We are living through a climate and nature emergency, which is becoming ever more severe and urgent. Two years ago many people struggled when extreme temperatures of over 40 degrees hit the UK, but extreme weather and the consequences it brings are now a regular reality for many places across the globe. Wildlife habitats are being destroyed, homes and communities lost to flooding, crops wrecked, fires rage, people displaced with nowhere to go.
Creationtide is a time to reflect on and lament the loss and damage being suffered by us all. Those people most affected have done the least to cause it. But it is a time to plan and act, as expressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby:
“The moral crisis of climate change is an opportunity to find purpose and joy, and to respond to our creator’s charge. Reducing the causes of climate change is essential to the life of faith.” (writing in the New York Times, 2017)
Over the past year I have been working in the voluntary role of Diocesan Eco Church Champion. The Eco Church programme is provided by A Rocha and promoted by the Church of England to provide a framework for churches to embed creation care into their mission and church life.
I have now visited several church groups who have shared their journeys, their achievements and their enthusiasm with me. Rather than being daunted and dismayed by the challenges both globally and local to home, I have found them to be positive, energised and keen to reach out to their communities and be that beacon of hope to others.
The Eco Church scheme has a broad menu for churches of all sizes and persuasions. Churches can start by choosing activities that suit their circumstances to work towards their bronze award. And the awards are achievable – honestly! The stats back this up:
73 of around 200 Churches in the Diocese are registered Eco Churches. One has a Gold award, 11 Silver, and 28 Bronze. So far in 2024, 10 churches have registered. Six have received a Bronze award and 3 have gained Silver. Congratulations!
Some churches are understandably daunted at starting such a wide-ranging programme. However, most are pleasantly surprised to see how their existing activities are reflected in the programme and to find they can access resources to help them go further. For example, most churches have to be careful with resources and use only what they need. “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle” is a key theme which can gain points towards an Eco Church award.
The Environment Team can support Churches in completing an Eco Church survey, either online or in person. Sometimes the opportunity to talk it through with someone else can be a great help. So please talk to us! Let’s finish with this from Liz Conway, All Saints Church, Woodlands, who received their Bronze award this summer:
“We started with Eco Church as we wanted to think about how we can be more environmentally aware and more in touch with a Godly perspective on caring for His creation. We found the Eco Church process a good one as it was straightforward and helped us to consider a range of areas that we could assess and work on. Margaret came and talked with a group of us which helped to get us started, and we actually found it quite easy to reach Bronze as we had already done a lot of the things that we needed to do. We planned a series of Sunday services over the summer to help us to explore the theme of Creation and this helped to engage the whole church family in the process, exploring the theme theologically and practically and in our worship.”