance at long-term survival.
Through a combination of Christian-based nurturing and the food supplied by the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger, our little boy, Samuel, continues to improve. Samuel is one of 17 orphans in this particular home. Although, one of our primary goals is to share and have them accept the wonderful news of Jesus, we must first meet their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. Through the generosity of the Hunger Offering, Samuel and many other orphans are fortunate to have enough to eat each day. More importantly, as he matures within a Christian environment, he will better understand the love behind the meals, the caring behind the giving, and the purpose behind the saved life of a little boy discovered on a railroad track.
OTHER RESOURCES
Getting involved with the summer feeding programs ()
MAKE A DONATION IN MEMORY/HONOR OF SOMEONE
Would you like to remember or honor someone special this year? Instead of a gift that will just collect dust why not make a donation in their name to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. Let your gift go much further in doing good work for those who are less fortunate.
Donate now!
5th Sunday Hunger Offering Videos
Next 5th Sunday Emphasis for World Hunger –January 29, 2012. Prepare now.
Download 5th Sunday videos.
Nov
18
SUNSET REVIEW of the TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION
The Texas Lottery Commission is currently being reviewed by the Texas Sunset Commission. The Sunset Commission is a state agency that is composed of legislators and public members. Over the next several months the Sunset Commission will determine if the Texas Lottery Commission is still needed, and if so what changes are needed to ensure that state funds are well spent. This review of the Texas Lottery Commission includes an opportunity for public input and a review process that recently began and will end in mid-year 2012. Based on public input and the Sunset staff report, the Sunset Commission will adopt recommendations for the full Legislature to consider in January 2013.
Please read the attached investigative stories by reporter Eric Dexheimer of the Austin American Statesman about the failures of the Texas Lottery:
- Texas Lottery: A different game than State was sold two decades ago;
- Texas Lottery relies increasingly on the poor and less educated, studies show;
- Scratch-off beats Lotto as dominant gamble in Texas
If you feel like the citizens of this State were lied to when the Lottery was sold as the savior for education, please join me in requesting that the Sunset Commission fully investigate and report on how the Texas Lottery Commission has failed the citizens in funding education for our State and how it should be abolished.
Please write to the following address:
Sunset Advisory Commission- Attn: Amy Trost
P.O. Box 13066
Austin, Texas 78711
You may also send your opinions/comments via email Attn: Amy Trost
Email: sunset@sunset.state.tx.us
No Kid Hungry in Texas
The Texas Hunger Initiative, a partner organization with the CLC in the fight against hunger in Texas, has launched a new campaign in conjunction with the national organization Share Our Strength. The No Kid Hungry Campaign officially launched on October 12, 2011 on the South Steps of the Capitol.
Over 150 elementary and middle school students from Austin and Waco met on the steps of the Capitol alongside Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and a diverse group of corporate, education, nonprofit and government leaders. Speakers affirmed a commitment to the new partnership, aimed to end childhood hunger by utilizing existing nutritional programs and launching a breakfast pilot program in 10 districts across the state.
The Campaign’s focus during its first year is to connect more eligible low-income children to federally funded school breakfasts and summer meals, a project that the CLC has been committed to at both the policy and the community-implementation level.
North Texas Leaders to Tackle Childhood Hunger
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted the Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign’s Dallas Summit on November 9, 2011, which brought together local and national child hunger thought leaders, as well as key stakeholders in Dallas and surrounding communities.
The summit was held at the Dallas Farmers Market, and it touched on a wide range of topics related to childhood hunger in North Texas including new statistics, Dallas-area “food deserts,” the importance of fighting hunger in the faith community, and solutions currently being put in place through the Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign.
Suzii Paynter, Christian Life Commission Director, spoke to the group specifically about the action faith-based communities are taking to end childhood hunger. Other presenters included elected officials and agency leaders such as Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlngs, Chief Administrator for Food and Nutrition at the Texas Department of Agriculture Angela Olige, and Bill Ludwig, Regional Administrator for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Division. They spoke alongside community leaders like Holly Hirshberg, the Executive Director of DinnerGarden, a non-profit that seeks to end hunger through home and community garden programs.
An important announcement made during the hunger summit was the creation of a Dallas-Area Food Planning Association, which is currently underway as part of the Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign. This group will consist of educators, elected officials, corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, community leaders and local residents who will take a close look at where child hunger needs are greatest in the area, and will then work to implement programs there.
Nov
18
With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays coming up, parents have a special opportunity to impact their adolescents with a commitment to Christ-like priorities.
Many times our adolescents get stuck in the materialism that is so often encouraged in the media. They begin to focus on what they are going to receive and do instead of what they can give back to others.
One idea for families is to start a gratitude list. As a family, you can focus on all of the things you corporately and individually have to be thankful for. When adolescents are able to understand the depth of all of the things in their world that they have to be thankful for then they are more likely to be willing to give back to others. As they turn their eyes outward instead of focusing on the inside, they become more compassionate to the needs of others.
During the holiday season there are many ways to volunteer. As a family consider giving back by volunteering in a soup kitchen, a food or toy drive or a Habitat for Humanity project. As adolescents actively give back, they change the way they view their world at school and peers. Traditions are so important during the holiday season. What an important investment in your kids to help them to learn to invest their time, energy and money in others.
We all aspire to show others our faith, the holidays are a great way to act out our faith to others.
Prevention Resources and Bible Studies are available for churches at the CLC website.
Check out the Addiction Ministry Education Network page on Facebook. Become a fan and you will receive updates about events and links to important news articles.
CLC Substance Abuse Ministry Podcasts
Pathways to Prevention: A Substance Abuse Resource
Nov
18
In the News – November 2011
Filed Under In The News | Leave a Comment
ALCOHOL | ADDICTION
- Dr. Nora Volkow: New Brain Research Helps Explain Drug Addiction (VIDEO)
- Underage Alcohol Usage: Soaking Gummy Bears In Alcohol Is Newest Trend For Teens
BUDGET
- Budget Cuts Threaten Food Safety Research Center
- Federal budget cuts to WIC could shorten reach of aid for moms, kids
- Pharmacies Feeling Pressure of Reduced Medicaid Fees
- Planned Parenthood Struggles After State Budget Cuts
- State funding doesn’t cover prisoner health care costs, officials say | Prison officials say UTMB funding running $2 million short each month
- Survey: More cuts to school jobs expected next year
CHILDREN
- Federal budget cuts to WIC could shorten reach of aid for moms, kids
- Despite Reforms, Abuse Continues at Texas Institutions for Disabled
- Despite Reforms, Abuse Continues at Texas Institutions for Disabled, Part 2
CHURCH/STATE
- Group says IRS should investigate church for endorsing Rick Perry
- Opinion: Jeffress flap illustrates wisdom of ‘no religious test’
- Judge won’t throw out school-prayer lawsuit
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
- State funding doesn’t cover prisoner health care costs, officials say | Prison officials say UTMB funding running $2 million short each month
- UTMB proposes transferring prison health care to corrections agency | Letter says university would retain hospital and specialty care but give up prison clinics
- UTMB set to halt prison health care
EDUCATION
- Suit challenges Texas public school funding
- Texas school districts sue state over fairness of funding
- Texas schools sue state, saying funding is unfair
- Again, education woes fall to courts
- Civil rights attorney urges Texas to find ‘political will’ to fund education
- Districts struggle this year with class sizes
- Survey: More cuts to school jobs expected next year
- New state test raises concerns for teachers, educators
- Editorial: The cost of high dropout rates is troubling
- How could a rewrite of NCLB scrap teacher evaluations? (Editorial Board Opinion)
- Learning fair provides resources for Spanish-speaking parents
- Poor history curriculum threatens Texas’ future
- Texas’ minority, poor students still lag in reading
- SBOE Could Give Schools More Control Over New Exams
- Texas trails most states, many countries in young adults with degrees
- Texas Higher Ed Coalition Forms Student Group
- Wind Farm Money Fuels Spending in West Texas Schools
ENVIRONMENT
- EPA Issues First Texas Greenhouse Gas Permit
- EPA gives green light to Horseshoe Bay power plant
- Fracking Wastewater Disposal To Be Regulated, EPA Says
- Texas takes its case against revised EPA emissions rule to the agency
- Houston-Area Plant Has History of Emissions Violations (Audio)
- Refineries Surround Corpus Christi Community (Audio)
- Texas System Allows Some Plants to Skirt Pollution Laws (Audio)
- Despite Rocky Start, Texas’ Weatherization Program Thrives
- Proposed electric rate increases target poor, could hamper conservation, critics say
- Wind Power Transmission Lines Rise Across Texas
- Wind-power industry holds breath over the future of federal subsidy
- Energy UT Professor Debunks Climate Change “Myths”
- Researchers object to agency’s edits to paper on sea level rise
- Editorial: TCEQ censorship is out of bounds
- Averitt: Dire warnings from Texas utilities overstate impact of new EPA rule (Editorials & Opinions)
- Wind Farm Money Fuels Spending in West Texas Schools
GAMBLING
- Dog-racing struggles to keep pace
- Horse notebook: Lone Star bets off limits, says TRC
- Parent company of Retama in trouble again | Call Now’s latest action comes as it seeks buyer for local horse track
- Interior official blasts 2009 tribal land ruling
- Cost of Powerball will rise, and so will prize amounts
HEALTH
- Editorial: Medicare fraud must end
- Editorial: States are pushing it on Medicaid cuts
- Pharmacies Feeling Pressure of Reduced Medicaid Fees
- Planned Parenthood Struggles After State Budget Cuts
- Budget Cuts Threaten Food Safety Research Center
- Nutrition rating, labeling system proposed
- Study: Texas Ranks Last in Mental Health Spending
- Despite Reforms, Abuse Continues at Texas Institutions for Disabled
- Despite Reforms, Abuse Continues at Texas Institutions for Disabled, Part 2
- Still no solution for illegal immigrants’ long-term care costs | Practice of helping some go back home stirs debate
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
- HSU students learn more about how to help poverty in other countries | Group helps people sell goods at a fair price
- Police: Man held smuggled immigrants hostage | Investigators looking into possible connection with drug cartels
- Texas prep coach charged with human trafficking
- Three sentenced to prison in forced labor case
HUNGER & POVERTY
- New measure shows record number in poverty in U.S.
- The Census Bureau Releases Supplemental Poverty Measure for U.S.
- Number of Texans Receiving Food Stamps Up Sharply Amid Recession
- Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell Join Texas Hunger Initiative and Share Our Strength to Kick Off ‘Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign’
- Texas Launches No Kid Hungry Campaign
- New initiative tackles child hunger in Texas
- Texas No Kid Hungry campaign kicks off in Austin
- Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Hosts Texas No Kid Hungry Dallas Summit, Bringing Together Local and National Child Hunger Thought Leaders
- We can end child hunger in Texas
- Shore and Everett: Ending child hunger begins with breakfast
- United Way Spotlight: Helping feed the hungry
- Children are at real hunger risk in Texas
- Nutrition rating, labeling system proposed
- Abilene ISD ahead of the curve in curbing students’ hunger
- Editorial: Ever More Homeless Families
- Face of poverty is often a child’s, charities report
- Safe Water and a Toilet — Is That Too Much to Ask… for 2.5 Billion People?
- Judge blocks Fla.’s new welfare drug testing law
- HSU students learn more about how to help poverty in other countries | Group helps people sell goods at a fair price
- Proposed electric rate increases target poor, could hamper conservation, critics say
IMMIGRATION
- Two DREAMers ponder their futures
- Baptist film on immigration seeks to get churches talking, helping
- ICE Removes Record Number of Immigrants in FY 2011
- Record number of illegal immigrants deported
- Border Patrol busing more illegal immigrants
- Court blocks Ala. from checking student status
- Attorney General Abbott Halts “Notario” Scam in Potter County
- Guest Column: Call Them “Unauthorized”
- Guest Column: Call Them “Illegal”
- Still no solution for illegal immigrants’ long-term care costs | Practice of helping some go back home stirs debate
- Texas Cities Step Up Prosecutions of Wage Theft
PAYDAY LENDING
- Farias honored for leadership
- REPORTER WATCHDOG: Financial experts urge caution when turning to high-interest payday lenders
- EZCORP Again Named One of FORTUNE’s “100 Fastest-Growing Companies”
- Shares Rise for Pawn Shops and Firms Offering Payday Loans as More Borrowers Head Their Way
- Wisconsin one of last states to reform payday lending
REDISTRICTING
- Editorial: Texas redistricting’s bumpy road
- Redistricting court battles to heat up this week
- Texas had “discriminatory purpose” in adopting redistricting maps that harmed minorities, Justice Department charges
VOTER ID
Nov
18
A Word from Suzii – November 2011
Filed Under Director's Column | 9 Comments
FIRE!
We had a major fire in our home on October 14 while I was in Africa….several of you have asked, here are my recent thoughts:
There is nothing but an endless stream of tedious and sad work to clean up after a fire at home. Smoke, ash, smell and tracking the dusty residues of fire are ever-present. Little wisps of feathered charcoal work their way between pages of books and into the graceful fibers of silk scarves; they settle everywhere as if to remind you of the laws of nature that provide that air itself can be the carrier of destruction.
The work of a fiery mess is enough, but today we are entering an even more daunting and frightening territory. Arson. Someone deliberately set this blaze. Someone took a match or lighter and held it to the corner of our lives until it caught ablaze. Someone lit two simultaneous fires in our house from a plan they hatched to make double sure it burned. Did they doubt themselves or were they just habitually thorough? They used items that they either carried in or found to build a fire with us in mind. With us in mind. With us in mind. This thought is terrifying.
There is no known perpetrator at this time, but there is an ongoing investigation. The mystery of it all lends to the feelings of fear and frustration. We are blessed nevertheless with cooperative insurance agents and adjusters and a number of service providers helping us put the pieces back together. Cleaning and restoration is a mountain of work itself but with a welcome “next chapter” end in sight.
Besides exhaustion and frustration however is another very strong impulse. An impulse to outshine the destroyer and neutralize the feeling of violation by overwhelming it with the strength of love in sheer record numbers.
The prayers, kindnesses and generous friendship of so many have surrounded us with – well, joy. In the light of this crisis, we are the fortunate ones to be surrounded by the love and hope that are the hallmarks of God’s grace in our lives.
So in the very shadow of the footprint of a destroyer, I feel like a party. I want the more the merrier. I want FBC Austin and CLC and a hundred footsteps to step where the destroyer stepped. I want to bury the intent to destroy with the promise of love. This is the cleaning process that is beyond ashes and soot and tedious days. I don’t want to wait for new paint and sheet rock to bring the blessing of joy. Before it’s all pretty again, side by side with ashes, I already have the blessed assurance that makes the journey through the crisis a sure journey.
I NEED to put out the fires of retribution and open up my own channels of grace. I want to make visible the life giving community of our family love, the resilience of friendship, the support of our church and Christian friends. I want my children, my neighbors, my universe to see love in action. That’s a party.
Nov
18
Ethics in Action – November 2011
Filed Under Ethics In Action | Leave a Comment
Reducing the Electricity Bills for Your Congregation
Churches across Texas are experiencing increases in their electricity bills, not just because the price of electricity is rising, but also because the way electricity bills are calculated can often be at a disadvantage to churches. Churches have unique usage patterns, and they tend to use a lot of energy at one time, but often only once or twice a week. Many utilities base a great deal of their non-residential customers bills on demand, the greatest amount of energy used at one time during the month (for some customers, during a longer period, such as 11 months). This makes it difficult for churches to reduce their electric bills dramatically without learning how their specific equipment works and making efficiency changes geared towards lowering demand.
Environmental stewardship goes hand in hand with financial management when managing the energy use of your church facilities. When you use less electricity, not only are you being conscious of the environment and the necessary externalities of the electricity industry that you can lessen, such as water use and public health, but you can save money and direct those funds to community ministries. One of the best starter tools a congregation can invest in is a programmable thermostat that allows the heating and air conditioning system to ramp up and down slowly rather than causing a shock to the system when run only periodically.
Some of the best partners we have are actually the utility companies themselves. Here in Texas we have state mandated energy efficiency programs that are administered by the utilities. Information about these programs can be found at Texas Efficiency.
In the Oncor service territory specifically they have a matching grant program for houses of worship to complete energy efficiency projects. Information about that program can be found at Take a Load Off Texas.
Energy Star also has great resources about how to reduce your energy costs by investing in energy efficient equipment, building upgrades and maintenance. Energy Star provides congregations with free information and technical support.
Nov
18
Environmental Stewardship and Church Energy Policy
Our state’s demand for energy is expected to rise, and rise faster than the nation as a whole, over the coming years. Given our state’s ongoing need for greater and greater energy resources, clean energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass can help us meet our future energy needs. But whether we are quick or slow to diversify with clean energy options, the cost of energy will continue to rise.
The Christian Life Commission has been paying extra attention to the rising energy costs for churches. El Paso churches faced a recent very steep spike in energy costs; the cost increase that was planned hit churches disproportionately to the rise other businesses and residential rates. Churches organized to work with the local energy provider and city officials to compromise and put a ceiling on the rate increase. Austin Energy is currently going through the rate increase process, where many houses of worship could see their bills increase in excess of 80%. If your utility provider is going through a rate case, please let the Christian Life Commission know. We can be of assistance in determining what the effect will be on your church’s electric bill and how to try to mitigate against egregious increases.
Many private sector businesses are preparing for these cost increases by making their facilities more energy efficient in part financed by tax rebates and tax offsets. Public sector buildings, like schools and courthouses, have the opportunity to take advantage of similar energy efficiency measures with funds set aside by the State of Texas. Churches and other nonprofits cannot take advantage of tax incentives, nor are they eligible for public facility funding. This means that churches have been facing the same inevitable energy cost increases but without any help or subsidy to offset initial costs.
A greater and greater portion of a church budget is consumed by rising energy costs. Every dollar spent on the increase in a church’s electricity bill is a dollar that could be spent on ministries. By saving energy we save water, reduce pollution including mercury, protect public health, act as good stewards, and we can spend tithes and offerings on ministry rather than electric bills.