Creation Care
Restoring creation for ecology and justice
The Lord God took Adam and put the human in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15
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IT INVOLVES:
- Committing to the Earth Care Pledge
- Conducting an audit of our church’s practices
- Setting goals each year in four areas:
- Worship
- Education
- Facilities
- Outreach
News/Announcements
We just received a $1500 grant from the AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies! Read More
Upcoming Events
- Earth Day Celebration-details coming soon!
- June 13, 2021: Creation Care Kickoff & Celebration – details coming soon!
- Help plan the kick-off! Join the planning team on Thursday, April 15th at 5:00pm via Zoom.
Got an idea for a project?
Contact:
Kris Wendland [email protected]
Linda Racine [email protected]
Our Goals for This Year
- Devote 2 or more Sundays to earth care topics (including music, prayers, sermons, readings).
- Perform an earth care drama in both the traditional and neXus worship service
- Display earth care art, including a large version of the Earth Care Pledge
- Explore ideas for an earth-care-focused Lenten discipline
- Explore options for communion using recyclable or reusable communion cups
Other ideas from 1/27 WNC
- Plan an eco-based mission trip or retreat–getting out in nature, worshipping. It’s a powerful thing to do with kids.
- Incorporate an earth care theme into summer Vacation Bible School
Build web pages on our church site devoted to earth care (what our church is doing, what individuals can do, etc.) - Hold an earth care fair or educational event
- Incorporate information about our church’s work in earth care into our confirmation and new member classes
Other ideas from 1/27 WNC
- Inland Seas (Youth Group field trip); For Love of Water (FLOW) program involvement
- American Waste/Recycling field trip/learning opportunity
- Day trip to conservancy property. Conservancies are another great resource for WNC
- Begin replanting beds using native plants–attract pollinators, better for birds, health of ecosystem, lower maintenance, lower water requirements, etc. Get the youth involved!
- Replace air conditioning system with high-efficiency model with up-to-date refrigerant (more Eco-friendly).
- When replacing lighting, use LED
Note: There are some large infrastructure needs that will likely require another capital campaign in a year or two.
Other ideas from 1/27 WNC
- Explore solar panels (Grants available?)
- Create a compost bin at church
- Promote/support alternative transportation
- Conduct at least one outreach project related to earth care
- Encourage church members to call or write their members of Congress about earth care
- Arrange for youth group to participate in a public hearing or visit with a member of Congress
- Use calls to action on earth care issues from the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness, Hunger Program, Environmental Ministries, Creation Justice Ministries, or Presbyterians for Earth Care in our Wednesday Night Connection activities.
- Buckets of Rain–help people have gardens and bring in fresh food; Seeds for Change–grow food for people who need it
- Engage in Earth Day Clean up. Seek out areas that are really in need.
- Adopt a section of highway, woods
- Connect with SEEDS
OUTREACH: CLIMATE ADVOCACY
A critical issue to many in our congregation is addressing climate change, the focus of the February 3, 2021 WNC. If you missed it, you can access the slide deck here.
In 2018, our General Assembly approved two policies:
“The Earth Is the Lord’s” that encourages “the whole church to raise a prophetic voice regarding the urgency of healing the climate of the earth, our home and God’s gift for the future of all life, human and nonhuman.”
“On Supporting Carbon Pricing” that encourages the church to “express its profound concern about the destructive effects of climate change on all God’s creation, including a disproportionate impact on those living in poverty and in the least developed countries” while advocating for the creation of carbon pricing that is fair and just especially for those in vulnerable populations.
The call for action on climate has been getting stronger over the last few years. State and local governments as well as large corporations (GM, Ford, Consumers Power) have set carbon neutral or net-zero targets. Healthcare professionals, business groups (National Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable), faith communities, and a broad range of organizations and private citizens have advocated for urgent action. Addressing the climate crisis is high on the Biden Administration priority list, and we can expect significant legislation will be introduced in the coming weeks and months.
At the February 3 WNC, we explored a variety of climate policy strategies. Some include incentives and infrastructure investments, others look at regulations, and others take a carbon-pricing approach. All have important roles in the solution, and all have cautions. We explored why many, including our General Assembly, have come to believe that pricing carbon and returning the revenue to people in a monthly dividend check is a critical part of effective policy. While it is not the ONLY thing that needs to happen, it appears to be an important first step in a comprehensive plan to hit IPCC targets.
Concerned About the Climate?
Here are two things you can do:
Call or write our Members of Congress! It makes a difference. Here’s a tool kit, with phone numbers, email addresses, a script--everything you need!
Sign the Presbyterian Call to Action letter. We have about 140 signatures so far, and volunteers with Citizens’ Climate Lobby will be delivering these letters to Members of Congress during their lobby meetings in March and June.