Stewards of God’s Creation

Mount Eliza congregation takes practical steps towards net zero

At The Village Church Mount Eliza caring for God’s creation is part of everyday church life.

Located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the congregation has embraced the Uniting Church’s call to climate action by taking practical steps to reduce emissions, cut waste and care for the environment. Through its Toward Zero Committee, established in 2021, the church is turning faith into action and encouraging its community to do the same.

The congregation began by looking closely at two key areas where it could make a difference: energy and waste.

Over the past several years, the church has replaced gas heaters with efficient electric split systems and installed heat-pump hot water systems at both the church and manse. In 2022, it installed a 10kW solar system that has already halved electricity costs, while ongoing upgrades to energy-efficient LED lighting continue to reduce power consumption.

These initiatives reflect a growing commitment across the Uniting Church to be faithful stewards of creation and work towards a sustainable future.

The church has also focused on reducing waste. This year it is introducing a composting system for food and garden organics and moving towards plant-based compostable bin liners. Through the REPlace.today recycling platform, congregation members are finding new ways to recycle and recover materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.

The church’s children’s group, KUCA, has already collected around 38 kilograms of eligible containers through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, helping to avoid emissions while raising funds for the congregation’s Christmas giving program.

For The Village Church Mount Eliza, the journey to net zero is about more than technology or infrastructure. It is about building habits of care, sharing knowledge with the wider community and living out the biblical call to be responsible stewards of God’s creation.

As the congregation continues its journey, it is guided by a simple conviction: faithfulness begins with small steps, and together those steps can help shape a more hopeful and sustainable future for all.

Read more about the Uniting Church's Climate Justice activities here.