Leichhardt Uniting Church

Press Release: CHURCH REWARDED FOR SPEAKING UP ON CLIMATE

A rooftop community garden, beeswax wraps and a drumming protest band have all played a role in earning Leichhardt Uniting Church three prestigious national environmental awards presented to the church on Sunday 25th of August 2024.

The Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate, Eco Worship and Climate Activism Awards celebrate the many actions this church has taken, which also include reducing their energy and paper use, environmental actions by the congregation, environment themed worship and music, including an Eco-Anxiety & Discipleship sermon series, hosting an online environmental skills fest during COVID, their climate themed social media messaging, participation in Sydney Alliance political activism on climate, and long history of active and visible presence at climate protests and actions such as the School Strikes for Climate.

Rev. Radhika Sukumar-White, Minister and Team Leader at Leichhardt Uniting Church, said, in accepting the awards:
“These awards are just external recognition of what we at LUC already know – that climate action is at the heart of what we believe, and how we put our beliefs into action. We will continue to raise our voices for the disadvantaged and vulnerable, for God’s Creation and for our own rights and future.”

Congregation member Mikali Anagnostis was excited for LUC to receive the awards, as they affirm why they love being part of this community, “LUC is a community that puts its passion for justice into action. It’s encouraging that others have seen our journey with climate justice and want to recognise it.”

Kathy Slade and Loraine Holley from Engadine Uniting Church (who will receive their awards from Leichhardt Uniting Church representatives in September) visited the church to present their award. They said, “It’s wonderful to see what another church has done, and to be able to share our story so that both communities can aim higher and work towards the next awards in the program.”

View the livestreamed presentation of Leichhardt Uniting Church’s awards here: https://fb.watch/ubGFeAfkRf/ from 1:17:30.

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