a rocha eco-congregation (usa) module 1€¦ · web viewan environmental toolkit for churches....

an environmental toolkit for churches

Module 1 Church check-up

A Rocha Eco-congregation is an ecumenical program to help churches make the link between environmental issues and their Christian faith and respond in practical action in the church and

wider community.Eco-congregation (USA) is a project of A Rocha USA, a 501(c) organization

A Rocha USA, PO Box 1338, Fredericksburg TX 78624830.522.5319 / [email protected] / www.arocha-usa.org

mailto:[email protected]

Module 1 – Church check-up of 23

Introduction..........................................................................................................................3Step 1 Getting started.................................................................................................................................3Step 2 Get going!.......................................................................................................................................3Step 3 Go for an Award.............................................................................................................................3

How to complete the check-up................................................................................................................4Module 2 – Celebrating Creation!................................................................................................................5Module 3 – Creation and Christianity..........................................................................................................6Module 4 – Acorns to Oaks (for children)...................................................................................................7Module 5 – Tread Gently, Go Green (youth work)......................................................................................8Module 6 – Exploring God’s Green Word...................................................................................................9Module 7 – Greening the Cornerstone.......................................................................................................10Module 8 – Greening the Purse Strings......................................................................................................12Module 9 – Planting and Conserving Eden................................................................................................14Module 10 – Green Choices.......................................................................................................................15Module 11 – Community Matters..............................................................................................................16Module 12 - Global Neighbors...................................................................................................................17Module 13 – Climate Change.....................................................................................................................18Summary and Action Plan..........................................................................................................................20

About A Rocha Eco-congregation........................................................................................................23


Introduction

The Eco-congregation environmental check-up is designed to help churches to…

1. Identify and affirm their existing environmental ministry2. Prioritize what they would like to do next, and find the resources to help them

achieve their goal.

Step 1 Getting started

Form a small group to work through the check-up and prioritize your first steps. Eco-congregation offers resources to support your chosen priorities – in the check-up section, below, each of the sections (2 to 13) has an associated module. To order your choice of modules free of charge, complete the form with:

Contact details An affirmation your church has undertaken the check-up, or a comparable audit Your church’s choice of resource modules

Step 2 Get going!

When you’ve downloaded the modules you’re interested in, share them with the appropriate people/groups in your church, review them together, and work on the development and implementation of your plans.

Step 3 Go for an Award

Churches that undertake initiatives with spiritual, practical and community aspects are encouraged to apply for the Eco-congregation Award. Keep a record of your church’s environmental activities to aid any application.

“ Individual actions may seem insignificant but together the small steps of many people can have an astonishing impact.Each person’s joyful choices can be avisible example to others and give themcourage to follow.”

The Call of Creation, Catholic Bishops’Conference of England and Wales, 2002

‘When I came to Colossians 1:15 – 20, I was convicted. If Christ creates all things and His blood reconciles all things, how can I treat the rest of creation with indifference or even contempt? For years I had missed the important theme in Scripture that we are called to be stewards, to care for the rest of God’s creation.”

Jim Ball, ‘Global Warming and the Risen Lord’, page 21 (2010)


How to complete the check-up

Use the following sections to identify your church’s current environmental good practice and future priorities.

For some questions you may wish to check more than one box (e.g. an environmental feature may be present but also have the potential to be further developed). There is space to write additional notes on each section if you would like to, but it is not essential. Skip those sections or check boxes that aren’t relevant for your church.


Module 2 – Celebrating Creation!Worship is the prime focus of Christian life from which the Church’s life and mission flows. Dunblane Cathedral held a St Francis’ Tide service focusing on creation care which included an act of commitment by the whole church to care better for God’s creation. This section is designed to help you identify how thankfulness and concern for God’s creation are expressed in your worship.

How regularly during the year are environmental concerns included in worship?

Never Occasionally Only at special services Frequently e.g. Harvest Festival, Rogation Sunday,

Conservation Sunday (1st Sunday in June), St Francis’ Day (4th October), One World Week

In your church’s prayer life do you:(check any that apply to your church)

Praise God the creator Say sorry for the harm done to the environment

Give thanks to God for the gift of creation Pray for the healing of creation

Does your church connect with God’s gift of creation through worship?(check any that apply to your church)

Through occasional outdoor services through prayer walks

Using natural materials within worship choosing organic bread and wine

Does your church sing hymns or songs that celebrate the wonder of creation and express the calling to care for the environment?

Regularly On special Sundays Hardly ever

Notes:

Module 2, ‘Celebrating Creation’ contains ideas and resources for worship teams and leaders – including skits, reflections, prayers and hymns.


Module 3 – Creation and ChristianityTheology is concerned with giving and exploring a rational and orderly account of Christian belief, drawing on Biblical studies, Church tradition and history, ethics and the context in which the Church is present. Does your church:

Yes No Has potential to develop

Have access to Christian environmental resources

Participate in or organize study/exploration events that include environmental issues?

Include creation/environmental issues in its teaching or preaching program?

Notes:

Module 3, ‘Creation and Christianity’ contains (a) some Creation Care testimonies from churches to inspire you, (b) reflections, based on the Creation stories in Genesis, on how Christians must view the natural world, and (c) further ideas from both the Old and New Testaments.


Module 4 – Acorns to Oaks (for children)Christian work with children can inform, inspire and encourage youngsters as they grow in faith. Use the check-up to identify if your children’s program (kindergarten and grade school) includes environmental issues and the potential for developing this ministry:

Category of activity Sometimes Never Has potential to (check those that apply to your church) develop

Junior Church/Sunday School

Scouts, Guides, Brownies, etc

Playgroups

After school/holiday clubs

In school

All age worship

Notes:

Module 4, ‘Acorns to oaks’ includes inspiration and ideas for incorporating indoor and outside environmental activities in children’s work


Module 5 – Tread Gently, Go Green (youth work)Churches undertake a range of youth work including groups meeting on Sundays, church and open youth groups, and organizations like the Scouts (particularly Eagle Scouts). If your church undertakes youth work, review your existing activities and consider future possibilities:

Have Could Activitiesdone consider

Hold a debate on environmental issues and personal responsibility

Develop creation-care material to offer in worship

Undertake a practical environmental/conservation project

Arrange hikes in a local park or nature reserve

Organize an environmentally focused community event (with young people from the whole community)

Assess how environmentally friendly the church is and make recommendations for action

Notes:

Module 5, ‘Tread gently – go green’ has ideas and activities for youth work.


Module 6 – Exploring God’s Green Word

Church is a place where people can grow in faith from cradle to grave. Relating key topics, like environmental issues, with Christian thinking can be inspirational and faith-affirming. What opportunities are or could be available for your church:

Have Could done consider

Undertake an environmental Bible study Invite a speaker on environmental issues Organize/participate in a creation-care Lent group

Notes:

Module 6, ‘Exploring God’s green word’ starts with an address by John Stott, and follows that with Bible studies ideal for small group discussion, as well as for homilies.


Module 7 – Greening the Cornerstone

Good stewardship of energy and maintenance issues can both reduce your church’s impact on the environment and save your church money, particularly in the long-term. Assess your churches current environmental stewardship of property (sanctuary, halls, clergy housing) and the potential for developing this:

Have Could Energy- heating, air conditioning and lightdone consider

Monitor energy consumption monthly to check trends

Switch to ‘green’ electricity (electricity from renewable sources)

Regularly service AC/heating system

Plan meetings to minimize AC/heating use

Heating and air conditioning systems with modern thermostats

Commission an energy/environmental consultation

Install appropriate levels of insulation where appropriate

Encourage building users to switch off unnecessary lights and not leave items on stand-by (e.g., copy machine)

Replace cracked or broken windowpanes

Install low-energy light bulbs (CFLs, LEDs) where appropriate

Have Could Waterdone consider

Check water outlets – fix drips and leaks

Install water-saving devices e.g. dual flush toilets and low spray flow or auto turn-off taps

Collect rainfall from down pipes for use in landscaped and wild areas


Have Could Building maintenancedone consider

Choose timber from sustainably managed forests, and reclaimed materials where appropriate

Notes:

Module 7, ‘Greening the cornerstone’ includes ideas and sources of resources to help churches put God’s House in green order, with practical examples on how to save both water and energy…as well as many testimonies from churches like your own, on their initiatives and successes.


Module 8 – Greening the Purse Strings

Churches are responsible for the good stewardship of money and a range of consumables. Use this section to assess your church’s existing good practice and identify issues for consideration and action:

Have Could Financial management & purchasing policydone consider

Have an ethical investment policy for any savings

Use environmentally-friendly cleaning materials & paint

Purchase recycled paper and envelopes

Purchase fairly-traded products (e.g. tea and coffee)

Use local suppliers where possible(so promoting a sustainable local economy and reducing transportation)

Have Could Cateringdone consider

Use durable plates and cups rather than disposable ones

Use farmers markets and other local suppliers(to promote local economy and reduce food miles)

Have Could Waste minimizationdone consider

Collection facilities for recycling items that church members, building users or local community can use (e.g. paper, cans, spectacles, stamps, printer cartridges, clothes, shoes)

Hold rummage sales to raise funds, recycle goods and promote the availability of goods at affordable prices


Notes:

Module 8, ‘Greening the purse strings’ includes ideas for good stewardship of financial, catering and purchasing matters including Fair Trade ideas for food, flowers and other key areas.


Module 9 – Planting and Conserving Eden

Many churches are responsible for land varying in size from a tiny patch to a large acreage. Use this section to assess the ecological value, value to the community and attractiveness of your church’s plot and the potential to develop it:

Present Potential to develop

Management that is wildlife-friendly (e.g. minimal use of weed killers and pesticides, leaving some areas unmown, valuing old trees, hedges, walls and stones)

Native plant species and plants that benefit wildlife (e.g. flowers used by moths and butterflies, berry-bearing trees for birds)

Other features to benefit wildlife (e.g. bird feeding station, nest boxes, bat boxes, piles of leaves and log pile)

Visually attractive planting/features

Area for prayer/contemplation/outdoor worship

Area for recreation

Notes:

Module 9, ‘Planting and conserving Eden’ includes ideas, inspiration and sources of resources for churches to:- assess the ecological value of their land and develop a management plan- improve the community benefit or wildlife value of their plot …- …again, with numerous practical examples and references.


Module 10 – Green Choices

More people attend church week by week than participate with any other voluntary body. Use this section to assess what your church is currently doing to encourage individuals to green their lifestyle and the potential to develop this mission

Have Could Greening personal lifestyledone consider

Publish green tips in the church bulletin or parish magazine

Promote awareness through posters or information from environmental organizations (e.g. home energy audit)

Encourage recycling by providing collection points or informing people of civic facilities

Notes:

Module 10, ‘Green choices’ includes extensive information and tips for every member of your congregation - to help preserve God’s creation by adopting a greener lifestyle.


Module 11 – Community Matters

Churches can work with and through their local community to improve their neighborhood. Assess the links that your Church already has in the local community and the potential for further development.

Have Could Community outreach/missiondone consider

Link with community and other faith organizations

Advise building users of your environmental concerns and request that they utilize any environmental facilities (e.g., recycling)

Participate in local environmental initiatives

Draw on links that members have with environmental bodies e.g. Audubon, Nature Conservancy, A Rocha

Support or initiate community schemes with a positive environmental element

Notes:

Module 11, ‘Community Matters’ includes stories, ideas and further contacts for undertaking work with and through local communities and other faith organizations.


Module 12 - Global Neighbors

Living simply that others may simply live is a critical facet of Christian life. What does or can your church do to benefit the environment and people across the world?


Support the work of Christian development agencies

Promote fair trade

Explore environmental issues through any linked or twinned overseas community or church

Support the work of international conservation groups

Notes:


Module 12, ‘Global neighbors’ includes ideas and contacts to help churches think and act locally to promote environmental care globally

Module 13 – Climate Change

Climate change should be everyone’s concern. How aware is your church of the issues, of its effects on all of us but especially the ‘least of these’…and about what it can do to not contribute as much to the problem?


Prayed about and discussed climate change

Measured our carbon footprint

Encouraged parishioners to look at their own energy use

Started a parish-wide energy/footprint reduction initiative

Notes:


Module 13, ‘Climate Change’ includes ideas and challenges for us all to reduce our impact on the climate


Summary and Action PlanWhat is your church already doing to care for creation?

What are the first three things you would like to do to improve your care of creation and which modules will help you tackle them?

Actions Modules to order

1. Something ‘spiritual’:

2. Something practical:

3. Something to reach out:


Registration form

Please complete this form stating:

1. Your contact and church details2. Your choice of modules (below)3. That you have worked through the church’s environmental check-up or a comparable audit

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Full Name of Church:

Denomination:

Contact Person:

Address of Contact Person:

City, State, zip:

Tel:

Fax:

E-mail:

Size of Church (members/regular worshippers) Under 50 51-200 200+

Location: Rural Suburban Town/City Centre

I affirm that environmental issues/caring for God’s creation form part of our church’s life and mission and that we have worked through the church environmental check-up in module 1 or a comparable environmental audit

Name of Church Officer …………………………………..……………….

Signature of Church Officer ...........................…………………………...


Eco-congregation resources order form

Please check the modules that your church would like to receive:

‘Spiritual’: addressing worship and teaching:

Module 2 Celebrating creation Ideas and resources for worship

Module 3 Creation and Christianity Some green theological perspectives

Module 4 Acorn to oaks Ideas and activities for children’s work

Module 5 Tread gently – go green Ideas and activities for youth groups

Module 6 Exploring God’s green word An address and two sets of Bible Studies for house groups

Practical: buildings, land and church management Module 7 Greening the cornerstone

Guidelines on caring for Church premises

Module 8 Greening the purse strings Management of financial, catering and purchasing matters

Module 9 Planting and conserving Eden Practical ideas and advice to care for Church grounds and land

Mission: reaching out locally and globally Module 10 Green choices Information and suggestions to green personal lifestyles

Module 11 Community mattersIdeas to help Churches work with, through and for their local community

Module 12 Global neighbors Sources and resources to help Churches think globally and act locally.

Module 13 Climate Change Identifying the problem and reducing our carbon footprint

When you have e-mailed this form to us ([email protected]), please download the modules you want here. If you would prefer hard copies, please ask.

Churches may freely photocopy modules

http://arocha-usa.org/eco-congregation/eco-congregation-modules



Could your church support Eco-congregation financially? This would greatly help the development of the program. Please make any check payable to ‘A Rocha USA’ and send to the address below. Thank you.

About A Rocha Eco-congregation

A Rocha Eco-congregation is an ecumenical program to help churches make the link between environmental issues and their Christian faith - and respond in practical action in the church and wider community. It is run in churches in Britain and Ireland, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere, and provides free resources, support and an Award scheme to help churches to considerEco-congregation (USA) is a project of A Rocha USA, a 501(c) organization. A Rocha (www.arocha.org) is a Christian nature conservation organization operating in over nineteen countries, our name coming from the Portuguese for “the Rock,” as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha projects are frequently cross-cultural in character, and share a community emphasis, with a focus on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education.

A Rocha USA, PO Box 1338, Fredericksburg TX 78624830.522.5319 / [email protected] / www.arocha-usa.org


http://www.arocha.org/

a rocha eco-congregation (usa) module 1€¦ · web viewan environmental toolkit for churches....

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