The Episcopal Church

Welcomes You

The Office of Public Affairs

The Public Affairs Office provides statistics, biographies, photos, background information, and other resources to media representatives reporting on the mission and ministries of The Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church announces 2023 Creation Care grant recipients

August 21, 2023
Office of Public Affairs

Seeking to support creative and long-term eco-ministries, The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on the Care of Creation and Environmental Racism selected 12 new grant recipients, approved by the church’s Executive Council during its June meeting.

In 2022, The Episcopal Church’s General Convention allocated funds to the task force to continue supporting local and regional eco-ministry efforts, recognizing “care of creation and environmental justice as integral and ongoing parts of the church’s loving, liberating, and life-giving work.”

Led by the Rev. Stephanie Johnson, chair, and Alexizendria Link, vice-chair, the task force continues the work of past trienniums with working groups on grants, worship and liturgy, storytelling, and more.

This year’s funded projects, totaling $168,267, are as follows:

Solar Equity Project in Peoria, Illinois – $9,000

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

  • Community education and engagement to support access and equity for a 1,000-household solar project in Peoria.

Energy Literacy, Advocacy, and Connection – $9,700

Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Waco, Texas, Episcopal Diocese of Texas

  • Host and facilitate workshops with local communities of faith focusing on renewable energy; conduct energy audits to improve the energy efficiency of buildings; weave global environmental justice connections.


Environmental Repair: Eco-theology and the care of our common home / Curso de Reparación Ambiental mediante la cartilla: La eco teología y el cuidado de nuestra casa común, un aporte para el eco ministerio en Colombia y el Mundo – $10,000

Diocesis Episcopal de Colombia

  • Faith formation on ecological crises and environmental repair, and scaling up of an existing “circular economy” program recycling secondhand materials and goods.


Food Justice for Upper South Carolina – $13,387

St. Martin’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

  • Campaign on addressing food insecurity and environmental injustice with the grassroots coalition organization MORE Justice and 27 local congregations, including St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.


The Big Book of Creation and Environmental Racism – $14,700

Christ Church Glendale, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio

  • Collaborative partnership with Tikkun Farm, an urban farm in Mt. Healthy, Ohio, to improve access to green space, support urban farm and gardening, and host worship and formation events related to environmental justice.


Gardens and Pollinators: Enhancing Sustainability Awareness Among Youth Who Are Incarcerated- $15,000

St. James Episcopal Church and Grace Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Central New York

  • Expansion of community garden and apiary program for incarcerated youth; two Central New York congregations in collaboration with Helping Hands Urban Farm Garden.


HOPE – Faith and Resilience in Marginalized Communities – $15,000

St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida

  • Addressing flooding and water-quality impacts by strengthening five stormwater drainage ponds in East Tampa with natural and sustainable green infrastructure, in collaboration with nine interdenominational congregations and the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality.


Green Refuge: Tackling Environmental Racism in an Urban Environment through Refugee Empowerment – $18,480

St. Paul’s Within the Walls, Rome, Italy, Italy Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe

  • Project of Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, an outreach ministry of St. Paul’s Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome to address issues of environmental racism and urban pollution while empowering refugees through environmental stewardship and community engagement.


Rhode Island Episcopal Relief and Resilience Pilot Project – Aquidneck Island – $18,000

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, Creation Care Ministry

  • Pilot climate resilience project on Aquidneck Island to assess climate vulnerabilities, enhance community emergency preparedness and adaptation planning, host environmental justice liturgy events and pilgrimage, and share model with other Episcopal dioceses and communities.


An Episcopal Path to Creation Justice Pilot Program – $20,000

The Creation Care Justice Network, Episcopal Dioceses in Massachusetts

  • Support the continued development of the Episcopal Path to Creation Justice with resources for creation justice prayer and formation, advocacy, and action, running a pilot program and preparing to make the program publicly available in 2024.


Answering the Call for Climate Justice: Planning for Carbon Neutrality by 2030 – $25,000

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, Commission on the Environment

  • Partnership with Interfaith Power and Light and Energy for Purpose to pursue the climate justice goals of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California through trainings, goal-setting, and in-depth energy-efficiency assessments for 10 congregations to build a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Learn more about The Episcopal Church’s creation care initiatives.

Stay connected to learn about future creation care grants opportunities.

Contact
Amanda Skofstad

Public Affairs Officer

Click here

Visit us on Social Media