Green Congregation Challenge

Why are we inviting you to take part?

Jesus told this parable, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Through the smallest of all seeds, it grows into a tree so that birds perch in its branches.” ~ Matthew 13:31-32

The Green Congregation Challenge is a step-by-step approach that helps churches take small, but consequential, steps towards protecting God’s Creation.   No matter your congregation’s physical size, geographical location, historical affiliation or perspective, every faith community is welcome, and importantly, has a significant role to play.  Like mustard seeds, every step taken moves all of us toward a healthier and more sustainable future for us and all the world’s children.

The Green Congregation Challenge has four levels of recognition, designed to help your church grow step-by-step in your environmental awareness and action. Each level has five categories: Educate; Organize; Reduce, Reuse, Rethink; Connect; and Advocate. Engaging actions from each category will help you integrate creation care throughout the life of your church!

Choose and complete at least four steps from Reduce/Recycle/Rethink and at least one step from each other category (Educate, Organize, Connect, and Advocate) to reach a total of 14 steps and receive recognition for completion of your level.  Levels must be completed in order, but there is flexibility -- you may have ideas that aren’t listed, or you may want to adapt a step from another level that matches the energy and interest of your congregation.

Level One: Getting Started

Level Two: Creating a Plan

Level Three: Building Momentum

Ready to Take the Challenge?

Pledge your intention to start for the first time or take on the next level.

Each level of the Green Congregation Challenge includes recommended actions for the five categories and linked resources to support your implementation. We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with all four levels and to anticipate next steps.

For each level completed, we will present your congregation with a Certificate of Achievement for you to display.  Your congregation will also be recognized on the Environmental Ministries website and in our Environmental Ministries newsletter.  At the completion of Level 4 you will also receive an outdoor banner to help you announce your achievement to your wider community!!

We updated this program in 2021 and added an additional level.  Please contact  Karen Methot  if you are currently working on a level or if your congregation has already qualified for Level 1, 2 or 3 in our prior challenge program.  We want to work with you to recognize all your achievements and discuss how the Green Congregation Challenge can be adapted to support your circumstances and commitment to climate action and environmental justice.  