Bern, May 15, 2012. [CD-EUDnews]. Starting in 2011, the members of the Adventist community Grindelberg wondered how they could better manage power supply in the church. Initially they just wanted to change the power supplier, but then they opted for a more radical choice: a green-power supplier that produces from a level of 100% renewable, totally eliminating the use of atomic energy sources. Aware of the contribution that this change offered primarily on the ethical side, from June 2011 the Grindelberg Church launched the initiative: " Seventh-day Adventists link onto renewable energy. Because Creation is important to us!"
The objective of this initiative is to let people understand that environmental protection begins with the power-bill, considered a first step towards the protection of creation. "The church has responded positively to this initiative," says pastor Saša Gunjević, "many have changed the supplier even at a private level, thus supporting the cause."
This initiative would undoubtedly call for further steps to ethical behavior and environmental protection. "We want to be a model for our country and invite other churches
to follow our example... both in Germany and in Europe”, says pastor Sasha.
In fact, some other Adventist churches have already requested information on this initiative, and are also adapting to sources of green energy. The leadership of the German church has welcomed the initiative, hoping to stimulate a profitable joint-venture of all Adventist churches in green-issues.
Pastor Sasha said: "The idea came to me after the 2010 session of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A major issue was creation. I realized that Adventist discussions on this issue relate only to the past. Of course, the theme of creation is important, but I think we are losing sight of the importance of creation in relation to current issues of our society. We always struggle so much for health and the Sabbath. However, I believe that the time has come to take care of our planet. "In 2011 the city of Hamburg was awarded as the 'European Environmental City’. I could not bear the idea that the city administration cares more for the environment than the Adventists, who are creationists. So many beautiful projects were started in the City of Hamburg. Adventists often remain silent and let others do these things. We must take a stand, even at the political level. This does not mean that we take part in political conflicts. However, we take a position to support the environment. Our motivation is based on faith, not on politics. It's time to let our voice be heard in our city, our society and in politics. "
Saša Gunjević (30) has been the pastor of the Adventist church Grindelberg for three years. Born in Guetersloh, with Serbian-Croatian origins, with a Slavic father and a German mother. After getting his degree he participated for 1 and a half years in a mission project called 'Jugend auf Achse '(Youth in Action). "In my free time I am a football referee”, says Sasha. "I do it mostly to get a bit out of the Adventist context. I want to build friendships outside of the church. I cannot preach supporting evangelism through friendship, if I do not apply this principle to myself."
