Toronto Uniting Church NSW

On Sunday 30th of May 2023, Toronto Uniting Church (NSW) were recognised for their commitment to climate and environmental action with four Five Leaf Eco-Awards, making it only the second church in Australia to achieve this, and the first since Eden Uniting Church (NSW) earned four awards in 2010.

Toronto Uniting Church received the Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate, Eco-Worship Award, Climate Activism Award and Eco-Congregation Leaf Award. These awards acknowledge the many actions the church has taken, including their energy audit, the solar panels installed by both the church and its members, LED lights, recycling and composting, second-hand markets, church library, promotion of upcycling, ethical products and saving water, participation in Plastic Free July, support of local nature and climate groups, environment-themed worship and songs, and their advocacy for climate action, including a Climate Action Vigil, climate banners and messages and the climate action scarves made by the congregation for Common Grace’s Knit for Climate campaign. 

Rev Allison Forrest said, “Our congregation is so encouraged to have received these Five Leaf Eco-Awards. We are blessed to live on Awabakal land, beside beautiful Awaba (Lake Macquarie). The awards recognise many individual and corporate actions that have been taken, which were born out of love for this particular place, and for the whole world that God loves. We will continue to hope, pray and act for the flourishing of all life, in the name of Christ.”

Director of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards, Jessica Morthorpe thanked the congregation for their hard work and for showing such faithfulness to God’s love for Creation.