/fairfaxs-website/image-f878f-i65ab.png "Fairfax Presbyterian Church")
FPC Groups
FPC Groups
Fairfax Presbyterian Church’s Green Team was formed to learn about issues impacting God’s creation and discuss how our church can be more environmentally friendly. We are currently meeting virtually at 7:30 PM on the third Monday of each month. Please contact Sara Bowden for more information.
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In February 2021, FPC was certified as an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Earth Care Congregation certification recognizes churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden. “Earth Care Congregations are congregations that have committed to the ‘Earth Care Pledge’ and accomplished a specific number of actions toward caring for God’s earth in four categories: worship, education, facilities, and outreach. Congregations earning 25 points in each of the four categories will be certified as Earth Care Congregations” (PresbyterianMission.org).
FPC is one of 276 Earth Care Congregations who are responding intentionally to God’s call to care for the earth. FPC has affirmed the following Earth Care Pledge: Peace and justice is God’s plan for all creation. The earth and all creation are God’s. God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. As God offers all people the special gift of peace through Jesus Christ, and through Christ reconciles all to God, we are called to deal justly with one another and the earth.
As a certified Earth Care Congregation, each year FPC joins in this pledge in unison with all other PC(USA) Earth Care Congregations:
Peace and justice are God’s plan for all creation. The earth and all creation are God’s. God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. As God offers all people the special gift of peace through Jesus Christ, and through Christ reconciles all to God, we are called to deal justly with one another and the earth.
In recognition of the mission of Fairfax Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian USA Earth Care Congregation, the Green Team heeds God’s call to serve a world in need, to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake for the future use and enjoyment of the whole human family especially the “least of these”* who are most affected by the changing climate. We commit ourselves to take actions to:
* See Matthew 25:31–46
In worship and discipleship, we will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation and declare that God calls us to cherish, protect and restore this earth.
In education, we will seek learning and teaching opportunities to know and understand the threats to God’s creation and the damage already inflicted. We will encourage and support each other in finding ways of keeping and healing the creation in response to God’s call to earth-keeping, justice, the needs of the “least of these,” and community.
In our facilities and property, we will manage, maintain, and upgrade them in a manner that respects and cherishes all creation, human and non-human, while meeting equitably the needs of all people. In our buildings and on our grounds, we will use energy efficiently, conserve resources, and share what we have in abundance so that God’s holy creation will be sustainable for all life and future generations. (Goal is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 which is in line with County goals. Need an energy audit to do this.)
In our outreach, we will encourage public policy and community involvement that protects and restores the vulnerable and degraded earth as well as oppressed and neglected people. We will be mindful that our personal and collective actions can positively or negatively affect our neighborhood, region, nation, and world. We will seek to achieve environmental justice through coalitions and ecumenical partnerships.