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Diocesan Environmental Policy

We are all aware of the debate about the future of the environment. The press on almost daily basis publish reports on important issues like global warming, carbon emissions and other many other elements of the ongoing debate about the environment.

The Church can play an important role in the discussions not the least because we believe in a creator God who gives us stewardship of that creation. It is important that we reflect theologically on the issues whilst also seeking to identify what we can do in our buildings to make them more environmentally friendly.

In addition we need to be asking ourselves and everyone in our churches what we can each do to help improve the environment. The personal cost being offset against what we can contribute to a better world.

On 10 March 2007 the Diocesan Synod received and voted for a Diocesan Environmental Policy, which commits us all to action over the coming years.

If you want further information on the policy or want to think about what your parish can respond to the issues please contact Barry Goodwin the Diocesan Environmental Officer (DEO) barry.goodwin@southwark.anglican.org 

As more resources and practical advice become available further links will be added to these pages.

Enviro-News
The Diocesan Environmental E-newsletter:
Issue 1
Issue 2
Issue 3
Issue 4

• Environmental Policy (see below)
• Background Paper (see below)

Diocesan Environmental Conference
• Report (PDF file)

‘For Creed and Creation’
This easy to read booklet on ‘running a greener church’, and endorsed by the London Church Leaders Group, has been distributed to parishes across the diocese. A limited number of copies are available from the DEO or the text can be downloaded from the link below.

• ‘For Creed and Creation’ (PDF file)

News from the parishes

‘How big is your (carbon) footprint?’
From ‘The Bridge, June 2007

This is a question that the congregation at St John the Baptist, Old Malden, has been asking as part of St John’s ‘Carbon Footprint’ project. Marilyn Burkett, the Reader, who is leading the project says that concern about climate change, global warming and the impact of our CO2 emissions has led to this initiative. “The effects are not just environmental or economic – but moral and ethical too.

We already promote and use FairTrade products at St John’s. We have put together a questionnaire to help us calculate our own footprints and then compare the results with the national average. “Over the coming months,
we hope to implement our ‘Green Travel Policy’ and consider additional ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint within the congregation and in the wider community. So if we are able to shrink our footprint, we can all contribute to slowing down and then reducing global climate change”.

Chris Beales, of St John's, with posters he has produced for the campaign.

Photographs of Chris’s posters are available as JPEG files from the links below. Please acknowledge Chris Beales as the author in any use of the images.


 

‘Shrinking the Footprint’
In 2005, General Synod debated Sharing God’s Planet, the report from The Mission and Public Affairs Division of the Archbishop’s Council, which, among other things, asked for a report on a measured reduction in energy consumption of the Church of England in 2008. The Synod called upon the whole Church to engage with the issues of climate change and energy use at every level in the Church.

All parish churches have been invited to carry out an audit of current energy uses so that a benchmark can be established. Once the size of the current 'carbon footprint' of the Church has been assessed, the campaign will roll out initiatives to shrink that footprint. The Audit Pack has two main elements: a short questionnaire for the recording of the units of energy used by churches and other essential information and a mini-audit designed to provide an easy way for parishes to review their activity. The audit is primarily directed at parish churches, but could be adapted for other buildings. More information on ‘Shrinking the Footprint’ can be found at www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org 

• Link to questionnaire (PDF file)
• Link to audit (PDF file)

London Churches Environmental Network (LCEN)
The London Churches Environmental Network was launched in May 2007 to continue the work of LondonSCARE. SCARE was originally set up to promote awareness in the Diocese of Southwark of our Christian responsibility to care for the environment. It was later joined by representatives of London Diocese to become LondonSCARE with the two dioceses working together to energise the Church into taking its environmental responsibilities seriously.

The purpose of the network will be to ensure that the technical knowledge and environmental expertise of many of London’s church members is made readily available to all churches across London and widen its ecumenical value.

Its remit will be to hold occasional seminars and lectures and other events on environmental issues, and to act as a ginger group to keep before the London churches our Christian responsibility to honour the fact that “the earth is the Lord’s”, to live accordingly and to accept that part of the mission of the church is caring for the earth’s resources and ensuring that they become shared more equally among all peoples in justice and peace.

If you would like to be kept informed of future meetings of LCEN then please contact barry.goodwin@southwark.anglican.org

LondonSCARE / LCEN have commissioned a series of studies by Professor Sam Berry on God’s word in Creation and Redemption.
Entitled ‘Whose World’ the studies have two aims:

• To show that creation care is an integral part of the Christian faith. It is not merely an option for a minority.
• To demonstrate that we have a part to play, however implausible this may seem in view of the scale of the problems.

The studies can be downloaded from here:

• Link to ‘Whose World’ (PDF file)

Diocese of Southwark Environmental Policy

The Diocese of Southwark through its central structures, deaneries and parishes is committed to:

1. Affirming the fifth mark of mission ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’ as a central part of our worship, life, work and mission.
2. Supporting the Diocesan Environmental Officer in encouraging discussion of environmental concerns. Working in partnership with the Diocesan Communications Department to ensure that information is easily accessible.
3. Taking our environmental footprint fully into account in our mission, worship, study and education, training, pastoral, administrative and other programmes and projects. Reviewing on a regular basis our individual (church members) and corporate footprint (central structures and parishes).
4. Increasing awareness of environmental issues within our parishes and communities whether urban, suburban or rural. Wherever appropriate working with local authorities and other organisations in developing appropriate action.
5. Maintaining up to date information on the social, economic, ethical and theological elements of environmental issues.
6. Introducing environmental audits of all premises and properties over a period of 5 years. Advice and guidelines for Audits will be given to parishes.
7. Encouraging individuals and parishes to consider the environmental impact on all future plans.
8. Taking into consideration the potential financial implications that will arise from changes both for the life style of individual Christians and within parishes and diocesan structures.
9. Publicly and consistently challenging society and government to confront the obstacles to sustainability that are presented by the consumer lifestyle and by the growth economy.
10. Holding a formal review debate and discussion in the Diocesan Synod on the environmental policy and associated issues every three years

Social Responsibility and Regeneration Working Group March 2007

Environmental Policy background paper

Item 1

• “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth” The 5th Mark of Mission (for further details see below) is the starting point for theological reflection and action on the environment. At the heart of the commitment is ‘the creation covenant’ in which God binds all together - all living beings, and the earth itself - into a web of inter-relatedness. Genesis 9.8-11 Isaiah 24.4-5 Hosea 2.8-23 2 Corinthians 5.17 2 Peter 3.13. The policy seeks to reflect a theological understanding of creation which recognises that we are called to be stewards.

Item 2

• The Diocesan Environmental Officer (DEO) will report on a regular basis to the Chair of the Social Responsibility and Regeneration Working Group. S/He will in addition be supported by the Working Group who will monitor progress and ensure that the policy is being taken forward.

Item 3

• It is proposed that parishes be encouraged to give serious consideration to the environment in their teaching and worship. Guidelines on how to review the footprint will be available and both parishes and individuals will be encouraged to keep discussion of the issues on their agenda. (See 6 below)

Items 4 & 5

• We intend to address the issue of increasing awareness of environmental issues by a regular email newsletter also made available though the Diocesan website. Practical advice will be given alongside regular theological reflection upon the social, economic and ethical elements of environmental issues.
• Information and examples of good practice obtained through established networks (e.g. the Diocesan Environmental Officers (DEO) Network and The London Churches Environmental Network which will replace London SCARE in 2007) and other organisations will be summarised and circulated.
• We will encourage parishes to make use of materials already available from the following organisations and the many others dealing with environmental issues from a faith and non-faith perspective:
• Christian Ecology Link (CEL, 3 Bond Street, Lancaster LA1 3ER. Tel: 01524 33858. Website: www.christian-ecology.org.uk and particularly the Operation Noah campaign,
  www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah/
• Eco-congregation (The Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ Tel: 02476 853061. Website: www.ecocongregation.org
• The Conservation Foundation (1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. Tel: 0207 591 3111. Website: www.conservationfoundation.co.uk who publish ‘Parish Pumps’)
• Shrinking the footprint – The initiative organised by the Church of England National Environmental Strategy Group, www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org 
• John Ray Initiative connecting Environment, Science and Christianity, www.jri.org.uk
• During late Spring 2007 each parish in the Diocese will receive a copy of a church environmental guide being produced jointly by the Diocese of London and The Conservation Foundation. It is to be endorsed by the London Church Leaders group and churches will be given an option to obtain more.
• We will encourage parishes to contribute with other faith groups to local authority policies on energy conservation and recycling. Experience in Tower Hamlets, Bexley and Croydon has shown the value for local authorities and faith communities in dialogue and collaborative working.
• We will explore the possibility of holding an Environmental Conference during 2007.

Item 6

• In addition to the environmental audits already being used as part of the ‘Shrinking the Footprint’ initiative, a more comprehensive audit, available from Eco-congregation, is being adapted for Diocesan use. This is presently being piloted alongside the draft environmental policy in four parishes and the findings will be made available with a revised version later in the year.

Item 7 & 8

• The DEO will work with parishes and diocesan structures to consider the environmental impact of all activities. Examples of good practice, and working policies developed in local contexts around energy conversation, transport and recycling will be made available for wider use. The DEO will work closely with officers of the Diocesan Advisory Committee and Property Department to provide practical advice on environmental issues such as heating and lighting and the financial implications of any new building legislation.
• In addition, individuals will be encouraged to consider their life style and its effect on the environment. It is also important that opportunities are found to challenge government and society at large to take environmental decline seriously.

Item 9

• The issues that arise from a concern for the environment can not be separated from the wider political dimension. To ensure change it is important that Christians are active in pursuing greater sustainability and challenging the consumerism that is prevalent within society. It is important that in this context that understanding be developed on the economic that underpin continuous growth.

Item 10

• It is important that the policy is used to stimulate continuous reflection and action. To this end a review every three years by the Diocesan synod will ensure that action is being taken and that the policy continues to underpin the actions that are being promoted.

Appendix
The Five Marks of Mission of the Worldwide Anglican Communion

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
• To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
• To respond to human need by loving service
• To seek to transform unjust structures of society
• To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

(Bonds of Affection-1984 ACC-6 p49, Mission in a Broken World-1990 ACC-8 p101)
Endorsed by the General Synod on February 14 1996

Social Responsibility and Regeneration Working Group
March 2007


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