We are a people of hope, trusting in God to go with us into the unknown, and following Jesus’ lead of Love in action.

So when the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounds the alarm that our window to prevent the devastation of climate change is closing, we turn toward what we know:  that God loves all of creation (including us!) and will lead us toward responding together.

In that Spirit, Community UCC’s Justice in a Changing Climate task force formed a group to help the congregation move into that future.  On June 26, 2022, the congregation adopted a Carbon Covenant for Our Buildings, a next step in our work together to become carbon neutral by 2050.  We developed an equipment replacement planning timeline for our facilities to reduce our carbon footprint.  We are also inviting the congregation individually to be energy-wise when in the buildings, and to advocate with our utilities and various levels of government.  Only if our utilities meet their CO2e targets can we meet ours.  What each of us can do now

To learn more about the Carbon Covenant for Our Buildings, view the video below and read these documents.

Imagining the Covenant in Action:  Implementation and accountability

Explanations for the Future:  What the adopters meant

Progress Reports:

2010 to 2022

2010 to 2019 (before the pandemic)

Equipment replacement planning timeline for our carbon covenant

document     skit presented at congregational meeting

What is the Carbon Covenant for Our Buildings?

Watch the video explainer

The working group thanks Pastor Lacey Brown, Merrilee Jacobson (chair, Property Ministry), Joe Retzer (chair, Stewardship Ministry), Bill Lamb (Treasurer), and the Council for their advice which strengthened our proposal.

Carbon Covenant for Our Buildings working group

Jane Smith (convener) smithjeg@mindspring.com, Glenda Chen, Greg Eades, Bill Gretsch, Paul Kiel, Gary Smith, Skip Stoddard

What are your questions about the Carbon Covenant for Our Buildings?

Contact Carbon Covenant working group