Earth Care Congregations

1. Earth Care Congregations A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches

2. What is Earth Care Congregations? • A certification program for Presbyterian churches to care for creation and to commune with creation • AGuide to Greening Presbyterian Churches that has resources for becoming certified • Instructions, worksheets, ideas, links • An annually renewable certificate for churches that continue their pledge to care for the earth

3. Why should my church care about the earth? • Scripture makes it clear we are to care for the earth on behalf of God: “The Lord God put the man in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

4. Why should my church care about the earth? • In 1990 the PC(USA) General Assembly approved “Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice.” • This policy calls PC(USA) to work for earth care and eco-justice. • The 2010 General Assembly reaffirmed the “Call to Restore the Creation” from the 1990 policy.

5. Call to Restore the Creation Recognizes that restoring creation is… • A central concern of the church to be incorporated into its life and mission • A new focus and concern for … education …worship and liturgy, public witness… and congregational service and action… • Not a short-term concern but a continuing task • To be approached with covenant seriousness and practical awareness

6. What is an Earth Care Congregation? • A church that commits to the Earth Care Pledge and • Completes actions in four categories derived from the Pledge: • Worship • Education • Facilities • Outreach

7. What is the Earth Care Pledge? • A four-part response to the Call to Restore the Creation • Our worship and discipleship will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation • Our education will encourage and support each other in keeping and healing the creation • Our facilities will be managed, maintained, and upgraded to respect and cherish all creation • Our outreach will encourage community involvement and public policy to protect and restore the earth

8. What is the Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches? • Step by step procedure to become an Earth Care Congregation (ECC) • Contains all you need to become certified • Instructions • Earth Care Pledge • Environmental audit • Examples and Resources • Application

9. How can my church become an Earth Care Congregation? • Form an Earth Care Team • Complete the ECC Environmental Audit • Recommend next steps • Receive session approval of the Earth Care Pledge • Earn 25 points in each of 4 categories: worship, education, facilities, and outreach • Apply to become an Earth Care Congregation

10. What is the ECC Environmental Audit? • A checklist of earth care related activities • Four categories: worship, education, facilities and outreach • Each activity associated with points • Has space to tally points for your church • 25 points needed in each category for initial certification

11. How will my church be recognized? • Earth Care Congregations certificate • Use of the ECC logo • Listing on the PC(USA) Environmental Ministries website • Notification of your Presbytery • Press release for local publicity • Earth care book for your church library

12. How does my church get started? • Read through the ECC Guide at www.pcusa.org/environment • Find others interested in earth care • Form an Earth Care Team • Follow the steps in Appendix A “Steps Toward Becoming an Earth Care Congregation”

13. What if I need help? • Everything you need to know is in the Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches • If you have questions, contact Environmental Ministries at 888-728-7228 x5624 or environment@pcusa.org • To find an Earth Care Congregation near you visit www.pcusa.org/environment