Environmental Concerns

Westminster has an active and accomplished mission dedicated to raising awareness and making progress in care for God’s great creation of the earth and its peoples. This history of environmental concerns at Westminster was reflected in the establishment of the ministry team in 2007 with the following mission statement:

To accept our responsibility as earth-keepers who care for creation and to increase our commitment to the care of God’s creation. We acknowledge our duty to live justly in relationship to our fellow humans and seek ways in which we as Christians can heal and restore creation for future generations.

We will address this Mission through Worship; Education; Maintenance of Church Property; Discipleship at Home and at Work; and Public Ministry.

Through the years, this team has worked with the congregation for many substantial achievements in furthering this mission. Some are:

Installation of a 5 kW, 21 panel, solar panel system on our educational wing in 2012, with a church “solarbration” ceremony

Award of “Cool Congregation” in 2014 by the Interfaith Power and Light in recognition of the church’s 30% reduction in carbon release

Maintaining a church organic vegetable garden with the produce going to our Bounty Table; donations from this Table are given to the Presbytery’s Carbon Footprint Fund

Church energy efficiency improvements using an energy audit resulting in window replacement and upgrades, energy management system installation, replacement of HVAC system with a high-efficiency Variable Refrigerant Flow heat pump system, and installation of LED lighting
Providing chinaware for meals in lieu of disposables
Encouraging divestment of fossil fuel investments
Participation and support of the Presbytery’s Climate and Energy Stewardship Team