Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church in Wildwood now is certified as an Earth Care Congregation by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Environmental Ministries.

Woodlawn is the first congregation in the St. Louis area to receive the Earth Care certification.

To become an Earth Care Congregation, Woodlawn Chapel’s governing body affirmed the Earth Care Pledge of the Presbyterian Church to integrate environmental practices and thinking into all facets of church life and completed projects, as well as activities in worship, education, facilities, and outreach.

The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden, said Woodlawn pastor Christopher Keating.

“It is exciting that Woodlawn Chapel is dedicated to intentional care of, and action for, God’s earth. The congregation’s activities and commitment will inspire others to answer God’s call to care for the earth,” said Rebecca Barnes-Davies, associate for Environmental Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by PC(USA) Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life. The Earth Care Congregation certification honors churches that make that commitment and encourages others to follow their example.