Westminster is putting the finishing touches on an application to the Presbyterian Church USA to become certified as an Earth Care Congregation. Our application consists of an audit of our congregation’s work for creation care in four areas: worship, education, facilities, and outreach. We had more than enough audit points to qualify for certification, which we hope to receive sometime this spring. As part of the certification process, the Session at its January meeting affirmed the Earth Care Pledge, which follows: EARTH CARE PLEDGE (PART OF THE EARTH CARE CONGREGATIONS PROGRAM) The Social Justice and Peacemaking Unit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in consultation with congregations and presbyteries across the denomination, developed a five-part resolution as a model for mobilizing congregations to respond to the General Assembly’s “CALL TO RESTORE THE CREATION.” The resolution was simplified to a four-part pledge in 2010. Churches applying to be an Earth Care Congregation must have the Earth Care Pledge affirmed by their session and signed by the clerk. Earth Care Pledge Peace and justice is God’s plan for all creation. The earth and all creation are God’s. God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. As God offers all people the special gift of peace through Jesus Christ, and through Christ reconciles all to God, we are called to deal justly with one another and the earth. 1. Our worship and discipleship will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation and declare that God calls us to cherish, protect and restore this earth. 2. In education, we will seek learning and teaching opportunities to know and understand the threats to God’s creation and the damage already inflicted. We will encourage and support each other in finding ways of keeping and healing the creation in response to God’s call to earth-keeping, justice and community. 3. Our facilities will be managed, maintained and upgraded in a manner that respects and cherishes all creation, human and non-human, while meeting equitably the needs of all people. In our buildings and on our grounds we will use energy efficiently, conserve resources, and share what we have in abundance so that God’s holy creation will be sustainable for all life and future generations. 4. Our outreach will encourage public policy and community involvement that protects and restores the vulnerable and degraded earth as well as oppressed and neglected people. We will be mindful that our personal and collective actions can positively or negatively affect our neighborhood, region, nation and world. We will seek to achieve environmental justice through coalitions and ecumenical partnerships. Affirmed by Name of Congregation: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Albany, NY The Earth Care Team especially recognizes the work done in the past ten or so years by the trustees in making our building and its uses more environmentally sustainable. The Team urges all members of the congregation to become actively involved in the work of caring for the earth. New members of the team are always welcome. Contact the church office for more details at office@wpcalbany.org.
WPC Commits to Earth Care Pledge
