Joining the Eco-Movement

By The Revd Canon Hereward Cooke, Diocesan Environment Officer

Christian Ecology Link has just sent me a list of future events dealing with Climate Change and the Environment.  For one month alone there are about 50 major events being staged across the country, from monks in Dorset exploring new ideas, to Archbishop Rowan in York and John Bell from Iona speaking in Wimbledon.  The speed with which these events are arising spontaneously through Christian groups is only matched by the urgency with which the dangers of global warming are engulfing our life-style.
And then, the challenging and much acclaimed film The Age of Stupid will have been launched by the time you read this.   To allow it to be shown as widely as possible across the county, I am hoping to sign up to a special viewing Licence.

So how can we join this rapidly growing movement?   There are two possible ideas.  A PCC can establish itself as an Eco-congregation. St. Cuthbert`s, Sprowston with St Andrew, Beeston, have achieved this status.  They are the first to have taken this step in the Diocese, I think, although St Peter`s Spixworth was Highly Commended in the Church Times Green Church Awards.
An Eco-Congregation can take advantage of the foundations laid by the Christian Portuguese group, A Rocha.  Their UK web-site provides any parish with a choice of several ways of making an environmental stand and incorporating new ideas into the weekly routine of running a Church.  See  www.eco-congregation.org

The second way of playing a part in this movement is to join an e-mail network for the sharing of information and ideas.    As your recently appointed Diocesan Environmental Officer, I am happy to initiate such a network, but would equally do my best not to bombard you with a large number of messages.   Contact me on as below if you would like to join.
The size of the environmental challenge facing the Church may make people question if their contribution amounts to very much. But our shared commitment to be good stewards of God`s beautiful world could add up to something very powerful.

I would like to place on record my appreciation of what my predecessor in the post, Bishop Tony Foottit, has achieved over 5 years in initiating the Diocesan Environmental Group and in organising the agreed Policy and leaflets.