United Methodist Church - Northern Illinois Conference
CREATION CARE COMMITTEE
WELCOME
Welcome to the Website of the UMC Northern Illinois Conference Creation Care Committee
The Creation Care team is working toward Net-Zero emissions goals for Northern Illinois Conference, in concert with the United Methodist Church's 12-agency commitment to "achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations, and investments."
We are Asking Each Church in the Northern Illinois Conference to Nominate a Creation Care Advocate
August 2026
It is time the time of year to prepare for church conferences. On behalf of the creation care committee I am asking each church to name a Congregational Creation Care Advocate during the nominating process.
A Resolution was passed at Annual Conference in 2024 stating that every church is encouraged to nominate a Congregational Creation Care Advocate to their leadership slate.
The Role of the Creation Care Advocate would be to keep the congregation up to date on creation justice issues, to encourage the congregation to practice sustainable actions, to advocate for creation justice and to help the congregation to work toward the denominational goal of being NetZero (having a limited carbon footprint) in 2050.
The NIC Creation Care Committee will hold a quarterly online meetings with all Congregational Creation Care Advocates. This meeting is intended to connect and resource the advocates.
There are many ways that our conference is working to care for our planet. We hope that you will participate by nominating a Congregational Creation Care Advocate and putting their name in the people portal.
Rev. Harriette Cross
Chair, NIC Creation Care Committee
Environmental Connections
The NIC Creation Care Committee Connects to groups both locally, nationally and international both within the United Methodist Church and with Interfaith Organizations.
Have you had your FREE energy assessment?
So you'd like to save energy and reduce your church's carbon footprint - but there's no money, right? And with federal programs under attack, it's too late anyway, right? Very likely, wrong!
There are an amazing incentives available for small businesses - including churches - through Commonwealth Edison, for a very wide variety of energy upgrades, and can add up to 50 or 75% of an energy-upgrade project's cost - and even, in certain cases, 100% - by stacking various incentives from various state programs.
An incentive is not a rebate. A rebate requires coming up with the money up front and then getting part of it paid back. In contrast, incentives are deductions from the cost of a project up front!
Among the dozens of kinds of projects covered are: smart heating controls, HVAC systems, indoor and outdoor lighting and smart lighting controls, more efficient refrigeration. And from other departments, projects like: vehicle charger for a church van and induction ranges for the kitchen.
You have nothing to lose by scheduling a free energy assessment. Do it now - the available incentives change, and funding is handed out first come, first served. Your project may be more doable than you think. This Lent, consider helping your church fast from wasting energy.
Rev. Harriette Cross,
NIC Creation Care Committee Coordinator
The NIC Creation Care Committee is working toward Net-Zero emissions goals for Northern Illinois Conference, in concert with the United Methodist Church's 12-agency commitment to "achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations, and investments."
You and your congregation are invited to join in this effort. This website offers links to resources that can help.
Also, check out our Facebook group page for timely news, and to share your testimony of success!