What is Creation Care?

Creation Care is the acknowledgment of the goodness of God’s creation and humanity’s kinship with, and responsibility for, that Creation. As members of the ELCA, we recognize care for Earth to be a profoundly spiritual matter; as such, Creation Care is the ministry, call, and commitment to respond to ongoing environmental degradation and the consequent climate crisis. In accordance with the ELCA social statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, we are called to honor the integrity of Creation and the relationships within that Creation by striving for justice through participation, solidarity, sufficiency, and sustainability. At Peace Lutheran Church, we are responding to the call to care for Creation by taking action in our congregation, our buildings, our homes, our communities, and the world.

What can congregation and community members do to help?

Every positive step we take individually and together matters. Upcoming opportunities include events, idea generation, projects, writing, editing and research. Watch your weekly Bulletins and monthly Peace Notes newsletters for useful information and upcoming opportunities. If you would like to explore working directly with the Creation Care Team, please check out the Creation Care Team page.

What is in store for the future of Creation Care in our congregation?

So much! We’re greening our building, grounds, and operations; planting for pollinators; learning how changing our eating habits can protect creation; and so much more.  Check out the Action Plan our congregation passed in early 2023 to see upcoming and long-range efforts.

What has been done in the past for Creation Care at Peace Lutheran Church?

• Peace Lutheran Church Recognized by EnviroStar Partnership for environmental stewardship
• Peace Lutheran Church Recognized as a Greening Congregation by Earth Ministry / WAIPL
• Hosting events such as the February 2023 presentation by Earth Ministry / WAIPL on Faithful Advocacy Peace Lutheran Church » Faithful Advocacy Workshop & Lunch – Sun 2/26 Noon-1:30pm (peacelutheranseattle.org)
• Rain Gardens installed in partnership with the King County RainWise program.
• Solar Panels installed on the roof of Peace Lutheran Church.
• Transitioned to lower energy consumption lighting throughout most of the church building.
• Guidelines adopted for purchasing of recycled and low-impact supplies for the parish building.
• Conducted annual assessment of the parish’s carbon footprint and developed a plan to reduce it.
• Adapted care of the plants and trees on parish grounds to be more earth-friendly.
• Planted and nurtured baby trees through the Seattle Trees for Neighborhoods Program.
• Maintained/supported mature trees and plants on the property.
• Planted pollinator-friendly flora on the parish property and developed a plan for more.

Where can we learn more?

• Creation Care Team at Peace Lutheran Church
• Care of Creation is a goal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.   More information on the ELCA and Care of Creation is available here: Caring for Creation – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)