The purpose of this grant is to inspire congregations to lead their communities toward reducing both direct and indirect emissions of GHGs. The ideal applicants will be working in multiple ways to reduce their building’s carbon footprint, with the goal of being able to reduce energy usage or generate renewable energy equivalent to or greater than the energy they need for electricity, heating and cooling. Your congregation can apply for up to 50% of the cost of a proposed project, to a maximum of $6000.
Applications for 2023 are no longer being accepted. Watch this space for when new applications will be accepted. For now you may want to view our Energy Efficient Faith Buildings webinar or make a donation to our Creation Care Fund for future applicants:
Energy Efficient Faith Buildings Webinar
The Emissions Reductions Grant comes out of the Creation Care Fund as designed by the Sustainability Leadership Group. In 2022, with Joint Council’s approval, MC Canada started a Creation Care Fund with seed money of $100,000 from the dormant MC Canada Church Building Fund.
Money for the Creation Care Fund comes from a combination of a self-imposed carbon levy on MC Canada’s staff and volunteer travel and by donations to the fund. Congregations receiving an Emissions Reduction Grant are encouraged to “pay it forward” if their emission reduction plan also results in future cost savings for the congregation.
In January of 2020 Mennonite Church Canada’s Joint Council approved the development of a strategy to give leadership in moving towards greater sustainability within its sphere of influence. In doing so, it formed the Sustainability Leadership Group with representation from across the nationwide church.
Our Christian faith call us to hold hands with climate science. We call on all members and congregations and regional churches of our Mennonite Church Canada family to join together in this eco-mission. Click on the button below to read more about the six initiatives of mission to take action on climate change in a critical time.
The regional churches of Mennonite Church Canada would be thrilled to hear from you. Bring your ideas, your spirit, and your energy. Connect with:
In a meeting on Jan. 30, 2022, Mennonite Church Canada’s governing body, Joint Council, affirmed climate action as a nationwide ministry emphasis. Aaron Epp, senior writer for Canadian Mennonite magazine, reports on the progress to date.
Wildwood Mennonite Church recently became the first Mennonite Church Saskatchewan congregation to go solar. But, as with all major spending decisions, this one wasn’t made overnight. Saskatchewan correspondent Donna Schulz filed this story in Feb., 2019. Photo by Les Klassen Hamm
Mennonite-based solar projects include Erb Street Mennonite Church and Mennonite Savings and Credit Union’s branch, both in Waterloo; Hillcrest Mennonite Church, New Hamburg; Elmira Mennonite Church; and Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and the House of Friendship’s Eby Village, both in Kitchener.
