Process
The steps that congregations typically take to become an Earth Ministry Greening Congregation
Earth Ministry is aware that one size very rarely “fits all,” so we suggest that all Greening Congregations Partners adapt the following process to meet their congregation's needs. If helpful, Earth Ministry staff will work with groups and congregations to shape a strategy that best suits these needs.
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Bring together a congregational creation-awareness/care group. Groups may consist of two or three individuals, a larger ad-hoc group, concerned friends who meet on an ongoing basis, or an entire congregation.
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Gain acceptance within the congregation for becoming a Greening Congregation. This acceptance takes the form of a statement of intent signed by the governing body (vestry, church council, priest) of the church and by becoming a congregational member if it hasn’t already joined. This step brings your vision to the larger body of the congregation. We encourage all Greening Congregations to join at the $250 level, but congregational membership begins at $100 and is renewed annually. Please send a copy of your statement of intent to Earth Ministry to formalize your relationship with Earth Ministry.
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Develop a mission statement to guide your group’s vision and ongoing efforts. Such a statement should serve as a touchstone for how your group envisions fostering creation awareness and care in the congregation.
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Write a summary of past activities, if applicable. This summary serves as both a record of your past accomplishments and a chance to celebrate what you have already done.
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Develop an annual plan that brings your mission statement to life. Each year’s plan should be manageable in scope and viewed as one piece in an ongoing, year-by-year effort. This plan should bring creation awareness and care into various greening areas of congregational life
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Your group and congregation members carry out the annual plan. This is the most exciting part of the process! Earth Ministry’s Greening Congregations Handbook is chock-full of resources and tools to help bring your plan to life.
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Your group evaluates how they did in carrying out the annual plan. This is a self-evaluation process for your group to appreciate its accomplishments and look at areas of desired growth.
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Your group and Earth Ministry celebrates your annual accomplishments. In addition to any celebration within your group or congregation, Earth Ministry will annually (in October) honor Greening Congregations Partners at our Celebration of St. Francis with a presentation of a participation banner to display in your sanctuary or fellowship hall.
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Your group develops a new annual plan based on your mission statement, and then follows the Greening Congregations process (steps 5-7) again. Your group reconvenes and revisits its mission statement to shape a new annual plan for the coming year.
