Church of South India advocates eco-friendly Christmas

(December 23, 2011) The Church of South India (CSI) is encouraging its parishioners to adopt eco-friendly options this Christmas season. “I am telling people to give green gifts like flowers or plants,” said D. Solomon Raja of the CSI Synod, a union of churches of varying traditions such as Anglican, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. Raja said that eco-friendly Christmas can mean anything from buying fewer gifts to using recycled paper goods such as cards and wrapping material. The move came after the CSI synod recently decided on a policy to tell people to avoid using plastic decorations on Christmas trees. A green Christmas could also mean having a special lunch or dinner with seasonal, local ingredients and choosing fresh wreaths and pesticide-free trees. Churches will also be given an award for beautifying the environment. “Put the money you saved on your electric bill toward a donation to a charity and let your money support green projects,” Raja said. Volunteers from the Church of South India Madras diocese will also distribute saris to the underprivileged women.