Seven congregations in Presbytery of the James have been certified as Earth Care Congregations by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Presbyterian Hunger Program for 2024. The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden.
The congregations are:
- Westminster Church, Charlottesville (since 2015)
- Madison Church, Madison (since 2018)
- Second Church, Richmond (since 2020)
- Bon Air Church, Richmond (since 2021)
- The Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg (since 2022)
- Ginter Park Church, Richmond (new in 2024)
- Tuckahoe Church, Richmond (new in 2024)
This status speaks to the serious commitment that these congregations are making to care for God’s earth. To become an Earth Care Congregation, congregations incorporate environmental practices and thinking into their worship, education, facilities, and outreach.
Started in 2010 by the PC(USA), the goal of this program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way. The Earth Care Congregation certification honors churches that make that commitment and encourages others to follow their example. These seven are part of 305 within the PC(USA) that achieved the designation.
For more information on the Earth Care Congregations program visit www.pcusa.org/earthcarecongregations.
Interested in Becoming an Earth Care Congregation?
These presbytery churches are helping to spread awareness of the program with other congregations. They have been holding periodic meetings of current Earth Care Congregations and those interested in the program to share ideas and encourage one another in their earth care journeys.
The group met March 3 with participants from Bon Air Church, Second Church (Richmond), Tuckahoe Church, Ginter Park Church, and Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church. More churches are invited to participate in the group. Contact either Sally Johnston or Deborah Houghton for more information.
