Who can start the process?
The program can begin with anyone so inspired—a pastor, interested lay people, a standing committee, the church council, etc. Once there is some interest, take the program to the church council for discussion, approval, and implementation on behalf of the congregation. If desired, have the congregation approve the plan at a duly constituted congregational meeting.
Who directs the process?
You and your congregation! This is not a certification program. No one will tell you what to do or require you to submit a report. Nothing is expected for you to do aside from what you choose to do in carrying out your commitments for creation. There is no cost for this process apart from what you decide to spend on your mission to care for creation.
Stated positively, this is a process of identification with the goals and mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation. It is your commitment in partnership with our basic organizational format and access to our resources. That is, we are inviting you to embrace a mission statement for your congregation and then proceed to carry it out as you are able. You will be responsible to yourself and to your Earth community for what you do and how you do it.
Is our congregation right for this work?
This is a program for any and every congregation—large or small, urban or rural, old or young, wealthy or poor, of any ethnic identification. For each congregation, there are multiple ways for you to carry out a commitment to God’s creation. Maybe you have already done a great many projects that are Earth-friendly as part of your commitment to care for Earth. Then this program will count and celebrate everything you have already done, provide some structure to your efforts, and enable you to act in solidarity with other Lutheran congregations.
What will happen through this process? What if I can’t follow these steps exactly?
The following steps are just suggestions. If something isn’t working, you’re getting stuck, or find yourself met with resistance, skip to the next step, or modify it so it works for your context! Here’s how it may look:
1. Form a Green Team: As part of this process, the pastor and church council authorize the establishment of an individual liaison or “green team” to record commitments using the action plan, then carry them out and report back. The church council or another committee may serve to carry out the creation care commitments.
2. Approve a Covenant for Creation: The pastor(s) and church council approve the covenant on behalf of the congregation. This toolkit will provide the template for this covenant, but you may choose to adapt it. You can make the commitments public in a brief ritual within a worship service.
3. Create an Action Plan: The green team will go through the process of making an action plan, highlighting commitment in five pillars of church life: worship, education, building and grounds, member discipleship, public witness. To simplify, you may use LRC’s “Actions Speak Loudly” form to do so! You may utilize the Creation Care coaches to help you create attainable goals.
4. Communicate: Send LRC a copy/photo/scan of this signed covenant and be sure to display the signed covenant for all your members to see. Send LRC your Action Plan through Actions Speak Loudly so we can celebrate you! Within a few weeks your congregation will be added to LRC’s web listing of Caring for Creation Ministries across the nation (you are in great company!). Promote this identity among the members and request to be put on the agenda at upcoming meetings of other active groups to brainstorm their involvement and ways to work together towards these goals.
5. Adjust and Renew: We encourage the green team to report their projects and events to the church council/congregation and to redo the action plan process at least on an annual basis. Share any efforts, events, collaborations, etc. with the LRC so others can be inspired and you can share what you learn. Write to us via email, call and leave a message, or complete the online Good Green News Update form online.
This is part of our Creation Care Congregation Self Organizing kit. See more here.