CLIMATE JUSTICE CONGREGATIONS

Become an MNIPL Climate Justice Congregation!

Climate Justice Congregations are communities of faith and spiritual practice that are committed to living out their faith and values through effective and sustained action on climate justice.

MNIPL's certification program is a year-long process. We provide resources and support that help you gain the focus and skills to galvanize your community into climate action.

Join a growing number of congregations (see list below!) raising a collective voice and driving faithful action on climate justice.

To get started, fill out our interest form. There is no obligation. This just starts the conversation!

Yes, I want to learn more!
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Download a PDF of the Climate Justice Congregation handbook

Certified Congregations:

  • All Saints Episcopal, Northfield
  • Beth Jacob Congregation, Mendota Heights
  • Christ Episcopal Church, Woodbury
  • Christ United Methodist Church, Rochester
  • Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina
  • Faith Mennonite, Minneapolis
  • First Congregational Church of Minnesota, Minneapolis
  • First Covenant, Minneapolis
  • First United Methodist Church, Duluth
  • First Universalist Church, Minneapolis
  • Gloria Dei Lutheran, St Paul
  • Gloria Dei Lutheran, Duluth
  • Grace Episcopal, Minneapolis
  • The Grove United Methodist Church, Woodbury
  • Hamline Church United Methodist, St Paul
  • Judson Church, Minneapolis
  • Lyndale United Church of Christ, Minneapolis
  • Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul
  • Oak Grove Presbyterian, Bloomington
  • Pilgrim Lutheran Church, St. Paul
  • Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis
  • St. Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
  • St. John's Episcopal Church, Minneapolis
  • St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, St. Paul
  • St. Luke Presbyterian, Minnetonka
  • St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Minneapolis
  • Spirit of Peace, Minnetonka
  • Temple Israel, Minneapolis
  • Trinity Lutheran Church, Lindstrom
  • Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka
  • Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth
  • Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul
  • University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis
  • Valley Community Church, Golden Valley
  • Westwood Lutheran, St. Louis Park

Here are some of the amazing actions these communites have taken in 2023:

  • First Universalist Minneapolis educated members on the top household climate actions: reducing food waste and eating a plant-based diet.  They provided vegetarian meals at church events and taught regenerative agriculture for home garden use.
  • Mount Zion Temple held its second annual Climate Action Resource Fair and held a community seder for Tu BiShevat (Jewish Arbor Day).
  • The Grove UMC and Christ Episcopal started a new East Metro Climate Team to collaborate on local efforts such as lobbying the city of Woodbury to create a Climate Action Plan
  • UU Congregation of Duluth, and First Covenant and Valley Community Church of Minneapolis installed solar systems on their buildings.
  • Spirit of Peace created an Intergenerational Puppet Musical RoadShow that engages audiences about climate change.  They performed for 5 different community audiences and are now compiling their 2024 performance schedule.
  • Christ UMC Rochester completed an LED Lighting conversion and is working on implementing a whole church energy audit
  • St. Mark’s Cathedral replaced an aging chiller with a new 60 ton heat pump
  • Hamline UMC engaged extensive Land Acknowledgement and Reparations study, both by leaders and in two series for church members.  They contributed to Wakan Tipi and are weaving their learnings into their community in a number of ways.
  • St. Cloud Unitarian Universalist created a pollinator-native plant garden on their grounds open to the wider community for rest and enjoyment.
  • Unity Unitarian grows a church vegetable garden as a teaching garden for their children’s program.   The produce goes to a local food shelf.
  • St. John Episcopal Minneapolis hosted a congregation camping trip at a MN state park and a neighborhood Eco-Fair with two dozen exhibitors.
  • Edina Community Lutheran Church held an e-waste event, collecting three large bins of electronics and 200 strings of Christmas lights.
  • Oak Grove Presbyterian held its annual EV Expo with more than 20 EVs available, E-bikes, and an electric school bus, open to the public.  They won a Cool Congregation award from national IPL.
  • Trinity Lutheran Lindstrom is working with a state agency to host “Fix-It” clinics at their church for the wider community.
  • Minnetonka Unitarian-Universalist overhauled their recycling program including providing tours to local recycling and composting centers, educating their membership, and offering scrap metal recycling to the community. 
  • Westwood Lutheran engaged a building efficiency consultant for a comprehensive energy audit and campus sustainability road map.

Annual Certification Activities

Below are the activities your community takes to become newly certified or to renew your certification. But you're not on your own! We work with your team each year to map out what will be most helpful.

1) Create or Update an Action Plan

An annual action plan helps you imagine long-term success, name the assets your congregation brings to the movement, and outlines goals for the coming year. Your actions are based on the "three-legged stool" approach, which includes creating practical, systemic, and spiritual/relational goals.

Submit an Action Plan

2) Designate a Community Connector

Choose at least one person to serve as a Community Connector. They are the primary liaison between your congregation and MNIPL. If this changes at any time, just let us know!

3) Attend Be the Spark Training

Encourage one or more team members to attend our Be the Spark training. Become better equipped in leading and encouraging others in your community to take deeper climate action.

4) Host a Workshop

Host an MNIPL workshop or custom program. We also encourage your team to attend any of our events, especially our monthly Community Connector webinars.

5) Be a Sustaining Congregation

As you are able, be a Sustaining Congregation with an annual donation of any amount that is meaningful. The suggested level is $500 per year.

6) Share Your Accomplishments

At the end of each program year, we ask that you report your accomplishments. Let's celebrate your successes and the impact of your work!

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Success Stories

Communities of faith and spiritual practice all across Minnesota are making a difference with their actions. Read their stories and inspire others by submitting your own community success story!