Monthly Highlight
Highlighting Faithful Footprints at The Parliament of the World's Regions in Chicago
Faith & the Common Good's Executive Director and Faithful Footprints Program Manager, Rev. Michelle Singh, attended the 2023 convening of the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago earlier this month. One of the panels she participated in was Greening of Congregations: The State of the Movement which highlighted the work of diverse faith traditions to "green" their houses of worship. Michelle highlighted the outstanding successes of the Faithful Footprints program as well as The United Church of Canada's commitment to an 80% decrease in carbon emissions by 2030. The panel included:
Brother Benedict Ayodi, Capuchin Franciscan Friar & Programs Manager of the Laudato Si’ Movement in Africa;
Imam Saffet Abid Catovic, founding member of the Global Muslim Climate Network;
The Ven. Gauranga Das, Director of ISKCON’s Govardhan Ecovillage;
The Rev. Dr. Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, Ecumenical Officer & Director of the Department on Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The panel was moderated by Dr. Lucy Cummings, Director of Faith Sector Resilience at New York Disaster Interfaith Services.
Cooksville United's Busted Boiler Fund Campaign
Congregants of Cooksville United Church (Mississauga,ON) have always given generously when the church has turned to them to raise funds for the benefit of preserving their church building. In efforts to raise matching funds for their retrofit projects, Cooksville United launched its Busted Boiler Fund Campaign. The goal of the campaign was to raise $10,000 dollars from the congregation to be matched by $10,000 dollars from the church's reserve fund. Given the age of its church, the Busted Boiler Fund would help preserve the capital of the reserve fund for any future building emergencies.
"We did an initial presentation to the congregation and had the posters and progress pictures of the ongoing work visible as everyone came into the church. We have a very diverse congregation and everyone responded to the call. We have raised $11,000, with more money continuing to come in. We plan to continue the fundraising to the end of the year under ‘New Boiler Fund’ rather than Busted Boiler Fund" shares Paul Norris, Treasurer at Cooksville United.
Work Completed
Bethel United Church (Rideau Ferry, ON)
Received a grant to conduct a Virtual Green Audit; insulate its attic, hatches, and narthex; install a heat pump, three radiant heaters, and thermostats, including electrical work for the updated system; install two ceiling fans as well as interior and exterior LED lights; weather strip and seal doors as well as caulk windows; insulate its water pipes; replace basement door; and insulate and repair its storage room.
Cooksville United Church (Mississauga, ON)
Received a grant to replace its boiler and remove asbestos from its piping.
Mount Royal United Church (Moncton, NB)
Received a grant to replace the flat roof over its church offices, including installing a white exterior membrane, and upgrading its roof insulation to R-30 by adding four inches of polyiso insulation; replace approximately 100 fluorescent and incandescent light fixtures with energy-efficient LED fixtures, including installing new dimming control for its sanctuary, social hall and memorial room; spray foam insulate and seal the top of the annular space between the exterior bricks and interior concrete block in its sanctuary; and install mini-split heat pumps in its office, minister’s study and the church boardroom.
Sherbrook Lake Camp (Franey Corner, NS)
Received a grant to replace all fridges and one freezer in its kitchen with Energy Star stand-up, industrial options; and replace 48 light bulbs as well as 12-rod bulbs with LED lights.
Stamford Lane United Church (Niagara Falls, ON)
Received a grant to upgrade its boiler with a IBC 500,000 BTU high efficiency commercial condensing boiler and a potable water boiler; integrate existing controls to new boilers with zones, and set up 7-day programable energy management systems to both its sanctuary and gymnasium.
Energy Results
Topsail United Church (Conception Bay South, NL)
Received a grant to replace all fluorescent lights with LED lights; and install a mini split heat pump unit in its basement hall and upstairs sanctuary. A year following their projects, Topsail United reduced its GHG emissions by 27.8%, electricity usage by 27.4%, and energy costs by 30.2%.
Trinity United Church (Capreol, ON)
Received a grant to install 10kW of solar panels and seal windows. A year following their projects, Trinity United reduced its GHG emissions by 20.3%, natural gas usage by 18.6%, and energy costs by 6.7%.
Inspiration
Ready for More: Runnymede United Retrofits for Greater Energy Savings
Many communities of faith start off small and gradually make their way to larger-scale energy-efficiency and decarbonization building renovation projects. For Runnymede United Church, in Toronto, Ontario, building greening efforts date back over a decade. Since completing a Green Audit by Faith & the Common Good in 2011, the church has engaged in a variety of energy conservation projects. With their past experience, Runnymede United was well-equipped and ready for more. With support from Faithful Footprints funding, Runnymede United Church retrofits for greater energy savings, replacing ceiling fans and installing heat pumps.
Crescent Fort Rouge United Church (Winnipeg, MB)
Why Do You Have a Building?
The Rev. Brenna Baker, the Community of Faith Stewardship Support staff for Horseshoe Falls, Antler River Watershed, and Western Ontario Waterways Regions recently wrote an opinion piece on the importance of sharing exciting stories of how United Church of Canada buildings are making a difference in the lives of people and the broader community. Reflecting on the question 'Why Do You Have a Building', Rev. Brenna Baker invites you to tell a new story about your church building and what communities would lose if they didn’t have them.
Credit: Image by Benjamin Child from Upslash
Let’s talk Climate – A Roundup of Spring Regional Meetings
Last summer, through the passing of GS08, members of The United Church of Canada were all invited and challenged to “amplify and integrate current initiatives in a bold, hopeful denominational climate strategy that accelerates reductions toward the goal of an 80% decrease in emissions by 2030.” Check out the most recent actions at the regional level in the latest Concerned for Climate Justice newsletter under News.
Members of the Youth Council for the Pacific Mountain and Living Skies regions
Credit: Chris Mah Po
Climate Motivators program
This summer, The United Church of Canada launched its first ever Climate Motivators program, involving 15 youth from across the country. Each student is sponsored by a local community of faith and works together on local climate justice and environmental needs. The program provides youth with the opportunity to express their passions, deepen their relationship with their faith, build community with peers, and work with church leadership, including Moderator Carmen Lansdowne. You can read more in the full news story from early July.
The foundation of the program is the four climate pillars named in the strategic plan of the United Church, including the climate pillar Putting Our House in Order.
Last month, Faithful Footprints Communication Coordinator, Aleyxa Gates Julien, got to speak with the youth, provide an overview of the Faithful Footprints program, share experiences of program participants, and highlight the benefits of energy conservation and decarbonization retrofits.
Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Faithful Footprints: In the News
This past June, two stories on the United Church of Canada's Faithful Footprints program were published in two national media outlets. Read the full article features below:
The United Church has an ambitious climate goal — but it needs help from congregations - Broadview Magazine
Leading climate action and creating community with faith - National Observer
Opportunities
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
September 1 - 12 PM EST
Join For The Love of Creation for a brief worship service focused on prayer for climate justice and the care of creation. Take a moment of online prayer and reflection to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which marks the beginning of the Season of Creation. This worship will be announced in English, with prayers in multiple languages.
KAIROS Climate Action Week
September 7 - 17
KAIROS Climate Action Week kicks off Monday, September 11 and concludes Sunday, September 17, galvanizing awareness and action on the climate crisis. Each Climate Action Week includes events, resource publications, theological reflection, collaboration with global partners, advocacy actions, and more. This week’s theme, Decolonizing Climate Action: Keep the Oil in the Soil and Let Justice and Peace Flow focuses on the root cause of climate change: fossil fuels. Online events include:
September 12 - Climate Action Dialogues – Building Momentum for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
September 14 - KAIROS Leadership Seminar – Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
In addition to these events, KAIROS will post blogs and actions throughout the week, offering reflections and resources to deepen your understanding and activism for effective action on the climate crisis.
Please visit Climate Action Week Blog or receive updates to your email by subscribing to their e-newsletter and selecting Ecological Justice as an area of interest. Follow #KAIROSClimateAction on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter too.
Call for Young Adults for UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, in Dubai
Deadline for applications: September 13, 2023
From November 30 to December 12, 2023, The United Church of Canada will be sending a small delegation of young adults (ages 19–35) to COP28 in Dubai. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate, learn, and advocate at COP28, and share climate justice news among the wider church and beyond.
DiscoverEE: Busting Heat pump myths, and how to increase their adoption in Canada
September 22 - 12 PM EST
Efficiency Canada is offering a free webinar about the benefits of heat pumps and heating electrification. Sarah Riddell and Alexander Gard-Murray will go in depth about how we can use these to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sarah Riddell will discuss the state of heat pump policy in Canada, dispel ten common myths, and explore what policy solutions can get us much closer to widespread adoption in Canada. Alexander Gard-Murray, Director of the GreenHouse Institute and lead researcher for The Cool Way to Heat Homes: Installing Heat Pumps Instead of Central Air Conditioners in Canada, will share the new report and how this approach would result in massive benefits for Canada.
Seeds of Hope Granting Cycle Is Open!
Application deadline: October 15, 2023
The United Church of Canada Foundation's fall 2023 Seeds of Hope granting cycle is now open! The Joint Grants Committee welcomes grant applications for new, unique projects, which include projects that address environmental and social justice issues.
Multifaith Climate Strike Prayer Animators Call
September 15
On September 15, young people around the world will gather during the Global Climate Strike for action on climate change and an end to fossil fuels. In 2019, hundreds of thousands of people marched across Canada as part of the event, organized by the youth collective Fridays for Future. The pandemic interrupted that momentum; let’s build it back again! A multifaith coalition for climate justice, For the Love of Creation (FLC) wants to support young people of faith participating in the global action.
FLC will provide an honorarium of $100/city for one or two individuals who are 25-years-old or under to help organize a group of people to participate in the Global Climate Strike on September 15, as well as a preceding multifaith prayer gathering.
Heat Pump & Carbon Zero Info Session at Trinity United Church
This coming fall, Trinity United Church (Ottawa, ON) will be hosting an info session about heat pumps and how we can reach net carbon zero in our homes and in our communities of faith. The session will highlight net zero buildings, feature a panel of experts, and will discuss its new heat pumps, installed as part of the Faith Community Capacity Building Program.
SAVE THE DATE: October 20, 2023
Greening Sacred Spaces London - Interfaith Tree Planting
October 22 - 2:30-5:00 PM EST
Glen Cairn Park E
Greening Sacred Spaces London and Reforest London invites you to come and sow the seeds of positive change at their upcoming annual interfaith tree plating event. Over the years, their community has witnessed the immense positive impact of planting trees together, uniting people from various faiths and backgrounds to work together towards a common goal: a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future. This event not only celebrates diversity, but also embodies the power of collective action in preserving and restoring our urban forest. Help them grow a greener, more resilient London, a legacy for future generations to come.
Interested in making a donation to contribute directly to acquiring saplings, tools and other essential resources needed. Click here and note “ INTERFAITH PLANTING “ in the message box.
The National Trust Conference 2023: Transforming Heritage
October 26 - 28
Faithful Footprint's Building Grant Manager and Building Expert, Stephen Collette will be speaking at The National Trust’s 2023 Conference: Transforming Heritage, with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals(CAHP) and Indigenous Heritage Circle. This coming fall, Collette will be presenting 'Faithful Footprints – A National Decarbonizing Strategy for the United Church of Canada' as part of the conference's Environmental Reset – Championing Heritage Conservation as Climate Action theme.