Drive-Less Sunday

University Baptist Church
Seattle, WA

University Baptist Church is a small congregation in Seattle that considers creation care part of its Christian witness. On Pentecost Sunday in 2004, the congregation decided to celebrate the Holy Spirit’s blowing throughout God’s creation in a special way: Drive-Less Sunday. For a month leading up to Pentecost, bulletin announcements and verbal announcements were often heard to encourage a day to walk, bus, carpool, or bike to church on Pentecost Sunday!

When Pentecost Sunday dawned, bringing with it the Drive-Less Sunday, 45 percent of the church attendance carpooled, 19 percent walked, 13 percent took the bus, and 10 percent rode bikes to church. Car miles driven on this Sunday were a 37 percent reduction from a normal Sunday’s miles driven.

Apt for a day to recognize the Holy Spirit, community-building was a result of carpooling, bicycling, and walking. Just as important was the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that pollute the air (which could be imagined as the Spirit’s breath). Earth Ministry, an ecumenical environmental organization in Seattle, in its support of University Baptist reports, “If this congregation commuted each Sunday as they did on Drive-Less Sunday they would reduce their collective, annual miles driven by 4,056 and their annual C02 production by more than 4,000 pounds!”

Sue dusted off her bike and
drove 8.5 miles each way for
the service. (Photo courtesy
of Earth Ministry)

In worship, congregants received the Earth Ministry brochure on Drive-Less Sunday and a pledge card. The cards were a record of the commuting patterns that morning but also an opportunity to pledge changes in future transportation choices, to continue to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and protect clean air. Pledge cards were collected during the offering. Throughout worship, hymns and liturgy encouraging creation care shared the service with more traditional Pentecost hymns and prayers. As Pastor Tim Phillips preached about Pentecost from Acts 2 and Romans 8:22, he talked about the variety of languages we all understand, including body language (Romans 8:22: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now”). He asserted that it is important we pay attention to the body language of the Earth -- it is a sign, a Pentecost sign, of the Spirit’s work in us.

In the fall of 2004, as an extension of care for creation and concern for clean air, Pastor Phillips signed onto a letter to the Washington U.S. Senators in response to “An Interfaith Call for Global Climate Change.” He agrees with the letter’s statement that “today, collectively, we have a clear moral obligation and urgency to protect human life, human health, and all of creation, and we agree that global climate change is real.” Pastor Phillips supports growing interfaith networks that oppose federal attempts to turn back environmental legislation.

Contact: Pastor Tim Phillips at 206-632-5188 or bc@qwest.net