Creation Challenge

Gove under fire over threat to axe green schools scheme

Coordinator — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:57:47 +0000

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

Coordinator — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:33:46 +0000

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

Coordinator — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:50:44 +0000

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

Coordinator — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:50:03 +0000

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

Coordinator — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:17:01 +0000

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”

Coordinator — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:15:44 +0000

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

Coordinator — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:10:02 +0000

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

Coordinator — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:10:02 +0000

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.

Congratulations on achieving a 3rd Award have been received from Jonathon Porritt – former Chair of the Government Sustainability Panel and Director of Forum for the Future and local MP Martin Horwood.

“Some organisations describe sustainability as ‘a never-ending journey” writes Jonathon –“and that’s just how it must feel to the Bethesda Community! But three national awards in eight years provides telling recognition of the extraordinary commitment (and creativity) of church members. So the message here is simple: keep lifting up your eyes not just to the hills, but to the solar panels too!”

“This is a fantastic achievement by Bethesda” said Martin. “Their third Eco-award reinforces their green credentials and sets a great example for other community organisations who want to help create a cleaner greener country with more renewable energy and less waste.”

A small group from the church met with the assessors, who were impressed that issues of environment and sustainability were being integrated into all aspects of church life. Reports were heard that Bethesda’s environmental concerns had affected lifestyle choices, with members being encouraged to reduce their personal carbon footprint by recycling more, campaigning against excessive packaging, reducing car travel by walking and cycling where appropriate, and offsetting flights. One member of the group explained that he had also sought to encourage his business clients to become more environmentally friendly in their approach.

Since signing up to the Eco-Congregation Award scheme in 2000, Bethesda has sold almost £20,000 worth of fair-trade goods, it runs a regular “Traidgreen” stall, and has been formally recognised as a FairTrade church. It has distributed 1000s of low energy light bulbs, extended the recycling programme to cover 9 different items, started its own carbon offset scheme, paid for a solar hot water system for an AIDS orphanage in South Africa and provided public showings of films on the subject of climate change.

The Environment Agency asked a panel of experts to come up with the most important actions we could all take to “save the planet”. The second of their 50 recommendations read as follows: “It is time the world’s faith groups took a lead in reminding us that we have a duty to restore and maintain the ecological balance of the planet”. Bethesda has played a leadership role on environmental issues for the best part of a decade and has been described as a “beacon church”. It is now actively sharing its considerable knowledge and experience and encouraging other churches to do likewise.

Join The Big Climate Connection!

Coordinator — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:20:26 +0000

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 Challenge ~ August 2010

Coordinator — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:14:04 +0000

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