Care for Creation

Presbytery of Baltimore
CREATION CARE GROUP

Simple Things Your Church Can Do

REDUCE CATERING WASTE

·   Eliminate Styrofoam.  Use biodegradable cups and plates

·   Eliminate individual bottled water 

·   Provide water fountains or chilled water from large re-usable containers 

·   Reduce use of Disposables. Encourage use of re-washable cups and dishes at your coffee hour and for other functions

 

CONSERVE ENERGY

·   Obtain an energy audit of your church buildings  (available free of charge from Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light at www.gwipl.org )

·   Plan a transition from incandescent to fluorescent lighting.Install only Energy Star certified appliances

·   Install programmable thermostats and maintain heat at minimum tolerable temperature

·   Replace old inefficient windows with modern heat conserving windows

 

RECYCLING AND CONSERVING RESOURCES 

·   Arrange for all paper, bottles and cans to be recycled

·   Use recycled paper wherever possible

·   Provide collection points so that members can recycle their compact fluorescent bulbs and print cartridges.

·   Encourage church members to use re-usable supermarket shopping bags

 

CONSERVE GAS

·   Carpool

·   Use public transportation

·   Walk or cycle

 

OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE

·   Minimize use of pesticides and fertilizers

 

CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING

·   Include references in worship to the beauty and goodness of Creation and the importance of our good stewardship

·   Include Creation Care themes in Christian education programs

 

More Ideas

A USEFUL BOOK

ECO-FAITH Creating and Sustaining Green Congregations  by Charlene Hosenfeld

This book is a user-friendly guide for pastors, church leaders, congregations, and individuals to facilitate understanding of environmental issues as they relate to caring for the whole of God's creation. Each chapter contains an introduction as well as extensive lists of facts, actions, and resources. There are also inspiring stories from worship communities around the country that have made the decision to go green.   Additionally, the book integrates current ecological research, religious thought, and a psychological perspective because, as the author asserts, environmentalists, psychologists, and people of faith are natural allies.

"In the Beginning ...

..God created the heavens and the earth... and God saw that it was very good."

With these words, at the very beginning of our scriptures, the Hebrew story-tellers affirmed the beauty and holiness of the natural world.   We start from there.  [more]

Welcome to our Web

The purpose of this web site is to help individuals and congregations in their ministry of Caring for Creation.  We aim to provide encouragment, information, ideas and resources for use in the wide variety of circumstances that congregations and people encounter in their daily lives.

Resources to Help You

There are many web sites that can help you.  We also have a series of papers on Biblical and other topics related to earth ministry, suggestions of books that will help you develop deeper understanding of creation and creation care, and listings of speakers who are willing to make a presentation at your church and video resources for classes and forums.

Creation Care Ideas for Churches

There are many relatively simple things a church can do to care for creation and help build a more sustainable future.  Many congregations in the Baltimore Presbytery have developed model programs and actions.