Northern Beaches Uniting Church (Balgowlah)

Balgowlah Uniting Church is part of the Northern Beaches Uniting Church (NBUC), which includes churches at Freshwater and Cromer. 

The church was presented with the Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate on August 20, 2023 by Five Leaf Eco-Awards Director, Jessica Morthorpe.

The award recognises their focus on renewable energy, with the installation of solar panels and the switch to 100% GreenPower. It also acknowledges the many actions the Balgowlah church has taken, including completing an energy audit, recycling, using reusable cutlery, reducing their paper use, discussing the climate impacts on Vanuatu in services, hosting nature activities for children in their Little Footsteps program, establishing water-efficient church gardens that include forage plants for bees and creating a beautiful environment-themed mural full of native flowers, painted by local artist, Meg Minkley.

Congregation member Cate Valpiani, who applied for the awards on behalf of the church, said:

“The church motto is ‘Reflecting God’s Love in Community’.  As awareness grows of the vital connection between caring for Creation and loving our neighbours, our community recognises that taking positive environmental action is a practical and meaningful way of ‘reflecting God’s love within our community’ – whether that be local or international.”

Ms. Valpiani explained that many members of the church are involved in secular or faith-based environmental groups, including Common Grace, Uniting Earth and the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change.  Others are on personal journeys toward more sustainable living. She hopes that involvement in the Five Leaf Eco-Awards will help the congregation learn from the experiences of other faith groups, formalise and recognise what they have done so far, provide encouragement and inspiration for further action, and begin positive and productive conversations with our local community.

The congregation’s former Minister, Rev Mata Havea Hiliau, Moderator Elect of the Uniting Church in NSW/ACT Synod, congratulated the church on this award, acknowledging we all have a responsibility in caring for God’s creation. “May you continue to demonstrate what it means to Think Globally and Act Locally for ourselves, our neighbours and for generations to come.”

The church website contains further details and images here: www.nbuniting.org.au/locations/balgowlah/