The Bethel-Bethany Green Team, a part of the Properties Committee works to educate the congregation and surrounding community about ways we can best steward our eco-system and environment.
In recent years, we have conducted seminars and workshops on:
- reducing plastic use
- preserving water resources
- the importance of regenerative agriculture in solving the climate crisis, improving human (and animal) health and strengthening rural communities.
In addition, the Green Team represents Bethel-Bethany in neighborhood cleanup activities, meetings of the Wisconsin UCC Creation Care Network, The Sherman Park Eco Green Team, and the City of Milwaukee’s “Cream City Climate Challenge – Green Congregations Initiative (C4/GCI).”
A History of Events:
April 2026: a Green Sunday presentation addressed plastic pollution and how we can refuse, reduce, re-use and recycle plastic in our lives.
2026: LED Lightbulb exchange. Members and neighbors can bring 2-3 incadescent or CFL light bulbs to be replaced for free with LED bulbs
February 2025: Installed insulation in major attic areas of the church and added door air gap sealing.
December 2024: hosted Stormwater Modeling Seminar
September 2024: hosted Sherman Park Eco Team, Branch Out Program, and Sherman Park Community Association – Postage Stamp Park meeting – 55th and Locust
September 2024: Hosted a Green Community Dinner
July 2024: hosted C4/GCI Community Engagement Meeting
Fall 2023: Converted all lights to LED lighting, reducing energy usage and heat output of lights.
Summer 2023: Cream City Climate Challenge & Green Congregations Initiative (C4/GCI) – pilot church to do an Energy and IAQ Assessment to identify several Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization projects.
Summer 2023: congregation wide study of Daniel Cooperider’s new book “Speak with the Earth and It Will Teach You”.
Winter 2023: congregation wide study of Kathryn Hahoe’s inspiring book, “Saving Us.”
Partners:
Plastic Free MKE – find our more or take the Plastic Free Pledge