Solar panels installed on Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania, property. Photo credit: Amy Cummings-Leight.
ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA’s (MC USA) Climate Justice Ministry has awarded the 2024 Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund grants to four congregations: Covenant Mennonite Fellowship, Sarasota, Florida; Roanoke Mennonite Church, Eureka, Illinois; Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Oregon, and Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania. Covenant Mennonite Fellowship received $1,800 for its Electric Vehicle charging station, while the remaining three churches were each awarded the $5,000 solar grant.
Each recipient congregation demonstrated a long-term commitment to energy efficiency, with steps such as conducting an energy audit, adding insulation, installing LED light bulbs, replacing older HVAC systems with energy-efficient systems, switching from a natural gas range in the kitchen to an induction stove, restoring church property to prairie, and composting on church land.
The Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund provides $10,000 for installing solar panels and $1,800 for car charging stations per year to assist interested MC USA congregations. The term “net zero energy” describes buildings or communities that generate enough energy to meet their own needs.
Russell De Young, a member of Huntington Mennonite Church in Newport News, Virginia, established the fund in 2016 in memory of his wife, Pam. To date, the Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund has granted funds to 19 congregations. The fund is administered by MC USA.
“The goal of this fund is that all Mennonite churches will become independent from fossil fuels,” wrote Russell de Young, in his recent Menno Snapshots blog. “I am encouraged that so many Mennonites have become engaged in care for God’s creation,” he added.
Thanks to the generosity of Landisville Mennonite Church (a solar grant recipient in 2021) who paid it forward, the MC USA Climate Justice Ministry was able to offer solar grants to three congregations, one more than the usual two congregations, as well as one car charging station grant, a record number of grants.
“We are so pleased with the number and diversity of applicants to the Pam DeYoung Net Zero Energy Fund this year,” said Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler, MC USA’s climate justice coordinator, “and are excited by the recipients’ plans to celebrate their solar installations in their congregations and the broader community, connecting their energy efficiency projects to their mission of caring for creation and caring for neighbors. We pray that their actions are like leaven in the dough, spreading the good news of climate justice in their communities.”
Covenant Mennonite Fellowship, Sarasota, Florida
“We at Covenant Mennonite Fellowship are grateful for this grant as we try to figure out the best ways we can positively impact our environment and our community as a congregation,” said Rich Howard-Willms. “These are small steps, but important ones, as we honor our Creator and the land we steward,” he added. The congregation plans to use the funds to install its charging station on church property.
Roanoke Mennonite Church, Eureka, Illinois
Solar panel installation on Roanoke Mennonite Church building, Eureka, Illinois. Photo credit: Bryan Miller.
Roanoke Mennonite Church upgraded to energy-efficient lighting and sources electricity from a nearby solar farm. The church is transforming an unused acre into a vibrant native grass prairie, cultivating a community garden, and planting fruit trees to enhance local ecology. To minimize environmental impact, they have replaced their blacktop parking lot with pea gravel, reducing oil usage and reflecting less sunlight into the atmosphere. In a significant upgrade, they’ve replaced 30-year-old air conditioning units with high-efficiency models. The responsible for the ministries of administration for the congregation, has consistently conducted energy audits for over a decade, diligently working to cut energy consumption, identify climate-friendly energy sources, and foster an ecologically friendly landscape.
“The Pam De Young Net Zero Fund helped ease the burden of what the generous people of Roanoke Mennonite Church contributed to the project, and it supports our culture and lived theology,” said Bryan Miller, pastor of Administration. “Thank you, to all within the broader church who have come alongside us in this effort to bring healing, hope and reconciliation to our small part of God’s kingdom,” he added.
Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Oregon
Solar panels on Zion Mennonite Church property, Hubbard, Oregon. Photo credit: Kelly Yoder.
Zion Mennonite Church’s facilities committee included solar panels as part of a comprehensive plan to move the church closer to net zero energy use. The panels replace 101% of its current electric use. Prior energy conservation projects included switching inside lights and outdoor security lights to LEDs. The committee also installed smart thermostats to improve heating and cooling efficiency and replaced a natural gas range in the kitchen with an induction cooktop.
“We appreciate the generosity of Mr. De Young for establishing the Net Zero Energy Fund and the Climate Justice Ministry of Mennonite Church USA for administering the grant to Zion Mennonite Church,” said Kelly Yoder, representative for Zion Mennonite Church. “The application process helped our congregation evaluate our successes and highlight areas of climate justice where we can be doing more,” she added.
Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania
Zion Mennonite Church has been reducing its carbon footprint steadily while monitoring physical plant changes for energy use and financial savings. A few years ago, they replaced boilers with a state-of-the-art, instant-heat hot water and building heating system, saving 30% annual energy use over previous years. The congregation also added roof insulation, replaced 52-year-old AC units with energy-efficient units and replaced interior and exterior lighting with LED fixtures and bulbs.
“Zion Mennonite Church is grateful for the grant of $5,000 from the Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund administered by MC USA. These funds have helped us continue our journey to reduce the carbon footprint of our church as well as save thousands of dollars a year that can be invested back in the mission of the church,” said Amy Cummings-Leight, a member of Zion’s Creation Care Committee and board of directors. “We are beginning educational efforts to share with other churches and local nonprofits how they can install solar too,” she added.
How to apply for the Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund grant
MC USA congregations who craft and execute an ongoing plan that will move them toward net zero energy are eligible to apply for the grant. The grants are for hardware purchases related to solar panels, car charging stations or other renewable energy projects. Most solar grants are $5,000, but congregations may request up to $10,000. Grants for car charging stations are limited to $1,800.
To apply for the grant, contact Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler, MC USA Climate Justice Coordinator, to request the appropriate forms. Send your inquiry to climatejustice@MennoniteUSA.org. Applications may be submitted between April 1 and June 15 each year. Applicants are asked to show that their request is part of a larger creation care plan that includes energy conservation, engages many members and is a public witness to the community.
Mennonite Church USA’s Climate Justice Ministry works to find new ways to care for God’s creation that address the injustices of climate change and its impact on the world’s most vulnerable. Consider donating to support the work of climate justice here by donating online or mailing a check, payable to MC USA and noting Climate Justice or Net Zero Fund in the memo line, and mail to: MC USA 718 N. Main Street, Newton, KS 67114.
Mennonite Church USA is an Anabaptist Christian denomination, founded in 2002 by the merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church. Members of this historic peace church seek to follow Jesus by rejecting violence and resisting injustice. MC USA’s Renewed Commitments state the following shared commitments among its diverse body of believers: to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace and experience the transformation of the Holy Spirit. Mennoniteusa.org
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Written by Christle Hain.