Becoming a Green Church includes three components: becoming, green and church.

  • Becoming, or changing our ways from damaging to caring for the earth;
  • Green, learning how to live sustainably;
  • Church, growing in our understanding of faith, relating it to the eco-crisis, allowing ourselves to be changed, and moving into new ways of living that proclaim the healing, reconciliation and renewal of all creation in Christ.

Getting started

  • Reflect on the Eco-Mission Statement
  • Check out the practical resources on this page
  • Read about green initiatives happening within the Uniting Church and be inspired
  • Look through the ‘Resources’ section of the website (including readings, Bible studies, worship resources and links).
  • Talk with others, and form a small group to develop a plan of action.

Eco-Mission Statement

“Anywhere” Congregation Uniting Church in Australia ECO-MISSION STATEMENT
Vision: The Anywhere Uniting Church, in recognising the natural environment as God’s Creation, believes that:

  • Christians are called to safeguard the integrity of Creation, and to exercise their mission in such a way that the life of the earth is sustained and renewed.
  • Alongside other valid expressions of Christian mission, the proclamation of the Kingdom of God includes working for justice, peace, and a proper stewardship of the earth.
  • The well-being of people is inter-woven with the well-being of the planet itself.

Objectives In response to that vision, the ecological aims of the Anywhere Uniting Church are:

  • To raise environmental awareness in the congregation and throughout the community.
  • To engage in practical measures on behalf of the environment.
  • To encourage a form of spirituality that includes an appreciation and care for Creation.

Five Leaf Eco Awards for Churches

The Five Leaf Eco-Awards are an ecumenical church greening and environmental change program for churches. The Five Leaf Eco-Awards can help you become a Green Church today! The program will help you ‘green’ your:

  • Buildings
  • Worship
  • Congregation
  • Outreach
  • Leadership

Growing Mission with Community Food: A Practical Resource for Church Congregations (from Uniting Earthweb Nov 2010)

  • Superswitch ranks superannuation funds by how much of their investment is free from fossil fuels. See how your super is invested and maybe switch to a better fund. You can also ask your current fund to invest more ethically.
  • Market Forces lists the banks. See if your bank invests in fossil fuels. Consider switching to a bank that doesn’t.
  • Choice Magazine has an ethical investing guide which explains some terms and concepts.
  • Go Fossil Free Australia has step by step guides for taking your money out of fossil fuels.

Funding is available from various sources. In addition to these, you may be able to find local funding.

Australian Government funding

Queensland funding

  • Becoming a Solar Church – Queensland Synod, 2016
  • Solarising Churches: A Practical Resource for Uniting Churches in NSW (Uniting Earthweb Sept 2010)

(Note that funding arrangements are different in Queensland—see Funding links above)