Nazarene Eco-Church Program
Today, more than any other time in history, the planet and our neighbors around the world are suffering under the weight of environmental injustices. How can your congregation faithfully respond to God's call to serve and keep creation?
Nazarenes for Creation Care's Eco-Church Program exists to encourage and support local congregations in their efforts to live out their faith through caring for creation! As creation care is often contextual, this program helps churches set and attain practical goals within and without the walls of their facilities and within the lives of the congregation.
After completing the program steps, your congregation will receive the Eco-Church Certification and be recognized as a Nazarene Eco-Church!
Your church can by certified in 3 steps!
Step 1 - Form a Green Team
The Green Team is a group of two or more individuals who are ready to engage in creation care with their congregation. The Green Team should be willing to regularly gather in order to promote and facilitate this work within the church. (Your Green Team must include a minimum of either one church staff or board member.)
Step 2 - Sign the Eco-Church Covenant
The Eco-Church Covenant is a reflection of your group’s commitment and passion for the important work of caring for creation. Click here to read and sign the Covenant. (You can also curate your own customized version of the covenant and submit that for approval.)
Step 3 - Make Changes
The final step is putting your commitment into action! Choose three action items from the categories below to implement.
Building/Facility - Receive an energy audit, Enhance or start a recycling program, Stop using Styrofoam and disposable dishes, Change to energy efficient light bulbs, Install programmable thermostats, Use eco-friendly cleaning products, Install Rain Barrels for watering, Install solar panels
Grounds/Property - Implement a community garden, Plant native species or fruit trees, Install a butterfly habitat, Adopt a permaculture plan for your property, Keep bees, chickens, or other livestock that benefits your ecosystem, Set-up a compost for church/community use
Liturgy/Education - Adopt creation care oriented prayers, hymns, liturgy, sermons, Have a green VBS theme, Offer a creation care small group or Sunday School study, Provide Eco-Tips in newsletters or church handouts, Serve local food meals, Host a certain number of worship services outdoors to intentionally connect with creation
Outreach/Justice - Plant trees in the neighborhood, Clean up a local stream bed, Lead a trash clean up in your community, Open a repair café to fix broken items for the community, Offer a certain recycling service for your neighborhood that typically is overlooked (glass, batteries, bulbs etc...)
Email us at [email protected] to let us know where you're at in the process!
Once your congregation as completed all three steps: Congratulations you're a Nazarene Eco-Church! You'll then receive your certificate and be recognized among other Eco-Churches who are answering the call to care for creation! Eco-Churches will receive an initial consultation with a N4CC Team Member and ongoing free registration to our webinars!
After Certification, Green Teams are encouraged to have an annual check-in with the Nazarenes for Creation Care Team to share stories and testimonies of what changes have been made and how this has affected the congregational relationship with creation care.
Need more help getting started?
Nazarenes for Creation Care's Eco-Church Program exists to encourage and support local congregations in their efforts to live out their faith through caring for creation! As creation care is often contextual, this program helps churches set and attain practical goals within and without the walls of their facilities and within the lives of the congregation.
After completing the program steps, your congregation will receive the Eco-Church Certification and be recognized as a Nazarene Eco-Church!
Your church can by certified in 3 steps!
Step 1 - Form a Green Team
The Green Team is a group of two or more individuals who are ready to engage in creation care with their congregation. The Green Team should be willing to regularly gather in order to promote and facilitate this work within the church. (Your Green Team must include a minimum of either one church staff or board member.)
Step 2 - Sign the Eco-Church Covenant
The Eco-Church Covenant is a reflection of your group’s commitment and passion for the important work of caring for creation. Click here to read and sign the Covenant. (You can also curate your own customized version of the covenant and submit that for approval.)
Step 3 - Make Changes
The final step is putting your commitment into action! Choose three action items from the categories below to implement.
Building/Facility - Receive an energy audit, Enhance or start a recycling program, Stop using Styrofoam and disposable dishes, Change to energy efficient light bulbs, Install programmable thermostats, Use eco-friendly cleaning products, Install Rain Barrels for watering, Install solar panels
Grounds/Property - Implement a community garden, Plant native species or fruit trees, Install a butterfly habitat, Adopt a permaculture plan for your property, Keep bees, chickens, or other livestock that benefits your ecosystem, Set-up a compost for church/community use
Liturgy/Education - Adopt creation care oriented prayers, hymns, liturgy, sermons, Have a green VBS theme, Offer a creation care small group or Sunday School study, Provide Eco-Tips in newsletters or church handouts, Serve local food meals, Host a certain number of worship services outdoors to intentionally connect with creation
Outreach/Justice - Plant trees in the neighborhood, Clean up a local stream bed, Lead a trash clean up in your community, Open a repair café to fix broken items for the community, Offer a certain recycling service for your neighborhood that typically is overlooked (glass, batteries, bulbs etc...)
Email us at [email protected] to let us know where you're at in the process!
Once your congregation as completed all three steps: Congratulations you're a Nazarene Eco-Church! You'll then receive your certificate and be recognized among other Eco-Churches who are answering the call to care for creation! Eco-Churches will receive an initial consultation with a N4CC Team Member and ongoing free registration to our webinars!
After Certification, Green Teams are encouraged to have an annual check-in with the Nazarenes for Creation Care Team to share stories and testimonies of what changes have been made and how this has affected the congregational relationship with creation care.
Need more help getting started?
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