The First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo was certified as an Earth Care Congregation by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Presbyterian Hunger Program through February 2023. This honor speaks to the great commitment that the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo has made to care for God’s earth.
To become an Earth Care Congregation, this congregation affirmed an Earth Care Pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into their worship, education, facilities, and outreach.
The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden.
The Pine Island garden grows hundreds of pounds of food annually, most of which is donated to Loaves & Fishes.
Started in 2010 by the PC(USA), the goal of this program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all aspects of their church life. The Earth Care Congregation certification honors churches that make that commitment and encourages others to follow their example.
“The First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo is just one of the 292 churches in our denomination that chose to dedicate themselves to intentional care of God’s earth this year. This congregation’s activities and commitment even in the midst of navigating limitations brought about by COVID-19 brings hope to their community and indeed to the world. We believe that (Name) Presbyterian Church will inspire others to respond intentionally to God’s call to care for the earth,” says Jessica Maudlin, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo has plans to continue improving the Pine Island campus.
For more information on the Earth Care Congregations program visit www.pcusa.org/earthcarecongregations.