How are you going to do it?

Projects and events: You will want to make environmental issues real in the life of the parish, and so you will want to do something, both one-offs and on-going projects. Of course they will have among their aims the objective of making a difference, but it is so important they are also fun! People can so easily feel gloomy and guilty about the environment, but we can have confidence in God's forgiveness and resurrection power. This means we can relax into what needs to be done and enjoy it. These projects should begin small, probably only one or two to begin with. Gradually, over a few years, more of a profile of activities can build up within a parish.

The Eco-Congregation framework is strongly recommend. This was a joint Government and churches initiative, now held by A Rocha, to help congregations go greener. It is a modular programme. The first module helps a parish to do an audit of what it is already doing and where its priorities lie. Part of this is a brainstorming session of throwing into the ring lots of ideas and seeing which excites the imagination and energy the most. So the parish then prayerfully selects one or two topics to work at. Then, after a year or two, when several things are underway, the parish applies for an Award in recognition of what it is doing.

Easy first steps: Projects do not have to be extra work. Things that are already part of parish life can just adjust to take on a greener tinge.

• For example, people can refer to the non-human creation much more in the intercessions or in sermons – or just hold a service outdoors.
• Or they may be only a little extra work such as incorporating parish magazine articles from Christian Ecology Link (CEL) into the parish's own publication each month.
• The more exciting projects will take effort and commitment, but the rewards will be commensurate.

An environmental policy: Down the line, the PCC could adopt an environmental policy.

Resources:

• To join the Eco-Congregation programme in England and Wales and obtain the first module: http://ew.ecocongregation.org/
  
• For guidance on drafting a parish environmental policy see Chelmsford diocesan website: http://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/ (look under environment)
  
• To download the monthly magazine article from CEL: www.christian-ecology.org.uk/chmag.htm
• Oxford diocesan magazine "The Door" has a regular eco-column: http://www.oxford.anglican.org/the-door/eco-column/

Related Links

• Why does it matter to you?
• Who's going to get involved?
• Do you want some help?
• Who's had a go already?
• Is it serious then?
• How are you going to do it?
• What do you want to start with?
• Forthcoming events