Earth Care’s mission is to help congregations and individuals care for creation by reducing energy use and shifting to renewable sources of energy.
Earth Care was created in 2008 as a network of faith communities concerned with climate change. Congregations first came together to apply for funding for bike racks, then decided to form an organization that would support efforts to reduce energy use as part of caring for creation. Several members attended a training to lead Cut Your Carbon Workshops (based on David Gershon’s Low Carbon Diet) which were attended by hundreds of area residents. Earth Care met monthly to share ideas, discuss challenges, and solve problems related to lowering our congregations’ carbon footprints.
In 2011, Earth Care became the Bloomington-area affiliate of Faith in Place, a three-state organization created by members of Earth Care in collaboration with members of Indianapolis Green Congregations. Two years later, six congregations were awarded OED grants through H-IPL to install solar arrays. These congregations, four of which are located in Bloomington, were required to reduce their energy use by 25% and show that at least one third of their congregants had reduced their home energy use by at least 14% — and to match the grant money with funds raised from the congregation.
Throughout the years, Earth Care has been an active advocate for congregations and individuals working to reduce energy use and shift to renewable energies. The organization has hosted numerous workshops, film showings, inspirational talks, discussions, demonstrations, trainings, and other events, all carefully designed to raise awareness of our moral calling to care for our earth and share information about how to do that.
Today, Earth Care is helping congregations on their paths to sustainability through its Pay It Forward program. New members are always welcome to join Earth Care’s Steering Group, which meets monthly (typically on fourth Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. For a link to join us, please email us at contact@EarthCareIndiana.org