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.
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.
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 Conference 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:
Northern Light United Church, Juneau, AK University Community Presbyterian Church, Fairbanks, AK
First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL First Presbyterian, Livingston, AL Immanuel Presbyterian, Montgomery, AL Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL Montevallo Presbyterian Church, Montevallo, AL
First Presbyterian Church, Conway, AR First United Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, AR Park Hill Presbyterian Church, North Little Rock, AR Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, AR
Culver City Presbyterian Church, Culver City, CA Davis Community Church, Davis, CA First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, CA First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo, CA Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, CA Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church, Loomis, CA St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA
Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Denver, CO St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Boulder, CO Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver, CO
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Indialantic, FL First Presbyterian Church Brandon, Brandon, FL First Presbyterian, Deland, FL Fort King Presbyterian Church, Ocala, FL Riverside Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, FL Riviera Presbyterian Church, Miami, FL The First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach, FL Westminster Presbyterian, Gainesville, FL
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Athens, GA St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tucker, GA
Christ Church Uniting Disciples & Presbyterians, Kailua, HI
First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, IA
First Presbyterian of Sandpoint, ID
First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, IL First Presbyterian Church, Edwardsville, IL First Presbyterian of Hoopeston, IL First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, IL First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, IL First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, IL Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL LoveJoy United Presbyterian Church, Wood River, IL Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake, IL River Glen Presbyterian Church, Naperville, IL Westminster Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL
First Presbyterian Church of Scottsburg, IN Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, South Bend, IN Unity Presbyterian Church, Terre Haute, IN
First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence, KS Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
Bardstown Road Presbyterian, Louisville, KY Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, KY Radcliff Presbyterian Church, Radcliff, KY Springdale Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY
Church of the Covenant, Boston, MA Korean Church of Boston, Brookline, MA
Bethesda Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD Catonsville Presbyterian Church, Catonsville, MD Churchville Presbyterian Church, Churchville, MD First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Columbia, MD Govans Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD Light Street Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD Maryland Presbyterian Church, Towson, MD Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church, Crofton, MD Rockville United Church, Rockville, MD Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, North Bethesda, MD Towson Presbyterian Church, Towson, MD Warner Memorial Presbyterian, Kensington, MD
Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church, Topsham, ME
First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, MI First Presbyterian Grand Haven, Grand Haven, MI First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, MI First Presbyterian Church of Richland, MI First Presbyterian Church of Tecumseh, MI Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portage, MI
Cherokee Park United Church, St Paul, MN First Presbyterian of South St. Paul, MN First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, MN Macalester-Plymouth United Church, Saint Paul, MN New Life Presbyterian Church, Roseville, MN Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, MN Presbyterian Church of the Apostles, Burnsville, MN Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, Chaska, MN Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, MO Florissant Presbyterian Church, Florissant, MO John Knox Presbyterian Church, Florissant, MO New Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Charles, MO Second Presbyterian Church, St Louis, MO Trinity Presbyterian Church PC(USA), Springfield, MO Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, Webster Groves, MO Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church, Wildwood, MO
Gautier Presbyterian Church, Gautier, MS
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Billings, MT
Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, Black Mountain, NC Black River Presbyterian Church, Ivanhoe, NC Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church, Brevard, NC Chapel in the Pines, Chapel Hill, NC Church of Reconciliation, Chapel Hill, NC Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, NC Elkin Presbyterian Church, Elkin, NC First Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC First Presbyterian Church of Garner, NC Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC Guilford Park Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Hillsborough, NC Kirk of Kildaire, Presbyterian, Cary, NC Montreat Presbyterian Church, Montreat, NC New Hope Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC Pittsboro Presbyterian Church, Pittsboro, NC Providence Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC Unity Presbyterian, Denver, NC University Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, NC Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, NE
Nashua Presbyterian Church, Nashua, NH
Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, NJ First Presbyterian Church of Haddon Heights, NJ First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, NJ First Presbyterian Church of Rumson, NJ Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, Bordentown, NJ Lincroft Presbyterian Church, Lincroft, NJ Plumsted Presbyterian Church, New Egypt, NJ Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, Chatham, NJ Trinity Presbyterian Church, East Brunswick, NJ
La Mesa Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, NM Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, Placitas, NM New Life Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, NM
First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, NY First Presbyterian Church of Hector, NY First Presbyterian Church, Ilion, NY First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake, NY First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, Yorktown Heights, NY Fredonia Presbyterian Church, Fredonia, NY Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, NY United Presbyterian Church of East Guilford, Sidney, NY White Plains Presbyterian Church, White Plains, NY
Blue Ash Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH Fairmount Presbyterian, Cleveland Heights, OH First Presbyterian Church, Delaware, OH First Presbyterian Church, Granville, OH First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, OH Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian, Cleveland Heights, OH Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH Noble Road Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Hts, OH Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton, OH
First Presbyterian Church of Norman, OK First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, OK
Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church / Common Ground, Portland, OR First Presbyterian Church, Cottage Grove, OR First Presbyterian Church, McMinnville, OR Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR Southminster Presbyterian Church, Beaverton, OR Westminster Presbyterian Church, Eugene, OR
Abington Presbyterian Church, Abington, PA Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA First Presbyterian Church, Clarks Summit, PA First Presbyterian Church of Hollidaysburg, PA Glenshaw Presbyterian Church, Glenshaw, PA Market Square Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, PA Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, PA Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsburg, PA Sixth Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA State College Presbyterian Church, State College, PA Trinity Presbyterian Church, Berwyn, PA Wayne Presbyterian Church, Wayne, PA
Dorchester Presbyterian Church, Summerville, SC Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC James Island Presbyterian, Charleston, SC Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, Bluffton, SC McGregor Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC North Anderson Community Church Presbyterian, Anderson, SC Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Kingston, TN Covenant Presbyterian Church, Johnson City, TN First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, TN First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, TN New Hope Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, TN New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville, TN Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN
A Community of the Servant Savior Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX Alpine Presbyterian Church, Longview, TX Atascocita Presbyterian Church, Humble, TX Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, Richardson, TX Central Presbyterian Church, Waxahachie, TX Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Bedford, TX First Presbyterian, Elgin, TX First Presbyterian Church, Henderson, TX First Presbyterian Church of Richardson, TX First Presbyterian Church of Waco, TX Saint Barnabas Presbyterian Church, Richardson, TX Saint Philip Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (USA), Longview, TX The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church, The Woodlands, TX Trinity Presbyterian Church, Denton, TX Trinity Presbyterian Church, McKinney, TX Webster Presbyterian Church, Webster, TX Westminster Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX
First Presbyterian Church, Logan, UT
Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, Blacksburg, VA Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, Colonial Heights, VA Fairlington Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, VA Knox Presbyterian, Falls Church, VA Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, McLean, VA Madison Presbyterian Church, Madison, VA Providence Presbyterian Church, Fairfax, VA Trinity Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg, VA United Christian Parish, Reston, VA Westminster Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Williamsburg, VA
Newport Presbyterian, Bellevue, WA St. James Presbyterian Church, Bellingham, WA Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA
Faith Springs Presbyterian Church, Pewaukee, WI First Presbyterian Church, Baraboo, WI First Presbyterian Church, Eau Claire, WI First Presbyterian Church, Marshfield, WI Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church, Stevens Point, WI Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, Wauwatosa, WI
As gun violence escalates, Presbyterian churches are wrestling with how to keep worshipers safe without turning sanctuaries into fortresses. This very timely article explores what some congregations are doing to protect their flocks, and we offer many practical tips and resources to help you start a conversation or develop a safety and security plan.
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.