Launching into Climate Justice in 2024

Climate justice ministries in the UCC launched into action on January 3rd with a denomination-wide Climate Action Commissioning Service featuring the preacher Nellis Kennedy-Howard. We now look ahead to a number of opportunities in front of us for advancing and celebrating our collective ministries in the coming year:

The Vote for Climate Hope Art Contest

To give our children and youth a voice this election season, while also reminding adults of their responsibility for the next generation when they vote, the UCC will be conducting a Vote for Climate Hope Art Contest in 2024. From March 1^st to April 16^th, art submissions will be accepted. An online award ceremony for finalists will be held on May 4^th. Participating churches should register now to receive important information and updates.

Climate Hope Summer Fellowship Grants

Grants of $2,500 are given to UCC churches, conferences, and associations as well as UCC-affiliated theological schools and non-profit organizations for the purposes of developing and furthering the work of youth and young adult leaders in the movement for climate justice. Grant applications are due March 1st.

The Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award

This award is given at the annual UCC Earth Summit to congregations, ministerial teams, or other groups in the UCC who have exemplified the tradition of prophetic action by publicly challenging the corporate and governmental institutions responsible for environmental injustices. The application deadline for this award is April 9, 2024.

The Electrification Checklist Initiative

The 34^th General Synod’s electrification resolution encourages UCC congregations and their members to pursue replacing fossil-fueled equipment, appliances, and machines with electric ones. To assist in identifying opportunities for electrification, checklists for churches and members to complete will be provided in 2024.

Freedom from Plastics on Earth Sunday

In alignment with the General Synod resolution on plastics, the UCC will be working with its ecumenical partner, Creation Justice Ministries, to encourage and support churches in focusing on reducing plastic use. An Earth Sunday resource on plastics will be released in early 2024, and a network of UCC advocates are developing advocacy plans.

The UCC’s Annual Earth Summit

In 2024, the UCC will hold its second annual Earth Summit. This online event will feature celebrated author and activist Bill McKibben delivering the Jim Antal Keynote Lecture. Other highlights at the summit will include a panel of grassroots leaders and a video showcasing the environmental ministries of the host congregation, The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College.

The Vote for Climate Hope Pledge Card Campaign

In building upon the success of the 2023 Climate Hope Cards campaign, the UCC will be conducting a Vote for Climate Hope Pledge Card Campaign in 2024. At church coffee hours, local farmers markets, and a range of other places, church members will collect pledge cards whereby voters commit to voting their values on Election Day.

The Creation Justice Church Challenge

Over the course of the year, there will be four activities in which a church can participate as part of the 2024 Creation Justice Church Challenge: the Vote for Climate Hope Art Contest, an Earth Sunday devoted to freedom from plastics, the Electrification Checklist, and the Vote for Climate Hope Pledge Card campaign. A congregation that has participated in all of these activities will have demonstrated that it is truly living out a creation justice ethic. If a participating congregation is not already a Creation Justice Church, they are strongly encouraged to apply after having completed all four activities.