News and Events :: Colorado News

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On Earth Day, Greeley Affordable Housing Ministry Awarded for Environmental Stewardship

The recent secular celebration of Earth Day on April 22 brought renewed attention to efforts in many organizations – but also in the Church – on behalf of conservation and stewardship of God’s creation.  In Episcopal churches around the diocese and around the country, those efforts are rich and varied – from adult education seminars, to book study groups, to recycling efforts, to general education. 

However, at least one Colorado congregation has been recognized for the good environmental stewardship of one of its ministries.  Trinity Housing Corporation’s Island Grove Village in Greeley, a ministry of Trinity Episcopal Church, and one of the diocese’s many Jubilee ministries, was recently named the winner of the City of Greeley’s Environmental Stewardship Award in the residential category.  

The provider of affordable housing was one of four Greeley businesses recognized by the city for “outstanding efforts to adopt and practice strategies that protect our local environment.”  The award made particular note of multiple improvements in the complex’s energy efficiency, including limiting thermostats and energy efficient lighting, and comprehensive upgrades to toilets, washing machines and sprinkler systems that cut the complex’s overall water consumption by 57 percent.

Says Dick Maxfield, a long-time Trinity parishioner, Vestry member and manager of Island Grove, of the award that recognizes environmental stewardship on behalf of a project whose primary mission is social service, “We have worked very hard to be good stewards of God's work with affordable housing in our community.”

For more about how Episcopal churches in Colorado are exploring and living out environmental stewardship, watch for the next issue of the Colorado Episcopalian, due out in late May .