Environment: Getting Started

At times, the climate emergency and nature crisis can feel overwhelming and it can be hard to know where to start in your own church community. Here are some handy tips to get you started.

Step 1: Become a team 

Any task can be hard work on your own. Changing the culture in your church can be challenging at times and having a small group who bring different skills and experiences, who pray together, support each other and can share the load can be vital for success.

Step 2: Ask the PCC to pass a Parish Environment Policy 

Putting a policy to the PCC gives the church leadership the opportunity to openly discuss the environmental crises and how your church will respond. Once a policy has been passed it can be useful to assess other PCC decisions in the light of the Environment Policy. 

Download the template model Parish Environmental policy.

Step 3: Appoint a Parish Environment Champion

It can be helpful to have a nominated person who ensures that environmental issues are championed. This should never mean that the rest of the congregation feel that they don’t have to think about creation care!

Parish Environment Champion role description

Please let Tim Mayfield, co-chair of the Environment Working Group, know who your Parish Environment Champions is, so that they can be kept informed about training opportunities, resources and supported by the Deanery Environment Champions. 

Step 4: Register on the Eco Church website

It’s easy to register your church on the Eco Church website. Registering costs nothing and does not commit you to complete the award, what it does do is give you the opportunity to view the Eco Church survey and 'play' at entering your churches achievements. Click here for more info on becoming an Eco Church, or view the training webinar 'An Introduction to Eco Church: Getting Started'

Step 5: Write a plan

Becoming a zero carbon church, having a wildlife churchyard, being single use plastic free are all big challenges! It is important to have a realistic plan that sets out what needs to be done, who will do it, who needs to be consulted and what it might cost. Make sure you start with an easily achievable task to get you underway.

Download the easy planning template to get you started.

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