Let a Florida church like me make sunlight

Step into Zion United Methodist Church in Clearwater and hear musicians warm up before Sunday service. You can see sunlight flowing through the stained glass windows. And you will be welcoming, worshiping, walking with our neighbors every season, and feel the heartbeat of the church that has been here for nearly 106 years.

What you can’t see is the solar panels on our roof. At least not yet.

Mount Zion has been constant in this community for generations. But like many small churches, especially those serving working families, we feel pressured. Our electricity bills have risen sharply in recent years, putting a burden on budgets already expanding due to growing needs in our communities. Every dollar we spend to maintain the light is a dollar that cannot support young people programming, food distribution, or elders.

That’s why we’re working to raise enough money to go to solar. We are achieving our goals, bringing our savings back to our community, making the most of God’s infinite resources. This is a practical and powerful way to make our ministry more resilient and react. And that’s not possible without federal investments called direct pay.

For the first time in history, the program will allow churches, schools and local nonprofits to access Clean Energy Tax Credit through a 30% refund. It has been received for a long time by the same homeowners and businesses. Thanks to Direct Pay, Mount Zion has a real shot at going to solar power every year and saving thousands of dollars.

But now, Congress is weighing these programs against tax credit reductions. If they are cut, so is the opportunity to install solar, and with that there is an opportunity to further expand our resources and serve more people. That’s why I urge Washington elected leaders to protect these federal programs that keep solar in their families and our communities out of reach.

Mount Zion is more than just a church. We are a hub of community care. We are holding the main campus of the dyslexia DePaul School. We provide space for American Veterans with Disabilities, Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, Whispering Souls, African American Cemetery, Faith in Florida, Bay Area Dream Defender and more. Every dollar that saves energy supports these partnerships and the people behind them.

For us, this is more than just a line item on our budget. That’s the difference between what we have to spend and what we give.

We believe that faith is manifested. Going to solar is by wisely managing our resources and standing with our community to help us exercise that faith. Congress must protect the credits that make it possible. This will allow churches like us to continue to shine our light for future generations.

Rev. Lee Hall Perkins is a senior pastor at Mount Zion Church in Clearwater.