The Environment - Caring for God's Creation

Churches can do much to help raise awareness of environmental issues.

An Environmental Policy was adopted by the Diocesan Synod in October 2009 to help churches engage with environmental issues and recognise their Christian responsibility to try and make a difference. The Policy was produced by a Working Group comprising both parish members and Diocesan Officers. It represents a Diocesan response, both to calls from the national church via the 'Shrinking the Footprint' campaign, and to help parishes 'safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and renew the life of the earth' (The Fifth Mark of Mission, Archbishops' Council). Parishes were consulted in the drawing up of the policy and best practice identified from other Dioceses.

The policy statement forms the core document of the environmental pack produced by the working group. It is supported by recommendations for change and a Diocesan Environmental Award Scheme designed to encourage parishes to embrace these recommendations and work towards becoming a 'greener' church. (To see how the scheme has helped other parishes click here.) Additional resources are available to assist parishes and can also be downloaded below.

For more information, please contact The Revd Gordon Randall, Diocesan Stewardship Adviser at gordon.randall@winchester.anglican.org or phone him on 01962 737323.

Internal Resources

• Diocesan Environmental Policy
• Recommendations for Change
• Diocesan Environmental Award Scheme
• A Theological Basis for Environmental Action & Hope (appendix 1)
• The Ecological Crisis as an Issue of Justice (appendix 2)
• Facing the Future: Questions for the Church (appendix 3)
• Ecology in Worship (appendix 4)
• Resources - books, organisations, study programmes and advice, as well as parish energy audit options (appendix 5)

External Resources

• Christian Ecology: www.christian-ecology.org.uk
• The Conservation Foundation: www.conservationfoundation.co.uk
• Parish Pump: www.parishpump.co.uk
• Shrinking the Footprint: http://www.churchcare.co.uk/shrinking-the-footprint
• 'Renewing the face of the earth: human responsibility and the environment' - speech by the Most Reverend Rowan Williams at York Minster, 25 March 2009

What Others Have Done...

St John's, Moordown completed their Diocesan Environmental Gold Award and then decided to introduce an 'Individual Eco Award Challenge' whereby individual parishioners could obtain their own environmental award. To view what their challenge involves, click here

As well as going for a Diocesan Environmental Award, why not set up something similar for your parishioners and then also encourage them to talk to their friends and family about why they are committed to caring for God's creation.

To view parishes who have obtained a Diocesan Environmental Award, click here

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