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Earth Care
WPC is an Earth Care Congregation, committed to caring for God’s earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. The Environmental Ministries at the Presbyterian Church (USA) has recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation! The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by the Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life.
Earth Care Team 2025: Co-Chairs: Keith Hamilton and Susan ShawMembers: Charlie King, Todd Lafrenz, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Westminster’s Earth Care Team is responsible to:
1. Evaluate and recommend environmentally sound practices within the work of Westminster.
2. Oversee the application process for Earth Care designation within the PC(USA).
3. Initiate and organize recycling efforts among members.
4. Initiate education to widen our understanding of environmental stewardship.
5. Coordinate the Adopt-a-Street clean-up four times per year
WPC is an Earth Care Congregation, committed to caring for God’s earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. The Environmental Ministries at the Presbyterian Church (USA) has recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation! The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by the Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life.
Earth Care Team 2025: Co-Chairs: Keith Hamilton and Susan ShawMembers: Charlie King, Todd Lafrenz, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Westminster’s Earth Care Team is responsible to:
1. Evaluate and recommend environmentally sound practices within the work of Westminster.
2. Oversee the application process for Earth Care designation within the PC(USA).
3. Initiate and organize recycling efforts among members.
4. Initiate education to widen our understanding of environmental stewardship.
5. Coordinate the Adopt-a-Street clean-up four times per year
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New Tower and Education Roofs
and the Installation of Solar Panels During November and December of 2024, the Education Wing and Tower roofs were replaced. Additionally, two new roof access hatch doors were installed for safer entry to the Tower Roof. With a new roof on the Education Wing, the long-term goal of placing solar panels on new roofs became a possibility. Twenty-nine solar panels were installed by WindSolarUSA in December. |
During November and December of 2024, the Education Wing and Tower roofs were replaced. Additionally, two new roof access hatch doors were installed for safer entry to the Tower Roof. With a new roof on the Education Wing, the long-term goal of placing solar panels on new roofs became a possibility. Twenty-nine solar panels were installed by WindSolarUSA in December.
Thank you to Property Chair Dave Leonatti, Deacon Dr. Todd Lafrenz, Property and Building Manager Gary Warnick, and Financial Administrator Lisa Runkle for their great collaboration. The Betty Smith Mission Endowment funded the solar panels.
Thank you to Property Chair Dave Leonatti, Deacon Dr. Todd Lafrenz, Property and Building Manager Gary Warnick, and Financial Administrator Lisa Runkle for their great collaboration. The Betty Smith Mission Endowment funded the solar panels.
PC(USA) RECERTIFICATION
Westminster received word on March 11, 2024 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating nine years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination.
Westminster received word on March 11, 2024 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating nine years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination.
Presbytery of Great Rivers highlighted WPC's Earth Care efforts in their weekly newsletter on Mar. 28, 2019. Click here to read the newsletter, in which Dr. Peter Kieffer shared his passion of leading environmental justice ministry at Westminster.
Westminster members who wish to reduce waste may refer to the Room to Room Guide to Reuse and Recycling Options found through this link.
This guide tells us how to reuse and to recycle so many resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill! Of note, not included are ways to recycle Christmas tree lights and single-use non-rechargeable batteries which can be recycled in the bins at the southwest corner of the West Narthex. Nearly 200 pounds of Christmas lights were recycled in 2020.
This guide tells us how to reuse and to recycle so many resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill! Of note, not included are ways to recycle Christmas tree lights and single-use non-rechargeable batteries which can be recycled in the bins at the southwest corner of the West Narthex. Nearly 200 pounds of Christmas lights were recycled in 2020.
Click here to learn more about Westminster Missions and Service