March 4th, 2026

Emissions Reductions Grant

Shuttered ministry gives in new ways

When Foothills Mennonite Church’s 15-years-long hospital guest house ministry came to an end, funds from the sale of the property opened up a new way of giving back to the community.

The congregation decided to direct some of those funds to pay for the installation of solar panels on its church building. An Emissions Reduction Grant of $3,000 from Mennonite Church Canada is also being invested in lessening the congregation’s carbon footprint.

In a Creation Care Project Report, associate pastor Aiden Scherzinger wrote, “the system produces more power than our building actually uses. And so right away we began sending power to the grid, helping to not just power ourselves, but power our neighborhood and city.” Facilities Trustee Daniel Retzlaff facilitated the congregational process that led to the decision to install 56 solar panels. The former developer of electrical control systems who uses solar panels on his own home anticipated some resistance to the project, but he fielded only specific questions about cost estimates from contractors and suppliers.

“There were no questions about the viability of the project,” said Retzlaff.

The approximately 100 member congregation has a number of people active in climate change consciousness, said Retzlaff, so creation care was not a new discussion for the group. The congregation’s 60-year-old building is used regularly throughout the week by various community groups, as well as various church ministries. The parking lot is used as a hub for Meals-On-Wheels. Congregants are encouraged to ride bicycles to church. The solar panel project is one way-point on the congregation’s creation care journey. They have already lessened their carbon footprint by installing more efficient furnaces and better insulated windows. When their roof needs replacing, they will consider improving insulation.

There were some initial concerns that surrounding neighbours in the church’s residential neighbourhood might oppose the appearance of the solar panels, but those fears have so far been unfounded.

A computer display in the church’s lobby allows people to see energy generated versus energy consumed. It’s still early days for the installation; the first year’s performance of the system won’t be known till later in 2026, but the projected pay-back for the initial investment is 10 years. In his report to the congregation, Scherzinger also wrote that, “The panels are a witness to our neighbours; that we as a community have been willing to actively work towards a vision of God’s good creation that is cared for by living in synergy with the created order.”