Actions

Church biomass boilerThe Dioceses in the South West are encouraging churches and church members to consider our whole ecological footprint and its ramifications, and to take action in the areas of: property and land; transport and travel; procurement and supplies; Christian lifestyle; and theology and worship.

We are offering specific support for a number of actions that will make a real difference. You can find information on these pages about the following schemes:

You may also be interested in the trials we are running, which may become future schemes.

Shrinking the Footprint actions

Transport and Travel

Changing the ways we move around, covering clergy and staff mobility, journeys to church and meetings, location of events, and alternative communications to reduce need to travel. Suggested actions:

  • Use the new Eco Church* survey
  • Audit travel by staff, congregations, visitors.
  • Investigate eco-driving, vehicle/engine size, journey-sharing, public transport or travelling in different ways.
  • Develop an organisation travel plan - British Standard (pdf) - and personal travel plans.
  • Purchase and maintain a pool bike for local use by staff.
  • Investigate using an electric bike.
  • Keep Car-free Day on 22 September.
  • Experiment with using technology for meetings - tele-conferencing, Skype - where appropriate.

Procurement and Supplies

Managing financial, catering and purchasing matters for finance/fabric committees, recycling, and buying ethically and sustainably, with creation care and the environment in mind. Suggested actions:

  • Use the new Eco Church* resources (click in the right-hand column)
  • Follow the old Eco-congregation* guidance: Module 08 - Greening church spending.
  • Become a Fairtrade Faith Group.
  • Monitor energy use, and purchase green electricity and gas.
  • Use as much local produce as possible for church events.
  • Do not use bottled water.
  • Purchase office materials from recycled or sustainably sourced materials.
  • Duplex printers for two-sided printing and re-use of office paper.
  • Monitor waste, and recycle and compost where possible.

Personal Lifestyles

Our personal lives deeply affect others in the struggle for global justice. We need to lead by example in our lifestyle at home and in the community, including engaging with localised alternatives such as the Transition Town Movement. Suggested actions:

  • Use the new Eco Church* resources (click in the right-hand column)
  • Follow the old Eco-congregation* guidance:
    • Module 04 - Children and Creation Care
    • Module 05 - Young People and Environmental issues
    • Module 06 - Resources for small groups
    • Module 10 - Lifestyle Issues
    • Module 11 - Community Matters
    • Module 12 - Global neighbours
  • Set up an ecocell group in your church, and investigate the other resources available from the Christian Ecology Link.
  • Get involved in your local Transition initiative.
  • Start some local Carbon Conversations.
  • Run a community energy project.
  • Visit Christian communities which are pursuing green lifestyles, for example Hilfield Friary, Othona, Sheldon, Ammerdown.

Theology and Worship

Rediscovering approaches to theology and spirituality of creation, becoming more sensitive to the human role within the wider created order, including liturgical expressions appropriate to addressing climate issues. Suggested actions:

  • Use the new Eco Church* resources (click in the right-hand column)
  • Follow the old Eco-congregation* guidance:
    • Module 02 - Greening worship
    • Module 03 - Theology and Environment
    • Module 06 - Resources for small groups
  • Investigate our prayer and worship resources.
  • Undertake some theological study which incorporates eco-theology, for example:

* Arocha replaced Eco-congregation with a new Eco Church scheme early in 2016. The old Eco-congregation site is available in the Wayback Archive, and we thought the old resources might still be useful.

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