Environment
The East Anglia District believes that care for the environment is fundamental to our Christian faith and action. As stewards of God’s gift of creation each of us has a responsibility to ensure that this remains a sustainable world and to respond to the social injustice visited on many of the world’s poorest people as a result of climate change.
With this in mind, we have an action plan and we are working towards the A Rocha Eco Diocese Bronze Award which recognises commitment to good environmental and ethical stewardship.
We recognise that we are at the start of our journey, we will be exploring environmental issues in the context of Christian life and mission, will take positive action and realise that the job is never finished.
The East Anglia District Registration Certificate for the Rocha Eco Diocese Bronze Award
Methodist Podcast for "Earth Day" 2021 (go to 18.25) in which The Revd Julian Pursehouse speaks about East Anglia as an "Eco District".
Deep Waters - a journey through climate grief and eco-anxiety
Starts 18 January
COP26 has been and gone, with mixed results, and leaving many disappointed and suffering from increasing eco-anxiety and grief. If this is you, and you’re wondering just how to deal with your
complex emotional responses, please join our next eight-week Deep Waters online course, which starts on Tuesday 18 January at 7pm. It lasts 8 weeks, and is utterly confidential - sessions are not recorded, and no notes are taken. In small, confidential and supportive groups, you can discuss your anxieties and concerns, and find a way forward.
(https://greenchristian.org.uk/deep-waters-a-project-of-borrowed-time/)
This spring we will be making Deep Waters available to churches and other Christian groups. Please keep an eye on e-news for more information.
Wed 26 January 7pm Online
'The corporate world – friend, foe, or simply a reflection of wider society?'
Register for the JiE talks (https://greenchristian.org.uk/gc-campaigns/green-christian-workshops/)
In this talk, Paul will explore the potential for the corporate world to impact the achievement of environmental goals and contrast that with the achievements of Governments to date. Most importantly, he will seek to explore the motivations that may drive corporate behaviour and how these
might be leveraged for greatest benefit to wider society, while looking at the risks that might also arise from the greater monetisation of the environment.
10.30am - 1pm Saturday 29 January Online
‘What on earth …? Forest church – worshiping in Creation, finding our path in nature’
The Way of Life (https://greenchristian.org.uk/way/)is offered to Green Christian members for whom care for God’s creation in all its forms is a fundamental outworking of their faith. It is a calling for deeper engagement and shared encouragement. This is our annual gathering for 2022.
Open to all Green Christian members
For those who are not currently Companions or Explorers there will be an opportunity to find out more about the Way of Life and what it may provide in terms of a structured pathway and shared encouragement in our faith journeys.
Register for Green Christian Way of Life Zoom Gathering
(https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqcuigqDosG9I2WJbHOy5CMByLJBzNhNM2)
Thursday 20 Jan 7pm Online
'Climate Sunday: What’s next after COP26?’
The Climate Sunday Team will be celebrating everything that Climate Sunday has achieved as a project, and looking towards the future. Come and help explore the next steps churches can take to work
towards climate justice.
Sign up for Climate Sunday: What's next after COP26?
(https://www.climatesunday.org/climate-sunday-what-next-after-cop26)
Could your church hold a Climate Sunday service in 2022?
See what one church did for Climate Sunday on 5 Sept 2021.
(https://greenchristian.org.uk/could-your-church-hold-a-climate-sunday-service-in-early-2022/)
OK - it is my church - (Settle Methodist, in the Yorkshire Dales) - but I am really pleased by the enthusiasm of our little group that ran it, and of several outcomes. One is the "ECOmmit" bottle by which people write promises or reports of green things they will do or have done each week.
Some useful links and files
Becoming_an_Eco_Church_-_Audit.pdf
https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/environment-and-climate-change/take-action-celebrate-climate-sunday/
https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/environment-and-climate-change/take-action-become-an-eco-church/
https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/3201/higf-report-and-study-guide-0514.pdf
Climate Justice For All – World Methodist Council
HOME - UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC – Glasgow 2021 (ukcop26.org)