Creation Care Summit
May 2, 2026 from 9am-12pm
In the 2024 Annual Conference, “every local church was encouraged to name at least one Creation Care Advocate who will strengthen the church’s existing green actions”. And then at the 2025 Conference, we established a Conference Creation Care Committee who would manage our Advocacy work to become a Conference wide movement.
In November of 2025, the Council of Bishops Stated:
In our scriptures, after the flood waters covered the earth and then dried up, God spoke to Noah and stated there was now a new covenant between God and humans and all of creation. God placed a bow in the sky saying, The bow will be in the clouds, and upon seeing it I will remember the enduring covenant between God and every living being of all the earth’s creatures. (Genesis 9:16) The covenant promise was to do no harm to humans and to all of God’s creation. This is the covenantal relationship we live within. God promises no harm, and as people who follow the ways of God, we too are committed to do no harm to any part of God’s creation. For this reason, we must work as people of faith to keep God’s creation in a state of health and goodness. We work to prevent all harm by our wrongful actions, our greed, or our inattention to the beauty and goodness of God’s world. While the Council of Bishops has engaged in this discussion over time, including statements in 2009 and 2021, now is the time to once again address our care for God’s world.”
From this statement the bishops asked each Conference to: “Organize one church-wide action around creation care at least once a year”.
This year the Creation Care Committee is holding a summit on Saturday, May 2, from 9am-noon, Arlington Heights: First UMC. Breakfast and snacks will be available at 8:30 am and during the breaks.
Grace Hubbard, Climate Care Coordinator for the New England Conference will be the keynote speaker. She works closely with the Conference Creation Care Circle in three areas of engagement: Education and Eco-Spirituality, Energy Efficiency Opportunities, and Legislative Advocacy across the six states of New England. Grace brings to this work a heart for Creation Care and Environmental Justice after working years as an Artist Advocate for Social Justice.
Learn more about Keynote Speaker Grace Hubbard in our recent blog.
Engaging Your Community
Building Green Teams
FOUR WORKSHOPS
Faith in Place
Grace Hubbard
Faith in Place will showcase resources they bring to congregations to engage not only their congregation but also their communities. How do you reduce carbon emissions, improve public health and the health of the planet. Engage people in your House of Worship with a passion for the environment in new and exciting new ways.
Grace will share areas of engagement including Eco-Spirituality, Education around Creation Care and Climate Justice, Energy Efficiency and organizing Advocacy.
Reducing Energy Bills
Verde Energy Efficiency Experts
Participate in our initiatives to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. Together, we can make a difference in our communities and beyond.
Native Landscaping
West Cook Wild Ones
An educational program about our native ecosystems and
native gardens will be given by West Cook Wild Ones, who hosts native plant sales sourced from sustainably grown plants from local growers at a great price. They Offer grants to enable connection to nature for all people.
