Become an Earth Care Congregation
Is your church active in earth care or interested in becoming more involved in being stewards of God’s earth? Use “Earth Care Congregations: A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches” to find ideas for earth care projects.
To become certified as Earth Care Congregations churches take the “Earth Care Pledge” and complete activities and projects in the fields of worship, education, facilities and outreach. Submit your application (see below "getting started") January 1-February 15 of the calendar year in which you'd like to be certified.
Read about churches doing earth care ministry on our blog.
See a list of churches that are certified as Earth Care Congregations.
View Earth Care Congregations 2016 in a full screen map
Getting started: Earth Care Congregations applications
Get started on the path to becoming an Earth Care Congregation or find re-certification materials by downloading “Earth Care Congregations: A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches.”
NOTE: The annual enrollment/recertification period for 2016 is January 1-February 15. You may begin submitting your application at the start of the New Year through February 15. This is a change from previous years, when we accepted rolling applications, so please contact us if you have any questions!
To become certified as a PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation in the first year, a church fills out the Earth Care Pledge and tracks its commitments to earth care in the areas of worship, education, facilities, and outreach. Click here to download the Earth Care Congregation First Year Application (excel form), to be submitted between January 1-February 15, 2016, by email to rebecca.barnes@pcusa.org and environment@pcusa.org.
To become re-certified as a PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation, a church tracks its continued commitments to earth care in the areas of worship, education, facilities, and outreach. Progress in each of the areas should be marked since the time of the last certification. Click here to download the Earth Care Congregation Recertification Application (excel form), to be submitted between January 1-February 15, 2016, by email to rebecca.barnes@pcusa.org and environment@pcusa.org.
REMINDER: next applications will be accepted between January 1-February 15, 2016.
Going interfaith
As an option for churches that would like to take advantage of additional resources, coaching, and interfaith connections, Environmental Ministries has partnered with GreenFaith to invite Presbyterian congregations to consider this interfaith certification program. Going through GreenFaith's two year intensive will count for PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation certification and will enable participating churches to raise effective environmental leaders, reduce their operating expenses, and attract new members. Click here to learn more about the resources, webinars, and collaboration between Environmental Ministries and GreenFaith.
To listen to a recording of a webinar that introduces the GreenFaith program, click here.
For more information
Contact Environmental Ministries with any questions about the Earth Care Congregations Program.
Want to learn more about the Earth Care Congregations program?
Download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your congregation.
Download a pdf version of a PowerPoint presentation about Earth Care Congregations.
See a list of churches that are certified as Earth Care Congregations.
Read about churches doing earth care ministry on our blog.
