Faith in Action: Parsonage Electrification Advances Our Carbon Commitments

At Faith Foundation Northwest, we know that generosity and stewardship can transform our ministries and communities. We recently got to see firsthand that it can also transform the spaces we share and homes that we make. 

Thanks to funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (HEAR), we recently completed the fourth round of grants, bringing a total of 55 high-efficiency electric installations to 22 parsonages across Washington State. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov. This funding allowed Washington churches to install heat pumps in their parsonages at no cost. 

This work reflects our shared commitment to caring for God’s creation while ensuring clergy families have safe, reliable, and energy-efficient homes.

For several years, we have been living into Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth’s challenge to go the M.I.L.E.—with the M reminding us to pursue Ministry that Matters. Inspired by this challenge, members passed several environmental justice resolutions at the 2023 Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, including a pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and inviting local churches to reduce carbon emissions by 50% in the same time.

This recent round of parsonage electrification is one step forward on that journey. By replacing gas and oil powered systems with efficient electric appliances, these projects are helping us move closer to our shared goal of lowering carbon emissions. These upgrades make parsonages more comfortable, reduce long-term utility costs, and extend the life of the homes that support ministry leaders and their families.

One of the most powerful outcomes of this program is hearing directly from congregations whose lives and ministries are impacted:

“If it weren’t for the Faith Foundation Parsonage Electrification program, Vashon UMC would not have been able to convert its parsonage heating system to heat pumps, reducing our carbon footprint. Plus, we now have air conditioning too, which these days is much appreciated by our pastor. Further, because our parsonage is solar powered, the greenhouse gas reduction is significant because natural gas is no longer being burned.”
— Eric Walker, Vashon UMC

From Camas to Coupeville, Walla Walla to Ocean Park, this project touched parsonages in every corner of Washington. We are deeply grateful to the Washington State Department of Commerce for making this possible, as well as to the pastors, trustees, and congregations who partnered with us to complete these projects. Together, we are living into our call to be stewards of our resources and God’s creation.

We invite you to celebrate this good news with us, and to imagine how your congregation might take steps toward a greener, more sustainable future.

Vashon United Methodist Church Parsonage