Creation Care

Environmental Stewardship Committee

The Environmental Stewardship Committee typically meets the 2nd Monday of the month from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join our Creation Care efforts and may contact Ellen Sparks for more information. 

CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION

Energy Assessment

Engaged Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) to conduct an energy audit of the church lighting and HVAC systems

Renewable Energy

Installed a large rooftop solar system, saving over $22,000 and 245,000 pounds of carbon dioxide in the first year

Efficiency

Purchased and installed 900 energy-saving LED lights and programmable thermostats with a matching grant for GIPL

Reduce

Replaced plastics with eco-friendly, compostable and durable food service items

Reuse

Distributed reusable grocery bags to collect and make food donations with the DUMC logo

Recycle

Expanded recycling at large church events, including FoodStock and Great Day of Service

Compost

Began composting food waste and service items at Wednesday Night Suppers, diverting over 4,000 pounds a year

Garden

Planted commemorative trees and gardens on the church property

Educate

Hosted sustainability programs with guest speakers and offered Creation Care classes

environmental initiatives

Recovery

Recycle materials and compost food waste generated at more DUMC events 

Expansion

Install an additional solar system on the new gym roof and move fully to LED lighting

Restoration

Plant more native plants and trees on the grounds 

Education

Partner with children, youth and adult ministries to spread the love of Creation Care

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL)​

GIPL is a valuable resource for congregations throughout Georgia. Their purpose is to inspire and equip people of faith to engage the issues of climate change, environmental injustices, pollution, and resource depletion in pursuit of a society in which every living thing can flourish. GIPL’s Power-Wise (energy audit) program is designed to help congregations lower their carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy that is consumed on-site.​

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Caring for Creation Through Solar Energy

Dunwoody United Methodist Church is taking a meaningful step toward sustainability with the installation of a 152-kilowatt solar energy system through Georgia Interfaith Power & Light’s Solar-Wise program.

Installed by Sunpath Solar, the system is expected to provide 22% of the church’s annual energy needs, save approximately $22,000 each year, and prevent more than 3,179 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime.

“As people of faith, we are called to care for our neighbors and the Earth we all share,” said Rev. Dr. Phil Schroeder, Senior Pastor of Dunwoody UMC. “This project reflects our commitment to be good stewards of God’s Creation and of our congregation’s resources.”

Dunwoody UMC is the third Georgia congregation to participate in Georgia BRIGHT, a program helping nonprofits access solar energy without upfront costs.

Through this investment, Dunwoody UMC is demonstrating how faith communities can reduce costs, lower emissions, and care for God’s Creation.

WHY <span style="font-weight: normal;">COMPOST</span>

WHY COMPOST

Composting prevents powerful greenhouse gases from being emitted into the atmosphere.  Compost Now will send us monthly reports on the number of pounds of waste diverted from landfills and the amount of methane and carbon dioxide avoided by our composting efforts.  Along with commercial contracting, composting can also be done right in your own backyard if you have room. Learn more about how, why and what to compost here by clicking the button below.

The opening section of resolutions in the United Methodist Book of Resolutions, "The Community of All Creation," includes four resolutions submitted for and adopted by the 2024 General Conference. Each of these resolutions calls for local churches and other expressions of United Methodist institutional life to take concrete, direct actions to mitigate climate change and/or reverse damage done to the Earth and its creatures by human activities. The new resolutions call for concrete, specific actions by United Methodists at all levels of church life to mitigate climate change and/or reverse damage done to the Earth and its creatures by human activities. 

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WASTE NOT <span style="font-weight: normal;">RECYCLING SAVES!</span>

WASTE NOT RECYCLING SAVES!

Reduce what we use, Reuse it again, then, Recycle it to avoid waste! ​​

Our normal recyclable items include cardboard and paper board, office paper, plastics bottles and aluminum cans. We collect these items mixed small bins and dump then loose in a large service bin. The recycling service costs less than trash service! Volunteers from the Environmental StewardshipCommittee often support large events such as Great Day of Service, FoodStock, and Night to Shine! We also recycle electronics with companies certified for safe and responsible recycling. ​​​

creation care network

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  • Note the United Methodist’s Book of Disciple and Book of Resolutions are filled with support for Creation Care and sustainability. The related legislation passed at the 2024 General Conference can be found HERE. 

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  • For example, the Energy Policy Statement begins “Humankind enjoys a unique place in God’s universe. We are created in the very image of God, with the divine Spirit breathed into us, and entrusted to “take charge of” God’s creation (Genesis 2:7; 1:26, 28; see Psalm 8:6). Yet, we are simply one of God’s many finite creatures, made from the “topsoil of the fertile land,” bound in time and space, fallible in judgment, limited in control, dependent upon our Creator, and interdependent with all other creatures. We are simultaneously caretakers with all creation and, because of the divine summons, caretakers with God of the world in which we live. And as a reflection of our church’s global connection, our United Methodist values are rooted in our common faith and shaped by the diverse contexts and circumstances in which we live.”

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  • United Methodist Church’s bishops are committed to caring for God’s world, and they call on fellow United Methodists to join in this urgent work. On 11/4/25, the Council on Bishops adopted a Letter prioritizing creation care and environmental stewardship. The bishops said in the letter: ​

  • “God promises no harm, and as people who follow the ways of God, we too are committed to do no harm to any part of God’s creation,” ​

  • “We invite you into this urgent work. Together, and across the globe, United Methodists can make a difference and bring about health, sustainability, and care for the garden that we were created into.”

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  • The bishops also affirmed their commitment to implementing the decisions made at the 2024 General Conference, including creating Green Teams in churches, districts and conferences. They also agreed to implement sustainable practices at annual conferences and in managing church properties, and joined the United Methodist Commitment to Net Zero Green House Gas Emissions, among other actions.

What's Happening at DUMC

Healing Through Creation Care

Caring for God’s Creation side by side with our DUMC team and people of many faiths who share our values is deeply healing.

HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?

For questions or more information on Creation Care please Anne Hicks at 404-316-2336.