Five churches in Presbytery of the James have been certified as Earth Care Congregations by the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Presbyterian Hunger Program through February 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
- Madison Church, Madison
- Bon Air Church, Richmond
- Second Church, Richmond
- The Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg
This status speaks to the serious commitment that these congregations have made to care for God’s earth.
To become an Earth Care Congregation, congregations affirm an Earth Care Pledge to integrate 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, through integrating earth care into all aspects of their church life. The Earth Care
Congregation certification honors churches that make that commitment and encourages others to follow their example.
Only 305 churches in PC(USA) chose to dedicate themselves to intentional care of God’s earth this year.
