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.
View Earth Care Congregations 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 is January 1-February 15. You may begin submitting your application at the start of the New Year. Applications are accepted through February 15.
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. The Earth Care Congregation First Year Application (excel form) is to be submitted between January 1—February 15, by email to jessica.maudlin@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. The Earth Care Congregation Recertification Application (excel form) is to be submitted between January 1—February 15, by email to jessica.maudlin@pcusa.org.
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.
Green Leaf Seal camps
You won’t be surprised to know that much of our learning about God’s creation, our practice at being faithful members of God’s natural world, and our inspiration to keep doing more for environmental justice is happening at Presbyterian camps and conference centers! We celebrate and lift up these Presbyterian camps and conference centers who were certified with the Green Leaf Seal, administered between PCCCA and Environmental Ministries between 2009-2016 (with support from PEC for years before that as well). As more camps naturally incorporate environmental education, farming and gardening practices, and other green elements, the Green Leaf Seal program is in discernment with PCCCA and Presbyterian camp and conference centers. Meanwhile we give thanks for the “early adopters” and lift them up as examples!
Green Leaf Seal camps and conference centers are:
Buc Outdoor Center, Sapphire, NC
Calvin Center, Hampton, GA
Camp Hanover, Mechanicsville, VA
Camp Kintail, Ontario, CANADA
Camp Westminster on Higgins Lake, Roscommon, MI
Camp Wilmot, Wilmot, NH
Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center, Lithia, FL
Cherokee Retreat Center, White, GA
Crestfield Camp and Conference Center, Slippery Rock, PA
Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, Little Rock, AR
Gilmont Camp and Conference Center, Gilmer, TX
Heartland Presbyterian Center, Parkville, MO
Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center, Allenspark, CO
Holmes Camp and Conference Center, Holmes, NY
Hopewell Camp and Conference Center, Oxford, MS
John Knox Center, Ten Mile, TN
Menucha Retreat and Conference Center, Corbett, OR
Montgomery Presbyterian Center, Stake, FL
Montreat Confernece Center, Montreat, NC
Mound Ridge Camp and Retreat Center, Cook Station, MO
Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly, Hunt, TX
Presbytery Point Camp, Republic, MI
Pyoca Camp, Conference and Retreat Center, Brownstown, IN
Stony Point Center, Stony Point, NY
Tall Timber Ranch, Leavenworth, WA
Westminster Woods, Occidental, CA
The following churches are certified as Earth Care Congregations:
A Community of the Servant Savior Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX
Abington Presbyterian Church, Abington, PA
Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY
Bayfield Presbyterian Church, Bayfield, WI
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Kingston, TN
Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, Black Mountain, NC
Black River Presbyterian Church, Ivanhoe, NC
Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, Blacksburg, VA
Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD
Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church, Brevard, NC
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA
Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, Richardson, TX
Catonsville Presbyterian Church, Catonsville, MD
Central Presbyterian Church, Waxahachie, TX
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
Christ Church Uniting Disciples & Presbyterians (CCU), Kailua, HI
Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, NJ
Church of the Covenant, Boston, MA
Churchville Presbyterian Church, Churchville, MD
Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR, Portland, OR
Country Peace Presbyterian Church, Superior, WI
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Athens, GA
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Johnson City, TN
Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY
Culver City Presbyterian Church, Culver City, CA
Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, NC
Davis Community Church, Davis, CA
Dorchester Presbyterian Church, Summerville, SC
Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Indialantic, FL
Fairlington Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, VA
Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights, OH
First Presbyterian Church, Clarks Summit, PA, Clarks Summit, PA
First Presbyterian Church – Henderson, TX, Henderson, TX
First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, Pitman, NJ
First Presbyterian Church Logan, Logan, UT
First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, Asheville, NC
First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, Champaign, IL
First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, Cooperstown, NY
First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, Deland, FL
First Presbyterian Church of Haddon Heights, Haddon Heights, NJ
First Presbyterian Church of Hector, Hector, NY
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Columbia, MD
First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, Ithaca, NY
First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Jackson, OH
First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, TN, Jackson, TN
First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, Libertyville, IL
First Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, AR, Little Rock, AR
First Presbyterian Church of Marshfield WI, Marshfield, WI
First Presbyterian Church of Norman, Norman, OK
First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Oak Ridge, TN
First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA
First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, Plymouth, MI
First Presbyterian Church of Richardson, Richardson, TX
First Presbyterian Church of Rumson, Rumson, NJ
First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA
First Presbyterian Church of Sandpoint, Idaho, Sandpoint, ID
First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake, Saranac Lake, NY
First Presbyterian Church of Scottsburg, Scottsburg, IN
First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, OK, Stillwater, OK
First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna, Succasunna, NJ
First Presbyterian Church of Tecumseh, Tecumseh, MI
First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, Yorktown Heights, NY
First Presbyterian Church, Buchanan, MI
First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, MO
First Presbyterian Church, Conway, AR
First Presbyterian Church, Cottage Grove, OR
First Presbyterian Church, Delaware, OH
First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, KY, Elizabethtown, KY
First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, IA
First Presbyterian Church, Jeffersonville, IN
First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, MI
First Presbyterian Church, Lawrence, KS
First Presbyterian Church, Livingston, AL
First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, IL
First Presbyterian Church, South St. Paul, MN
First Presbyterian Church, Waco, TX
First Presbyterian Churh of Urbana, Urbana, IL
First Presbyterian of Hoopeston, Hoopeston, IL
First Presbyterian, Elgin, TX
First Presbyterian, Fernandina Beach, FL
First United Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, AR
Flagstaff Federated Community Church, Flagstaff, AZ
Florissant Presbyterian Church, Florissant, MO
Flower Mound Presbyterian Church, Flower Mound, TX
Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian, Cleveland Heights, OH
Forest Lake Presbyterian, Columbia, SC
Fort King Presbyterian, Ocala, FL
Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL
Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church, Stevens Point, WI
Fredonia Presbyterian Church, Fredonia, NY
Gautier Presbyterian Church, Gautier, MS
Glenshaw Presbyterian Church, Glenshaw, PA
Glenville Presbyterian Church, Glenville, WV
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, South Easton, MA
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS
Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, CA
Guilford Park Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC
Highlands United Presbyterian Church, Cheyenne, WY
Hillsborough Presbyterian, Hillsborough, NC
Hunter Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY
Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Montgomery, AL
Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL
Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, Bordentown, NJ
James Island Presbyterian, Charleston, SC
John Knox Presbyterian Church, Florissant, MO
Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR
Kirk of Kildaire, Presbyterian, Cary, NC
Knox Presbyterian Church, Falls Church, VA
Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, Placitas, NM
Light Street Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD
Lincroft Presbyterian Church, Lincroft, NJ
LoveJoy United Presbyterian Church, Wood River, IL
Lyndhurst Community Presbyterian Church, Lyndhurst, OH
Macalester-Plymouth United Church, Saint Paul, MN
Madison Presbyterian Church, Madison, VA
Market Square Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, PA
Maryland Presbyterian Church, Towson, MD
Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church, Topsham, ME
Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA
Montreat Presbyterian Church, Montreat, NC
Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH
Nashua Presbyterian Church, Nashua, NH
New Hope Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
New Hope Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, TN
New Hope Presbyterian Church, Derwood, MD
New Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Charles, MO
New Life Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, NM
New Life Presbyterian Church, Roseville, MN
New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville, TN
North Anderson Community Church Presbyterian, Anderson, SC
North Presbyterian Church, Williamsville, NY
Northern Light United Church, Juneau, AK
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, MN
Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA
Old South Presbyterian Church, Newburyport, Newburyport, MA
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY
Oswego Presbyterian Church, Oswego, IL
Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, PA
Plumsted Presbyterian Church, New Egypt, NJ
Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Morristown, NJ
Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, Chatham, NJ
Presbyterian Church of the Apostles, Burnsville, MN
Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church, Crofton, MD
Providence Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC
Providence Presbyterian Church, Fairfax, VA
Radcliff Presbyterian Church, Radcliff, KY
Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake, IL
River Glen Presbyterian Church, Naperville, IL
Riverside Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, FL
Riviera Presbyterian Church, Miami, FL
Rockville United Church, Rockville, MD
Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS
Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tucker, GA
Saint Barnabas Presbyterian Church, Richardson, TX
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, North Bethesda, MD
Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, AR
Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN
Second Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, Chaska, MN
Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church, Loomis, CA
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsburg, PA
Sixth Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Southminster Presbyterian Church, Beaverton, OR
Springdale Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (USA), Longview, TX
St. Andrew, Boulder, CO
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA
State College Presbyterian Church, State College, PA
The Church of Reconciliation, Chapel Hill, NC
The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, Caldwell, NJ
The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church, The Woodlands, TX
Towson Presbyterian Church, Towson, MD
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Denton, TX
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Berwyn, PA
Trinity Presbyterian Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg, VA
Trinity Presbyterian Church, McKinney, TX
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
United Christian Parish, Reston, VA
United Presbyterian Church of East Guilford, Sidney, NY
Unity Presbyterian Church, Terre Haute, IN
Unity Presbyterian, Denver, NC
University Community Presbyterian Church, Fairbanks, AK
Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church, Kensington, MD
Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, Wauwatosa, WI
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, Webster Groves, MO
Webster Presbyterian Church, Webster, TX
Wedgwood Presbyterian, Seattle, WA
Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver, CO
West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC
Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC
Westminster Eugene, Eugene, OR
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, NE
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Nashville, TN
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portage, MI
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
Westminster Presbyterian, Dayton, OH
Westminster Presbyterian, Gainesville, FL
White Plains Presbyterian Church, White Plains, NY
Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Williamsburg, VA
Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church, Wildwood, MO
See a map of current Earth Care Congregations
