The concept and development of an Interfaith Stewardship Education Tool Kit may not seem like the most innovative idea…not until you start searching and needing this type of material to spread the word about environmental stewardship.

Many years ago, in my efforts to target the faith-based community about environmental stewardship, I researched the web, read journals, listened to presentations in the environmental industry and did NOT find this material readily available.  I found a little here and a little there, but could not find substantial information about a variety of environmental issues for the faith-based community under one umbrella.  During those years I would talk with individuals about my idea to develop a marketing tool kit that would serve as an educational source for the faith-based community.  This idea always met with strong approval.

In 2001 I heard a presentation by a nun about the Catholic’s position on Climate Change and efforts to have an affect on global warming.  I decided at that time to become serious about the development of an educational “tool kit” that would address a variety of environmental issues, built into one piece, that church leaders would have easy access to.

Did I imagine then what a daunting task this would be?  No.  I thought that this would be so well received that all faith-based groups would jump on the project development wagon with just a little encouragement, and honestly little concept selling.  Not the case.

Becoming increasingly frustrated, I met with Blue Marble Media, where a lot of ideas were tossed on the table and finally put to pencil as a twelve month process, with each month focusing on a specific environmental issue.  These would be called “Modules”.  Each module would have measurement tools for baseline measurements, recommendations for action to change environmental impacts, activity sheets for congregations, reproducible artwork, and more.  As the discussion continued, so did the list of needs to make the educational tool kit comprehensive, globally attractive and electronically savvy.  So, we added the concept of CDs for each module for easy downloads and reproductions.  Then the idea of a website….needless to say, the potential for cost escalation was great.

With the concept relatively in hand, funding was necessary.  This was an issue.  Fortunately, Blue Marble Media was ready to help and take the project to reality.  Unfortunately, a first attempt at grant funding for a regional coverage failed.

I greatly believed in the value of this project and the positive environmental impact it would have and decided to make this a reality on the local level – in my own community of Irving.  Fortunately, the City of Irving did provide us with funding and the opportunity to make this concept a reality.

Today we have eight faith-based organizations involved and committed to studying, developing, implementing and critiquing the tool-kit.  It is through this process that these church leaders and congregations will learn more about their eco-impact.  But more importantly, it will be through these eco-pioneers that we will learn about the impacts that our faith-based community can and will have on our environment.  

I thank these congregations, the church leaders, Blue Marble Media and the City of Irving for taking this opportunity to make a difference and believing in this process enough to make it a reality.

Fran Witte,
Solid Waste Programs and Marketing Supervisor
City of Irving
July 12, 2007