Faith Based Environmental Initiatives in Canada

About: The Presbyterian Church in Canada was founded in 1875 and is comprised of four levels: Session, Presbytery, Synod, and the General Assembly. The Presbyterian Church in Canada believes in using both words and actions to proclaim Jesus Christ’s love, relying on God’s scripture for guidance.

Environmental Activities:

• The General Assembly actions:
  • 1990: adopted a statement on the environment in 1990.
  • 1991: urged government participation in international climate negotiations
  • 1992: advocated to the government against foreign policy causing environmental degradation.
  • 2003: advocated to the government in favour of the Kyoto Protocol.

• Worship resources are provided to congregations for events such as Earth Day and World Water Day.
• A workshop called Delighting in God’s Garden was held in 2016 to explore Eco-Theology.
• Climate change action:
  • Church members were encouraged to write to and meet with their Ministers of Parliament to advocate for climate agreement before the COP21 in 2015.
  • Signed the 2014 Global Investor Statement on Climate Change and participating in an investor coalition looking at climate change
  • Participating in the Carbon Disclosure Project
  • Signed “The Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change” (2011)
  • Signed “On Promoting Climate Justice and Ending Poverty in Canada Faith Communities in Canada Speak Out” (2015)
  • A Presbyterian pastor signed “Common Declaration of Canadian Churches on Climate Change “‘Creating a Climate of Hope’” (Green Churches Network, 2015). 
• The Crieff Hills Retreat Centre has planted local species on their property, source their food from local farmers, and raise bees.
• Congregational level initiatives include:
  • Installing solar panels
  • Community gardens
  • St. Andrews Presbyterian, Ottawa, ON, has a Ride or Walk to Church Sunday
  • Knox Presbyterian, Waterloo, ON, knocked down their old building and rebuilt with LEED standards and passive energy.
  • Westmount Presbyterian, Edmonton, AB, built a new net-zero energy church building and refugee housing complex.

Staffing:

The Justice Ministries department, with two staff, include environmental issues in their mandate.

Partnerships:

• KAIROS: https://www.kairoscanada.org/
• Citizens for Public Justice: https://www.cpj.ca/
• World Council of Churches: https://www.oikoumene.org/en
• Canadian Council of Churches: https://www.councilofchurches.ca/
• Faith and the Common Good – Greening Sacred Spaces: https://www.faithcommongood.org/greening_sacred_spaces
• Pembina Institute: https://www.pembina.org/research-and-analysis

Presbyterian Church in Canada