NEW EarthCare Curriculum
The Unity Worldwide EarthCare ministry’s mission is to foster awareness of our spiritual oneness with the Earth, to promote active care of all creation, and to assist congregations in integrating an Earth-oriented spirituality into their ministries. By empowering Unity ministries, the EarthCare movement envisions Unity Worldwide Ministries as a powerful force and global leader in addressing the climate change emergency and moving society towards environmental justice in order to create a world that works for all beings.
Click here to learn more about this exciting new program!
History
In 2001, the Unity Northwest region hatched the idea to launch a program to help Unity congregations become better stewards of our planet. That leadership from our region led to development of the Unity Worldwide EarthCare program and to date 49 congregations have become certified EarthCare congregations.
The EarthCare program exists to help your congregation grow and thrive by fostering awareness of our spiritual oneness with our Earth home and promoting active care of creation. The EarthCare program helps with:
- Guiding congregations through the simple process of getting established as an EarthCare congregation
- Improving energy, water and waste efficiency at your facilities
- Establishing environmental education programs
- And ? (Every EarthCare program is totally unique) …
There are currently four EarthCare certified congregations in our Northwest region – Seattle, Lynnwood, Beaverton and Central Oregon. Lynnwood has recently reached the highest level of certification. Four additional congregations are moving forward with certification.
Getting started is as easy as having your Board and minister agree to environmentally responsible practices and stewardship and then beginning simple practices such as setting up a recycling program or improving energy efficiency. After that, well, the skies the limit! Each EarthCare program is unique based on the congregations needs and interests.
The EarthCare program offers great opportunities for youth engagement and leadership. It also provides opportunities for community events and engagement and drawing interest from younger people who are spiritually interested and also committed to environmental and social action.
Each year leading EarthCare congregations are awarded the Green Star award on stage at the Unity Worldwide convention.
The EarthCare ministry team has members representing each of the U.S regions and we are here to help. The Unity Northwest region member is Cylvia Hayes from Unity of Central Oregon. We would be happy to help you establish, or grow, your congregation’s EarthCare program.
Resources to help:
Contact
Rev. Cylvia Hayes, UWI Core Team
Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon
Phone: (541) 617-9013