Do you care about God’s creation? Consider being a Net Zero Advocate in your church.

Northern Illinois Conference’s Net-Zero Task Force is seeking Net Zero Advocates. They will work with the church's trustees and members to adopt sustainable energy-use practices. The task force hopes that each congregation will have at least one Net-Zero Advocate.

The advocate will receive a list of sustainable actions to begin their work. The first step is “Leaping into Net Zero,” a presentation led by a task-force member that highlights steps a congregation can take.

The Net-Zero Team will provide congregational advocates with regular help for their work, including but not limited to: webinars; suggestions for forming a Green Team and/or arranging an energy audit; connecting with other congregations making similar efforts; finding ways for their congregation to make the leap to solar, geothermal or other green energy sources such as curricula and presentation materials.

Congregational advocates are asked to:

• Stay in communication with the NIC Net-Zero Team and other Net-Zero Advocates to share tips, knowledge, and encouragement.
• Report annually to your charge conference and to the Net-Zero Team on the congregation's progress including the reduction in energy use and resulting financial savings

The United Methodist interagency commitment to just and equitable net-zero emissions is the most systematic, comprehensive, global emission reduction effort in the history of The United Methodist Church. This commitment, established in 2021, seeks to ensure that the ministries of the present support the flourishing of God’s creation for the future.

The Northern Illinois Conference’s Net-Zero Task Force takes bold steps to move our congregations to net-zero emissions. Reducing our carbon footprint to net-zero means that we will strive to balance the amount of greenhouse gases we emit with an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere. This includes energy conservation, renewable energy adoption, waste reduction, and sustainable practices.

As a faith community, Northern Illinois Conference can make significant impacts and each congregation is invited to join in this important endeavor.

To become a part of the Net Zero Advocate Network, contact Richard Alton.