Join The Big Climate Connection!
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is calling for people across the UK to connect with others in their communities and lobby their MPs on climate change on 5th-6th November. Read more
Creation Flourishing – a time for celebration and care
Observe a time for creation, between 1 September and 4 October, for the protection of God’s creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has put together a programme of resources to encourage and assist churches to observe a Time for Creation in 2010. Our theme this year is Creation Flourishing – A time for Celebration and Care, linking into the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. Read more
Gove under fire over threat to axe green schools scheme
The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has been urged not to “jeopardise green education” after threatening to axe a scheme aimed at creating sustainable schools.
The news comes after the government controversially cut the schools rebuilding programme and axed a scheme to create 5,000 green work experience placements. Now the Department for Education looks set to drop the Sustainable School Strategy.
The plan was condemned by People & Planet and Friends of the Earth. Read more
Churches commit to sustainable environmental development
In a message honouring the Day for Creation, 1 September 2010, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I has expressed his hope that the financial and economic crisis experienced by many societies would bring about “a powerful change in direction, to a path of viable and sustainable environmental development.”
Churches from a broad range of countries and traditions will participate with prayers and other activities in the Time for Creation over the next 40 days. Read more
Church of Scotland opposes coal-fired power station
One of the most senior Church of Scotland ministers has written to the Scottish Government, urging it to consider carefully the impact plans for a new power station that will, the Kirk claims, undermine the Scottish Government’s plans to reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint. Read more
Coalition goes ‘backwards’ on green energy
Environmental groups have accused the government of going “backwards”, after ministers delayed plans to introduce an Environmental Performance Standard (EPS) for power companies. Read more
Merchants of Doubt
This book describes how a handful of senior, highly influential scientists in the United States have worked over the past 30 or 40 years to obscure the truth on the issues of Smoking and Cancer, Acid Rain, Ozone destruction and Global Warming. The way they used their high level political and industrial contacts and their effective manipulation of the media makes chilling reading. Read more
Christians are “called to care for creation”
The wholeness of creation and the commitment for justice are two biblical insights that have guided ecumenical concern on climate change, say the editors of the latest issue of The Ecumenical Review, published under the title, “Churches Caring for Creation and Climate Justice”. Read more
The Cosmic Walk
Experience the awesomeness of the universe and the uniqueness of each human life.
This ritual was designed to give a sense of the awesomeness of time and space in the universe, the unfolding of human history, and the uniqueness of each human life. You can change it to make it relevant to your own society. Read more
Bethesda Methodist Church receives 3rd Eco Award
Bethesda Methodist Church in Cheltenham has been granted its third national Eco-award and become only the 3rd church in England to receive this honour. Since collecting its first award in 2003, followed by a 2nd in 2008 the church has continued to develop its environmental programme and is widely known as an “eco-church”. The independent assessment was carried out by Climate Change & Transition Town campaigner Jerry Barr and Rev Dr Simon Topping – founder and director of the Green Cross Coop. Simon will present the award plaque at a special service on October 10th. Read the rest of this entry →
Creation Challenge ~ August 2010
Creation Challenge newsletter
Welcome to the August edition of Creation Challenge!
Don’t forget you still have time to book and come along to Greenbelt over the Bank Holiday weekend and visit our stand and all the environmental organisations featured in the G Source exhibition tent. http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/
Also resources are available from CTBI to help you celebrate a time for creation, between 1 September and 4 October. The theme this year is Creation Flourishing – A time for Celebration and Care, linking into the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. CTBI Resources
The network exists to support the work of individuals and churches throughout our denominations so please share any news, tips, experiences or questions that you have where churches’ and your own engagement with the environment are concerned.
Best wishes,
Dave Coaker, Creation Challenge, Coordinator
