M.K. Pentecost Ecology Fund Committee

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Savannah Presbytery

M.K. Pentecost Ecology Fund

3590 Darien Hwy., Suite 8

Brunswick, GA 31525

912-264-1997/912-262-6815 fax

mkpfund@savannahpresbytery.org www.savannahpresbytery.org

Lynn Garis, Coordinator

The mission of the M.K. Pentecost Ecology Fund Committee of Savannah Presbytery is to promote and support ecological stewardship of natural resources. We believe that the church has a responsibility for protecting God's creation, seeking environmental justice, encouraging conservation, promoting education and restoring the eco-system. This exciting and challenging mission is grounded in our faith teaching that we are the stewards of God's creation. As the psalmist tells us, “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 2:4 NIV ). We, as God's people, are to care for the whole of creation.

This is a prophetic time in the witness of the churches of Savannah Presbytery. Through the M.K. Pentecost Ecology Trust Fund, God is calling us to new avenues of service and has given us the resources to respond faithfully and effectively to the “groaning of creation." Hearing again the words of our Lord, “you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last,” (John 15:16 NIV) we are reminded that it is the sovereign Lord of the universe who calls us into service.

God has provided the vision, the people, and the money for this vital work of responsible ecological stewardship in our coastal region. It is by the grace-filled providence of God that we have the good fortune to live and work among the beauty of the moss covered live oak trees, miles of productive pine forests, and acres of revitalizing marshlands.

Savannah Presbytery's M.K. Pentecost Ecology Trust Fund has its origins in the generosity and vision of Atlanta attorney and Presbyterian Elder, M.K. Pentecost, Jr. He served the Presbyterian Church USA as Executive of the Presbytery of Georgia and on the staff of Greater Atlanta Presbytery during the 1980's and early 1990's. He loved the church and revered Georgia's coastal beauty with its intrinsic restorative ability.

Mr. Pentecost established a Charitable Remainder Unitrust with the Presbyterian Church USA Foundation for "the presbytery's ministry of environmental justice and ecological stewardship of natural resources including marine and wild life. The funds are to be used for promoting the support of conservation efforts, education, and studies in key environmental issues of endangered ecosystems and ecological projects which are approved by the presbytery."

According to the Trust, “the funds are to be used for promoting the protection of wet lands, controlling erosion or other destructive forces, restricting activities in construction which damage the environment, eliminating the useless destruction of marine life and/or wild life, maintaining beach areas for responsible relaxation and refreshment, and controlling water quality. These funds are to be used for the restoration and preservation of the ecosystem in order that the Church's ministry and response to ecological justice and stewardship of natural resources can be maintained."

In 1995 Savannah Presbytery established the Ecology Committee charged with the disbursement of the M.K. Pentecost Trust Fund's annual with the disbursement of the M.K. Pentecost Ecology Trust Fund's annual income.  They meet each May to review applications and make grant awards.  They meet again December to review reporting documents from grant recipients.  The largest grant awarded is $5,000 to any one grantee.

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalms 24:1 NIV)

GRANT RECIPIENTS

Altamaha Riverkeeper (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (2000)
Ashantilly Center (1999) Berry College (2003)
Canoochee Riverkeeper (2005)
Caretta Research Project (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004)
Center for a Sustainable Coast (1999, 2003, 2004)
City of Midway (1998)
City of Tybee (1996, 1998)
Coastal Encounters/Driftwood acquired 2002, (1996, 1998, 1999, 2002)
Coastal GA Audubon Society (2001)
Coastal GA Resource Conservation and Development Council (2003)
Coastal Georgia Land Trust (1996, 1999, 2001, 2003)
Coastal Landmark Society
[merged into the Coastal GA Historical Society in 2001] (1998, 1999, 2000)
Cumberland Island Museum, (2000)
(The) Dolphin Project (2004)
GA Environmental Policy Institute (1998, 2000, 2001)
GA Nature Based Tourism (2001)
Georgia Christian Council (2000, 2001)
(The) Georgia Conservancy, (1996, 2000, 2005)
Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (2004)
Glynn Environmental Coalition (2001, 2002)
Jekyll Foundation (2004)
Le Conte-Woodmanston Foundation (1997, 1998, 2005)
Learning Tree (1996)
Lowcountry Open Land Trust (2005)
Oatland Island Education Center (2002, 2003, 2004)
Ossabaw Island Foundation (2000)
Presbyterian College (2005)
Presbyterians for Restoring Creation (1998, 1999)
Residents for Planning and Action (RUPA) (2004)
Savannah Presbytery (2000, 2003, 2005)
Savannah River Ecology Lab (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)
Savannah State University (2003, 2004)
Savannah Tree Foundation (2005)
South Carolina Christian Action Council (2002)
St. Simons Land Trust (2001, 2002)
The Corporation for Broadcast Arts (1999)
The Nature Conservancy of Georgia (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005)
The Science Alliance (2000)
Tidelands Nature Center (2001, 2004)
UGA Brunswick Marine Technology and Outreach Center (2005)
UGA Cooperative Ext. Service, Glynn County (2003)
UGA Marine Extension, Skidaway Shellfish Research Laboratory (2003)
UGA/Marine Education Center and Aquarium [MECA] (2002, 2003, 2005)
Wilderness Southeast (2005)
YWCA (2001)

"Now I establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you -- the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you -- every living creature on earth." (Genesis 9:9 NIV)

GRANT GUIDELINES

Grants are awarded once a year to organizations whose projects benefit the citizens and ecosystems within the stated area of the Synod of the South Atlantic of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.  The funds may be used to establish new programs and expand existing programs, not to reduce deficits, to provide endowment funds, to replace currently budgeted items, to individuals, to provided office equipment and supplies not related to the project, or to support beach re-nourishment.  Detailed guidelines and an application form are available from Savannah Presbytery or may be downloaded from this website.

"I will put in the desert, the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that the people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."

(Isaiah 41:19-20 NIV)

GROWING THE M.K. PENTECOST FUND

The M.K. Pentecost Ecology Fund Committee actively seeks contributions to in order to increase the fund for greater service in this mission of stewardship of creation.  Individuals interested in contributing to the M.K. Pentecost Ecology Trust Fund should contact the office of Savannah Presbytery, 912-264-1997, or email mkpfund@savannahpresbytery.org.