Our History of being a Creation Justice Congregation

The 26th General Synod of our parent denomination (the UCC) provided a mandate to “address the severe nature of the global warming crisis as one of the most urgent threats to humankind and, indeed, all of God’s precious plant earth.”  IUCC members were deeply concerned about global heat patterns, melting glaciers, drought, and floods, and we knew we needed to do something to connect our faith with our concerns regarding climate change. 

In 2015, a team of IUCC climate activists created GREENfaith, a committee of our Advocates for Peace & Justice Ministry, to inspire, educate, and mobilize our people for the care of the earth.  The original GREENfaith committee was composed of Vivian Johnson (chair), Judy Curry, Nancy Dreckman, Howard Emery, Carol Getz, and Eileen Vincent.  While all of them worked hard, it is important to note the excellent leadership of Vivian Johnson, whose remarkable determination and sheer force of personality mobilized and galvanized the entire congregation to action.  The committee developed six core beliefs:  

·         The sacredness of nature

·         People grow spiritually through a strong relationship with the earth

·         All people deserve a healthy environment

·         When we do damage to the land, we do damage to the people, especially the poor

·         Our consumption habits can destroy or help heal and restore the earth

·         The flourishing of humanity depends on the flourishing of the whole creation

In May 2016, our congregation voted to explore becoming a Creation Justice Church. Our GREENfaith committee was already in place and working hard to educate our congregation on environmental justice.  They decided it was time to apply to the UCC to receive the Creation Justice designation.  Their challenge was how best to include as many church members as possible in the education process.  They began by showing films, inviting guest speakers, signing letters to legislators, and offering Sunday sermons around the theme of creation.  For many years, GREENfaith committee members took turns researching and writing a column in our monthly newsletter that outlined ways in which we, as a faith community, could do a better job of caring for the earth and changing our energy practices for the better.  

An additional educational opportunity came through our Adult Programs Ministry.  Our congregation already had a small group program called “Comma Groups” composed ten groups of 8-10 individuals each that met monthly for seven months each year.  It was suggested that the groups focus on creation justice as their learning topic for the next year. That way, approximately 85-100 people would have a more in-depth study of ecological justice, that is, our use of and relation to Creation. Our talented Minister of Adult Education, Steve Swope, was asked to put the material together.

Steve developed two booklets: one a Group Guide and the other a Discussion Guide. In addition, he researched numerous online articles and suggested a number of them as background resources for each month’s study. This information was sent to the participants prior to each gathering so they could develop their questions and ideas, thereby enhancing the group discussions. It was a really effective way to assist our church members in making the decision of whether to apply for the UCC designation of “Creation Justice Church.”

We focused on the steps we needed to take to become a “Creation Justice” church as outlined by the UCC. There were four dimensions to fulfill:

1.       Theology and Worship: How can our congregation intentionally reflect upon God in relationship to caring for creation? How can it bring theological understandings of creation care and justice into its services of worship?

2.       Institutional Life and Practice: How can our congregation integrate care for creation into the life and work of its ministry teams, committees, and governing council? How can our congregation embody care for creation through its building and land use policies and practices?

3.       Circles of Awareness and Advocacy: With particular attention to socioeconomic factors such as race, class, and global inequality, how can our congregation research and inform itself about environmental justice issues at the local, state, national, and/or global levels? How can this awareness correspond to congregational advocacy and action?

4.       Connections to a Broader Movement: Within the UCC, what are the ways in which our church can connect with others, whether it is through a conference task force, a UCC campground, the UCC’s environmental justice newsletter, or other points of contact? Outside of the UCC, what are the ways in which our church can connect with interfaith, ecumenical, or secular partners engaged in environmental justice work?  

In 2017, our GREENfaith team began working on the four target areas for a Creation Justice designation as approved resolution by the 29th General Synod of the UCC:

1.       All churches are encouraged to conduct an energy audit.

2.       Buildings undergoing new construction and/or major renovations strive to be carbon neutral (operate with a net-zero use of fossil fuel, greenhouse gas emitting energy).   

3.       Existing church buildings not undergoing major renovation at this time are encouraged to take steps to meet a fossil fuel, greenhouse gas emitting, energy consumption performance standard of at least 60% below the regional average for houses of worship or that building type.

4.       Congregations are requested to encourage their members to meet these standards in their own homes.

Members of the GREENfaith team met with various ministries and committees of IUCC to determine how these targets could be fulfilled. Following that, they drafted a Creation Justice covenant to present to the congregation to be ratified by a congregational vote.   It was around this time that the GREENfaith committee grew to include Tony Dover, Martha Hansen, Ashley Herndon, and Bonnie Shaffstall.   Team  members Tony Dover and Howard Emery began developing an Energy Management Plan.  At the same time, we sought congregational input via a questionnaire on April 23 and 30, 2017, to ask two questions:

1.       What can IUCC do about climate change? (Education, worship services, administration, congregational events, transportation, buildings, grounds, etc.)

2.       What can YOU do about climate change? (Your home, landscape, transportation, volunteer services, work for public policies that lead to creation justice, etc.)

All of this information was compiled and put together in an application to become a Creation Justice Church within the UCC.  We knew that once we received that recognition, it would be our responsibility to maintain environmental justice as a core part of our DNA.

GREENfaith sponsored an all-day IUCC Earth Day event on April 30, 2017, that featured lectures and a panel on global warming.  Later, congregants took part in the OC Climate March in huge numbers.  There were similar marches all over the country.  At our congregational meeting on May 21, 2017, IUCC members were asked to consider and vote on a Creation Justice Covenant as follows:  

“In affirming the divine gifts of creation and in affirming our connection to God, each other, and the world around us, we unconditionally commit ourselves as individuals and as a congregation to the intertwined responsibilities of caring for creation and seeking justice for the oppressed. With purposeful resolve, we commit ourselves with an awareness of how the abuses of creation inevitably cause human suffering and of how factors such as race, class, and global inequality inevitably cause some to suffer more than others. Furthermore, as humanity confronts the current and future crisis of damage to our climate, we commit ourselves with an urgent sense of calling. We desire that these deeply felt commitments be reflected in all the dimensions of our congregation’s life. We desire that we launch ourselves beyond the walls of this church to make good on our promises to God our Creator, to Jesus the Redeemer of Creation, and to the Holy Spirit the Sustainer of Creation.”  

The congregation voted overwhelmingly “YES” and all the paperwork was submitted to the UCC’s Minister of Environmental Justice, Brooks Berndt, in Cleveland, Ohio.  He responded: “The first thing I did this morning was read your application, and Wow! I was impressed. Your GREENfaith committee has done terrific work in just two years. In recognition of your achievements as a newly minted Creation Justice Church, I will be having a Creation Justice banner sent straight to your church from the company making them.”

On September 24, 2017, IUCC dedicated the banner we received from the national UCC Environmental Justice Program.  The banner honors our accomplishments, but also is a reminder that we’ve just begun the journey of working for environmental justice in our lives, in our congregation, and in our community.  This designation was the impetus we needed to continue our work. With everyone’s enthusiasm and cooperation, we were able to move forward in our commitment towards environmental justice!  

When we started work on the new building adjacent to our sanctuary in 2018, we were mindful of protecting the environment.  The design incorporated many sustainable features, from the use of drought tolerant native landscaping to oversized overhangs to high efficiency LED lighting.  We were mindful of using Construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) including shaker plates at the entry drive to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the street, silt fencing along the sidewalk, and straw waddle along the sidewalk at Alton Parkway. 

For World Water Day in March of 2018, we continued to reflect on climate and the environment by offering a Lenten class entitled “The Earth is the Lord’s – Not Ours to Wreck” provided by our own Dr. Gudrun Magnusdottir, a Professor in the Department of Earth System Science at UC Irvine.  In April, we celebrated Earth Day by focusing on the care of the earth: the sermon, music, children’s story, and décor all conveyed the message that we are a GREENfaith/Creator Justice Church.

As part of our new building construction, we installed a bioswale – a landscape element designed to remove debris and pollution from surface runoff water.  Ours is located behind Plumer Hall.  It’s an important way for us to live out our commitment to green faith. 

The composition of the GREENfaith team changed over the years.  As some original members moved on to new pursuits, new members come on board: Chuck Heath, Keith Boyum, and Craig Repp.  For many years, GREENfaith committee members took turns researching and writing a column in our monthly newsletter that outlined ways in which we, as a faith community, could do a better job of caring for the earth and changing our energy practices for the better.  

On June 2, 2019, IUCC passed a resolution acknowledging that climate change was an urgent existential threat to God’c creation and to the lives and fortunes of ourselves and all of humankind.  In essence, the resolution sought to bring increased focus to making action plans to combat global warming.  An important element of that process of discernment was an IUCC symposium on climate change on April 28, principally featuring Professor Gudrun Magnusdottir, our fellow congregational members and Professor of Earth System Science at UCI.  We followed up the successful passage of the resolution with a presentation on the Green New Deal. 

In January 2020, a group of IUCC members toured Republic Services Material Recovery Center in Anaheim to learn more about how our county recycles materials.  The recovery center receives over 2,500 tons a day collected from 11 cities plus Disneyland.  Everyone came away from the tour with a renewed desire to be better at trash recycling.  That same month, we sought to become involved in the national UCC program “A Kairos Call to Action.”  Inspired by the suggestions of the GREENfaith committee, the Hospitality Ministry (chaired by Alex Ingal) officially switched to biodegradable products. 

IUCC members believe climate change to be an existential priority.  In January of 2021, many of us signed a letter to the president, senators, and legislators to advocate for rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, cancelling the Keystone Pipeline, and freeing up as much as $10 billion at FEMA to protect against climate disasters before they happen. 

Our youth –centered activity days often focus on care for the earth.  In August 2021, MYP and other ministries got together to provide a morning of activities for kids to have fun and be inspired by different ways to care for the planet.  Activities included stories, crafts, and planting of seeds!

On October 10, 2021, the GREENfaith Committee hosted Ayn Craciun, Policy Advocate for the Climate Action Campaign.  She updated us on the latest status of Community Choice Energy (CCE) and what is happening with the newly formed Orange County Power Authority.  For Earth Sunday on April 24, 2022, she returned to provide us with valuable information that will assist in our efforts to practice GREENfaith.  She provided us with info on an upcoming OC Climate Coalition meeting and encouraged us to sign a petition to be presented to the Irvine City Council. 

On May 14, 2022, members of GREENfaith and friends participated in the Irvine Climate Coalition’s Earth Year Event at Irvine Heritage Park.  Chuck Heath and others manned a table with information about IUCC’s climate efforts, while Keith Boyum participated in a panel discussion with leaders of several high school and college environmental clubs.  

For Evolution Sunday in February 2023, we celebrated the co-existence of faith and science by welcoming UCI geneticist Adolfo Sequiera to explain his work.  For Earth Sunday in 2023, we welcomed a beekeeper to the pulpit to speak with us about the importance of bees.

Our congregation’s interest in GREENfaith and Creation Justice continues to be felt in ways both big and small.  We continue to be mindful about how we can be better stewards of the earth and engage in environmentally safe practices.