Carpooling and the Church's Responsibility to the Rising Cost of Gas

So, this is a long blog but I just HAD to share my idea I had today and see if you will help me develop this into something real. Copy it and let’s pass it along. Perhaps we can create a facebook discussion on it to help us develop our ideas. 

OK, so while I was driving to work today, in my car, all by myself, thinking through how I was going to cut costs and help my desire to keep things cleaner in the world...while thinking about all this I began to think about the news report I saw last night and how we could help with the situation mentioned. 

The news report was on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams (I really seem to like him best - did anyone see him on SNL...hi-larious!). It was on the impact of the rising cost of fuel on school systems nation wide and how they are having to deal with the very realistic impact of cutting cost somehow to just get kids to school. School systems are dealing with the reality they they don't want to cut teachers equalling classroom size increase but have a smaller flow of income from taxes than can keep up with energy costs. So, in an effort to avoid slicing the amount of teachers are considering all options including cutting administrators, cutting text books, increasing cost of school lunches, skimping on maintenance and cutting bus routes, causing many students to return to walking to school. The situation is becoming dire and administrators and budget realizing that they must come up with solutions quickly. 

So, this morning after hearing the report I got to thinking about how until gas prices go down something, more like some one(s), has to get involved and help. And who did I think those people should be - the Church, globally (well at least through out the US), the Body of Christ, the followers of Christ (quick side note, because of my beliefs and feelings about the Church whenever I refer to the Church I am referring to all those who claim to follow Christ and are being led by the Spirit. Collectively, I call us the Church and that is the only True Church I know of). Now, back on track....

This whole thought that we should be responsible and get involved in the crisis for schools came from a thought I had a few years ago. Back in 2006 the Denver public transit system, RTD, went on strike shutting down the RTD system for a week, causing 1000s of people struggle to find transportation to and from work, school, etc. Denver has a strong transit system (with some flaws but better than most cities) and many people of all economic levels use it. Because the system is easy to access around the City of Denver itself, Denver Public Schools has opted to utilize it’s bus routes as an option for student transportation to school in order to cut down on energy costs. Until the strike there were no problems with this arrangement. But when the strike happened suddenly 100s of kids were without rides to school because their parents’ either worked, didn’t own a car or something of that nature. During the strike I got to thinking...”You know there are 100s of church vans just sitting in parking lots right now not being used, I wonder if we could work with the school system to help get these kids to school. We could follow the bus routes and for a week work to serve the city’s schools with its transportation needs.” 

The strike ended before I could make something like this happen. But when I saw the report last night I got to thinking about that again. How could churches utilize the vehicles they own to help schools and the environment? IS there something we can do? 

What do you think?!?! Let’s brainstorm here...

And here is another thought...

What if local churches began to announce and organize carpools through their churches? How could that work? Could that work? Think about it, you put something in the bulletin, have people sign up on a bulletin board somewhere in the church, let them organize themselves around their work locations (i.e. “Joe Smith - works downtown at 5th and Lincoln, looking for carpool”), then tell people that they can use the church parking lot to park, meet and load up each morning. Think about the many different impacts this can make on the church community, the area community and the environment as a whole. 

First, because the cost of gas is treating everyone equal it creates a common denominator among everyone in our communities and congregations. Most people nowadays are willing to do anything if they can save gas, even people not willing to carpool or ride public transit are seriously considering it now. 

Second, it provides a way to get people connected. Congregations and church leaders are always looking for ways to break the ice among members and develop community. Really, what better way can this happen than through carpooling, its a real need and a help to all involved. The realities of our current economy could possibly cause us to become a much closer, community focused culture verses less spread out, individualized. 

Third, it becomes an easy and needed avenue for Churches to connect with their communities. I believe people will become connected to the church who might have never consider church simply because they are friends with someone who is connected to the carpool through the church. Consider how you could create a great connection and evangelism opportunity around this: 1) Send flyers home with congregants for them to pass around their neighborhoods and office, giving the information about the service and how to get connected, 2) make sure that this is a no strings attached service, its just a need your church sees needs to be met whether you ever come to church or not, 3) perhaps have coffee and bagels in the building regularly - at least coffee - then the service goes beyond a meeting place, 4) perhaps once a week have a morning vespers service. 

Fourth, it shows how clearly the church cares about the earth! 

I really feel like something like this can be organized to help commuters AND school children and this can be organized on local level nationally... (all of us make something like this happen in our own areas...). Tell me what you think...shall we brainstorm together. Feedback! Feedback! Get to thinking and let’s cause a movement! 

Here are some other links worth considering: 

A Change in Suburban Sprawl - NBC News Report

The Story of Stuff - Really Good Commentary on our Consumption and Our Need for Stuff