We started our Earthkeeper team at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights in the fall of 2008, after presenting a witness to the congregation. To make a “green team” work, at least two or three congregation members must be committed to creating and sustaining an earth care ministry; we have six members. We have also found it essential to stay spiritually grounded; drawing from biblical scripture for our guiding principles. We have enjoyed the support of pastoral staff and work as a catalyst agent with other groups in our church; including our Properties committee and youth groups. We have a saying that “you can enter our work through the door of money (by reducing energy use and costs) and through the spiritual – from a concern for doing the right thing”. In 2010, Fairmount Church was the first Presbyterian Church in Ohio to be certified as an Earth Care Congregation, a program of the national Presbyterian Church, USA.
