Green Chalice Program
The purpose of the Green Chalice Program is to encourage and assist local congregations/DOC Offices and Assemblies who wish to live out their faith by caring for creation. With the urgency of climate change impacting our neighbors and world right now we have prioritized Carbon Neutrality while still inviting congregations to care for creation more generally. This program is designed to recognize congregations for being good stewards of God’s creation. It also aims to empower congregations/assemblies with ideas and resources to enable them to walk gently on the earth. Download a Green Chalice Brochure here: Spanish, Korean, English.
The program has two tiers. The first level is to become a Green Chalice Congregation/Assembly. The second level is to become a CERTIFIED Green Chalice Congregation or Assembly.
To see a list of the Current Green Chalice Congregations and CERTIFIED Green Chalice Ministries, please click here. Carbon Neutral Congregations can be found here.
Level One- Become a Green Chalice Congregation
Step 1: Form a Green Team
The first step simply requires someone to gather other church members who are passionate for creation who will commit to meeting regularly to examine the church’s practices and to facilitate change.
Step 2: Sign the Green Chalice Covenant
The second step requires that your green team reads and signs the Green Chalice Covenant as a sign of your commitment.
Solar on First Christian Church, Black Mountain, NC
Step 3: Make three changes
The third step puts your commitment into action. Make three changes that will move your congregation toward better caring for God’s creation.
Third Step Examples: Get an Energy Audit, Start or Enhance a Recycling Program, Use Real Dishware, Stop using Styrofoam and disposable dishes, Changing to efficient light bulbs, Install programmable thermostats, Start a community garden, Serving local foods, Plant Native Species plants, Plant Trees in the community, Participate in the Disciples Coffee Program, Purchase Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday, Weave Creation into worship in prayers, hymns, liturgy and sermons, Use Eco-Friendly cleaning products, Provide Eco-Tips in Newsletters, Install Rain Barrels for watering, Host a Farmer’s Market, Have a Green VBS theme, Partner with Local Organizations for Advocacy, Do a creation care study series, Observe the Sabbath.
Congratulations: You are a Green Chalice Ministry!
Email information about your three steps to Green Chalice Co-Minister Scott Hardin-Nieri and receive your certificate and recognition. Don’t stop here, there is more work to be done.
Level Two- Become a Certified Green Chalice Congregation
Becoming a CERTIFIED Green Chalice Congregation or Assembly
Before becoming a CERTIFIED Green Chalice Ministry, you must be a Green Chalice Ministry and:
- Create a Creation Care Team*
- Adopt the Green Chalice Covenant*
- Make three changes in any area*
Then
- Notify the Green Chalice Minister of your commitment and your intention to begin work toward CERTIFICATION*
Then
- Download and review the Updated Certification Overview (2023) CERTIFICATION Overview(2015)
And
- Email the Green Chalice Co-Minister with questions and for suggestions and support.
Recent Posts
Eco Grief Circles- October 2023
September 18, 2023How are you responding to news about ecological and social challenges? Beginning October 10, 2023 Register Now Tuesdays, 12-1:15pm Eastern Time Join us for an…
Read more >
Green Chalice Certification Process has been updated!
July 27, 2023We are excited to announce a new updated version of the Green Chalice Certification process. With support and input from many faith leaders like Rev….
Read more >
Green Chalice @ General Assembly
June 15, 2023Green Chalice Events Outdoor Event – Saturday, July 29, 7-8:30am Cave Hill Cemetery 701 Baxter Ave, Louisville, KY 40204 Awe Walk in Nature: Join…
Read more >
GC Gathering: Sharing a Ton of Food, Sunny Disaster Responses, Garden Sundays and Sacred Protest
June 8, 2023We celebrate the stories shared and connections made at the June 6th Green Chalice Gathering where clergy and lay leaders of established or emerging Green…
Read more >
Blessed are Those who Mourn- Eco Grief
May 20, 2023This was originally posted on the Blessed Tomorrow website in May 2021. It can be found here. Faith communities have a complicated history when it…
Read more >
Green Chalice Gathering June 6, 7pm ET Register today!
May 11, 2023Clergy and Lay Leaders of established or emerging Green Chalice churches are welcome to join in this informative and spirit led conversation. We will hear…
Read more >
Movie Screening: The Ants and the Grasshopper March
February 11, 2023Ants and the Grasshopper Film March 1, 7pm Eastern Time Register Here. Join us online for a free screening of an acclaimed documentary that follows…
Read more >Disciple Cool Congregations!
February 9, 2023Disciple Cool Congregations 5 churches from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are among the 15 congregations to be celebrated by Interfaith Power & Light (IPL)…
Read more >
Going Forth in Love – A workshop follow up to eco-grief circles
February 8, 2023May 2, 6:30pm ET (one session only) Going forth in Love: Discerning how to Go Forth from the complexities of Ecological Grief In this extension…
Read more >
Eco Grief Circles- March 2023
February 8, 2023Beginning March 7, 2023 Tuesday Evenings, 6:30pm EST Join us for an Eco Grief Circle this March. This Seven-week Online experience will be offered in…
Read more >
Green Chalice News Jan. 2023
January 18, 2023Green Chalice News Jan. 2023 Inspirational New Year Green Chalice Gathering Clergy and Lay Leaders of established or emerging Green Chalice churches were welcomed to…
Read more >
Inspirational Green Chalice Gathering
January 16, 2023Inspirational First Green Chalice Gathering of 2023 Clergy and Lay Leaders of established or emerging Green Chalice churches were welcomed to this informative and spirit…
Read more > Rain Gardens and Collaboration with St. Paul’s Christian Church
November 17, 2022St. Paul’s Christian Church in Raleigh, NC recently took a big step in the stewardship of God’s creation. The congregation invited the public to a…
Read more >
Breathing Benedictions – Alliance Q and Green Chalice
November 4, 2022Rocking chairs, wheeled chairs, and folding chairs lightly hugged the candlelit center of our circle on the 2nd floor outdoor patio. The gathered faithful souls…
Read more >
Become a Green Chalice Climate Ambassador
November 2, 2022Are you one of the millions of Americans who are growing more concerned about climate change? As we witness and experience impacts to our health,…
Read more >
On Demand Climate Ambassador Training Program for Disciples!
May 16, 2022Are you one of the millions of Americans who are growing more concerned about climate change? As we witness and experience impacts to our health,…
Read more >
Climate summit speakers urge churches to act now — and act like a jazz band
April 8, 2022by Hans Holznagel | published on Apr 4, 2022 on the United Church of Christ Website. Small steps churches can take right now were part…
Read more >
Partners United Church of Christ offer call for church action in midst of dire climate report
March 15, 2022by Hans Holznagel | Originally published on United Church of Christ News on Mar 7, 2022 and edited to include DOC resources. Find the original post…
Read more >
2022 Eco-Justice Gathering: Fostering Resilient Hearts & Communities
February 16, 2022June 27-July 1, 2022 Christmount Conference Center, Black Mountain, NC in collaboration with Green Chalice, this intergenerational (youth in grades 7-12 and adults) gathering in…
Read more >
Finalist for American Climate Leadership Awards!
January 11, 2022Green Chalice is honored and excited to be named a semi-finalist for the ecoAmerica American Climate Leadership Awards. ecoAmerica recognizes 30 individuals and organizations for…
Read more > Don’t Look Up and an Atmosphere for Epiphany
January 6, 2022This year I am experiencing Epiphany just after viewing the feature film Don’t Look Up. While there are a couple of spoilers regarding the Biblical…
Read more >
Faith and Climate Organizational Directory
December 28, 2021With the long night of Winter Solstice just behind us, we are able to see light in new ways. When we tell stories of hope…
Read more >
Announcing the next Eco Grief Circle
December 14, 2021Friday Eco-Grief Circle- Sign up here. Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 12:00-1:15 Eastern Time Join us for an Eco Grief Circle beginning Friday, February 11th. This seven-week online experience will…
Read more >Reflection on the COP26 climate summit from Week of Compassion
November 17, 2021Rev Vy Nguyen Executive Director of @WKofCompassion was privileged to be among a group of global leaders that gathered for the 2021 UN Climate Change…
Read more >
Thinking about COP26? Make a plan of action at the Climate Ambassador Training
November 2, 2021Disciples’ Ecumenical Ambassador Training Join us for this free training on January 22, 11-3pm Register Here. Americans are growing more concerned about climate change. As…
Read more >
Urgency of Climate Change expressed at the Wild Goose Festival and in 200 Medical Journals
September 8, 2021The urgency of a faithful climate response was lifted up from the Wild Goose Main Stage on Sunday morning with wisdom offered from Susannah with…
Read more >
Disciples’ Ecumenical Climate Ambassador Virtual Training- Sept. 25
July 26, 2021Disciples’ Ecumenical Climate Ambassador Virtual Training Free Online Training September 25, 11-3pm Eastern Time Americans are growing more concerned about climate change. As they witness…
Read more >
Facing Brokenness: Being Brave Together- Conversations about love and justice
July 15, 2021Facing Brokenness: Being Brave Together a summer opportunity presented by Disciples Justice Ministries features intersectional conversation, reflection and resources around the justice issues facing the…
Read more >
Fern Way Farm School- Church Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains
June 3, 2021Great news! Christmount has received a substantial gift to help underwrite most of the costs for the Fern Way Farm School Summer Camping Programs this summer!…
Read more >A Gift for Green Chalice
April 29, 2020Green Chalice needs YOU. We need your leadership. Please talk and educate others about the climate crisis. We need your actions. We now have less than 10…
Read more >Virtual Worship
April 29, 2020A week ago, my disheveled family gathered on the couch with coffee and breakfast tacos in hand. I did not have high expectations at all…
Read more >Rejoice?
April 29, 2020Christ is risen and we are called to rejoice. But, we are in a Pandemic. Almost 170,000 people worldwide and 43,000 Americans have died from…
Read more >Faith in Action: Caring for Community and Creation
February 6, 2018Watch the Caring for Community & Creation video now!
Read more >Videos featuring GMP, Sharon Watkins
November 8, 2016Videos featuring General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins Holy Ground Video Faith Climate Call
Read more >First Christian Church, Black Mountain
November 8, 2016First Christian Church, Blackmountain, NC goes solar! Read More.
Read more >ButterfliesEffect Change
November 8, 2016#ButterfliesEffect Change Get inspired! Watch and share the #ButterfliesEffect video now:
Read more >American Climate Leadership Summit 2016
November 8, 2016On behalf of the Steering Committee, The Nature Conservancy, Climate Reality, and all of us at ecoAmerica, thank you for attending the American Climate Leadership…
Read more >
