Faith-Based Environmental Initiatives: 1 Faith-Based Environmental Initiatives: The example of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Earth Care Congregations Program Megan M. Gregory ESA Ecology Outreach to Faith Communities Initiative Conference Call 15 November 2012 I’m Megan Gregory, a graduate student in agro-ecology at Cornell University. I’m really excited by the growing enthusiasm within ESA for partnering with faith communities to pursue common goals of environmental stewardship and justice. As ecologists seek out faith communities to partner with in these efforts, I’d encourage you to learn more about the environmental programs offered by different faith communities. A number of religious groups and denominations have national or even international programs that support and encourage congregations in doing environmental work. Today I’ll share just one example, from my own tradition: The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Earth Care Congregations program Then I’ll suggest a few ways that these programs might serve as a resource for ecologists interested in partnering with faith communities.

What is Earth Care Congregations? 2 What is Earth Care Congregations? Certification program for PC(USA) churches to recognize and encourage Earth-care efforts Worship, Education, Facilitates, & Outreach A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches Instructions, environmental audit worksheets, ideas, links An annually renewable certificate for churches that continue their efforts to care for the earth Earth Care Congregations is a certification program for Presbyterian USA churches, with goals of recognizing and encouraging Earth-care efforts in all facets of church life. Earth Care Congregations must complete environmental activities in the areas of worship, education, facilities, and outreach. A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches provides congregations with instructions, worksheets like environmental audits, ideas, and links to help them to do this. It’s a renewable certificate, as the church as a whole has recognized that “restoring creation is not a short-term task to be handled in a few years, but a continuing task to which the nation and world must give attention and commitment” (to quote the Call For Restoring Creation from the 1990 General Assembly). www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/environment/ earth-care-congregations/

Earth Care in Action! 3 ↓ Outreach Highway Clean-Ups ↑ Facilities: Church habitat garden For my church in Ithaca, NY, this has meant (among other efforts): Creating a church habitat garden; An intergenerational work trip to NYC community gardens, to learn about and support these efforts towards food justice, environmental restoration, and community well-being; Participating in volunteer environmental stewardship activities such as highway clean-ups Policy advocacy on key environmental justice issues such as climate change Other examples of Earth care efforts by congregations include: Creating worship services around environmental themes Promoting sustainable transportation options, like biking to church Researching options for reducing energy use, and then implementing energy efficiency or renewable energy project (solar panels have been a popular project) Starting organic community vegetable gardens linked to emergency food programs ↑ Education NYC Gardens Work Trip

Value of Earth Care Congregations 4 Value of Earth Care Congregations Raises congregational awareness, appreciation, and participation in environmental efforts Framework for reflecting on & improving environmental stewardship Connection to other churches committed to Earth care  From a my perspective as a congregation member interested in enhancing our church’s efforts in this area, the Earth Care Congregations Program has been valuable in several ways: It’s raised the congregation’s awareness and appreciation of things that we’ve already done, and increased involvement in environmental projects. It provides a framework for reflecting on our environmental stewardship, and identifying areas for improvement. The environmental audit has lots of ideas for things that a church could do to be more environmentally conscious in each of the different categories. Finally, the Earth Care Congregations program helps congregations to share their stories of environmental stewardship efforts – for example, through their blog (Eco-Justice Journeys) and newsletter. In this way, we can serve as resources for each other in sharing ideas, resources, tips for success in specific environmental projects, and so on.

5 Why learn about national environmental initiatives of faith communities? Understand values & strengths of the communities you’ll work with What elements in their tradition can support, encourage, and inform environmental work? Resources for education and environmental action Find congregations interested in partnering for Earth stewardship efforts Such programs may be an important resource in helping you to understand the values and potential strengths of the communities you’ll work with. These programs are often based on long spiritual traditions. In learning about their national programs you will likely have the chance to read some of the ancient texts, and more modern texts and policy statements that group uses to understand its commitment to environmental issues. For example, the Presbyterian Church’s Environmental Ministries Office and Earth Care Congregations program are largely based in Scripture as interpreted and applied in our 1990 General Assembly policy, “Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice.” From this broad statement of principles has come a number of church positions on pressing practical issues, from hazardous waste, race, and the environment; to addressing climate change; to sustainable agriculture. As you read these text, you’ll learn about what elements in that community’s tradition can support, encourage, and also inform environmental work, based on the values of that community – for example, religious traditions often highlight the connections between environmental work, alleviating hunger, and peacemaking. These programs may also offer a number of useful resources for education and environmental action. Finally, you may be able to find congregations that are likely to be interested in partnering in Earth Stewardship efforts. The Environmental Ministries website has a searchable map of all certified Earth Care Congregations – these communities are likely to be interested in partnering with ecologists, and may be able to provide links to other faith communities.

6 Thank you! For more information: meganmgregory1@gmail.com www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/ environment/ earth-care-congregations/