Level Two

Creating a Plan

 

Educate 

1. Offer opportunities for members to discuss the climate crisis (jump to Education) and other environmental issues, and why it matters to people of faith.
2. Invite those with inspirational experiences to offer testimonies during worship service or begin worship with a First Announcement to recognize those taking steps to promote sustainability.
3. Offer Bible study or book group discussions (jump to Education) that focus on the stewardship of Creation, sustainability, and intersectional justice issues.  Consider this list: Books about Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Environmental Ethics and Creation Care.
4. Encourage and support the involvement of youth with environmental justice issues and organizations.
5. Begin conversations with members and leaders about divestment of church funds from fossil fuel exploration and extraction and other environment-sensitive investments.
6. Learn where and how the climate emergency is impacting your community and region and its intersection with economic, racial and social justice.

Organize 

1. Schedule a building energy audit with your utility.  Dive into collecting data to track your baseline energy use.  Document actions by recording participation, results and possible revisions or next steps.  Take pictures.
2. Organize intergenerational environmental programs, such as trail/beach clean-up and hikes in your area.
3. Offer opportunities for children and youth to support environmental action, conservation and sustainability. 
4. Organize a carbon-reduction Sunday to walk/bike/carpool or take public transportation to church.
5. Encourage individuals/households to assess their personal carbon footprint, contact their utility to schedule an energy audit of their home and promote household participation in renewable electricity, composting and organic gardening programs.

Reduce/Recycle/Rethink (Choose at least four actions)

1. Caulk and weatherize around doors and windows to plug air leaks. Use curtains and blinds to utilize natural lighting and help regulate temperature. 
2. Shift to Fair Trade and sustainably sourced or local products as well as compostable or reusable options for coffee hour and church functions.  When plastic table coverings wear out, replace with cloth.
3. Replace incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps with LED bulbs. 
4. Insulate pipes, water heater and warm air heating ducts. 
5. Install bike racks at church. 
6. Install low flow faucet aerators.
7. Compost church waste; encourage home composting.
8. Collect rainwater in rain barrels for outdoor watering. 
9. Design and distribute reusable shopping bags with church logo or make a free bag bin to recycle extra bags.

Connect 

1. Promote UCC resolutions on climate justice and participate in programs offered by UCC Environmental Ministry.
2. Get involved with local and regional environmental and conservation organizations like Sierra Club, 350.org, the League of Conservation Voters, Audubon, the Sunrise Movement or IPL’s “Cool Congregations.”
3. Promote a partnership model between your congregation and environmental justice communities, following their lead in taking action on environmental issues. 

Advocate 

1. Join the SNEUCC “Congregation Climate Justice Voter Challenge” and set a goal for your congregation’s level of participation.
2. Publicize the congregation’s involvement in environmental priorities through outdoor banners/signs, letters to the editor, social media posts and information on your website.
3. Support programs advocating the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of all animal and plant species. Also see Earth Charter.