Environment
Across the Diocese, we believe that responding to climate change is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God's creation. Through action, advocacy, worship and prayer, we aim to take better care of God’s creation here in Kent and Medway and the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley. In his 2020 Lent message, Bishop James encourages us to use the season to consider our responsibility to the environment.
CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION MATERIALS
Why not join us on the journey? Each week during Lent**, we shared a weekly film on our social media channels (Facebook / Twitter), highlighting a local church-based project which is demonstrating care for creation. View them on YouTube and download on Vimeo. **Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we paused this campaign during Lent. We hope to reshare the series during Creationtide in September.
ECO CHURCH One way we are suppporting churches in their environmental journey is to encourage them to become an Eco Church. Through its free online survey and supporting resources, Eco Church, equips churches to express their care for God’s world by asking them to reflect on five keys areas of their life as a church. The five areas are:
It then offers suggestions as to the next steps a church can take; churches can acheive a gold, silver or bronze award, based on their Eco Church journey A number of churches in the Diocese are already signed-up to the scheme - Holy Redeemer Lamorbey are Silver Eco Church award winners. Read their story here Find out more about whole the Church of England is working to tackle climate change by visiting: www.churchofengland.org/environmentENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP An Environment Working Group has been set up to help us explore ways in which we as a Diocese can move forward in lightening our impact on the environment. The group was started following responses to a diocesan-wide survey in 2019. The survey revealed an appetite among parishes for the Diocesan leadership to support and encourage local parishes to take action on the environment. If you would like to know more about the Working Group please contact Claire.Boxall@rochester.anglican.or ENVIRONMENTAL CANON THEOLOGIAN
Dr Ruth Valerio is Global Advocacy and Influencing Director at the Christian relief and development charity, Tearfund. She is also author 'Saying Yes To Life' - the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book for 2020. A Lent course based on Ruth's book is also available and has been kindly shared by the Diocese of Bristol. Find it here You can also watch her talk, given at Rochester Cathedral on Sunday 23 February here
Look for more help and inspiration, take a look at this national and local groups:
|