Become a Green Church
@ #vaumcgreenchurch
God instructs us to be stewards of creation. Christians who take this responsibility seriously find new ways to love, protect, and serve their human and non-human neighbors.
Why Become a Green Church?
As more Christians realize the divine call to care for the Earth, churches are increasingly motivated to take action for a cleaner, greener world. But how do we get started?
The Creation Justice Team would like to thank all who have been Green Churching since the GCI’s adoption in 2009. We are excited to introduce the Green Church Initiative to first-time visitors. This step-by-step guide will help churches become better caretakers of God’s creation.
What is The Green Church Initiative (GCI)?
The GCI is a covenant congregation program that empowers a local church to live out its faith, given the Biblical mandate to care for and be good stewards of all that God has so lovingly created, and focuses on Creation Justice and Stewardship in five areas:
⚬ Worship
⚬ Discipleship
⚬ Stewardship
⚬ Evangelism
⚬ Mission
By implementing the VAUMC GCI, you’ll join Methodists worldwide in the Creation Justice Movement. The Movement’s mission is to participate with the Spirit of God in connecting and supporting groups within the United Methodist Church and beyond for the work of creation, care, justice, and regeneration. You’ll also receive recognition at the conference level with the Green Church and Sustaining Green Church awards presented at the Annual Conference.
How It Works:
1. Pray and discern: Start by spending time with Scripture and the Book of Nature to discern how God is calling your church to this ministry
2. Register Below: Start by filling out the registration form
3. Form a congregational Green Team
4. Download and adopt the GCI Covenant: Have your leadership adopt the GCI Covenant. The GCI guide will be your blueprint for action.
5. Evaluate and Act: Reflect on your church’s green performance from the past year, commit to improvement, and present your plan to church leadership for signing.
6. Provide an Annual Report: Submit your actions annually to be considered for the Green Church or Sustaining Green Church award and gain recognition for your efforts at the Conference level. See the 2025 Green Church Award form for details
We’re Here to Help!
The Creation Justice team is dedicated to helping churches become Green Church certified. We offer:
⚬ Dedicated Coaches: To guide your church through the certification process.
⚬ Resources: Explore the UMC Creation Justice Movement’s Green Teams Resources page for tips and tools. You can also access a training video from the Florida Annual Conference or a guide from the Mountain Sky Conference on starting a green team.
Have Questions?
Do you need more information or want to arrange a speaker for your church? Contact the Creation Justice Team at [email protected].
Ready to Join the Movement?
Register your church today and become part of the growing movement toward environmental stewardship!
Register Here