Eco-Congregation Scotland
Caring for God's Creation
Go to Eco-Congregation Scotland Web Pages
Many Christians are concerned to do something about the environment, but don't know where to start. Eco-congregation is a programme supported by the UK churches to help congregations consider environmental issues and make appropriate practical and spiritual responses. We offer resources to help you consider your environmental "footprint", and to discover what you can do, right where you are. The programme is flexible, as each congregation has different opportunities for change.
Some fear that the problems are too big for us to make any difference. We disagree! Small actions add up. Already over 200 congregations across Scotland have begun exploring how they might take part in the scheme. We want many more to join them and are looking for people who are prepared to be a focal point for starting things off in their church, maybe in small ways to begin with..
What have churches done so far?
- Callander Kirk now devotes two services a year to the theme of creation care, carried out a transport survey and publicised the results to encourage people to leave their cars at home and walk to church
- Dalbeattie Parish Church, in partnership with other churches in the town, holds creation-themed services in Dalbeattie Forest as part of Treefest, and has insulated the church roof to save energy
- Baldernock Church has changed to using recycled paper for letters and it's magazine
- Kippen Church Sunday school has looked at life in biblical times and made mini Moses baskets using local willows
- St Saviours, Episcopal Church, Bridge of Allan, has carried out a simple survey of the church grounds and is now planning a bird feeding station and other improvements for local wildlife
- St Fergus Roman Catholic Church in Paisley cleaned up their local area, worked with the Rangers to create new wildlife areas around Paisley, and involved the youth group in many activities
Callander Kirk, Dalbeattie Parish Church and St John's Church Hamilton have all received Eco-congregation Awards in recognition of their valuable creation care work. What could your church do?
The Eco-Congregation Programme
Eco-Congregation Scotland is part of the wider Eco-Congregation Programme in Britain and Ireland. It is recognised by ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) and all main denominations in Scotland. The programme is supported through a partnership between Keep Scotland Beautiful (Associated Company of ENCAMS) and the Society, Religion and Technology Project (SRT) of the Church of Scotland. Eco-Congregation is an ecumenical programme and has the full backing of ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) and all the major Scottish denominations.
The programme is available free of charge to Churches. It has three core components:
- A set of Resource Modules (listed below) designed for use in church life
- A process to provide Support for churches by offering advice, regional workshops, an informative website www.srtp.org.uk/ecocongs.htm, and helping to link churches with appropriate local environmental groups/networks, including their local authority;
- An Award scheme, to recognise the creditable environmental work of Churches
Getting involved
Step 1
: To request an Introduction Pack, including Module 1 'The Church Check-up' and a Registration Form, contact Victoria Beale:
Step 2
: When you receive the Introduction Pack, you should then:
- work through Module 1, the Church Check-up. This helps you to identify and affirm current good environmental practice and prioritise your next initiatives.
- v complete the Resources Order Form with the approval of a church decision-making body and order the resource modules which will best help you to care for creation
Step 3
: Get cracking with your chosen initiatives and work towards gaining the Eco-Congregation Award. We will endeavour to link those churches that would appreciate support with approproate local organisations.
Margaret Warnock of Keep Scotland Beautiful is also available to offer support and advice:
| Phone: |
01786 471333 |
| Email: |
margaret.warnock@encams.org |
| Write: |
Eco-Congregation Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Islay House, Livilands Lane, Stirling, FK8 2BG |
Victoria Beale of the SRT Project and Margaret Warnock of Keep Scotland Beautiful work together to promote Eco-Congregation in Scotland. They are advised by a joint ecumenical steering group formed of representatives from the Churches and Keep Scotland Beautiful. For information, and for ongoing support and advice in registering or implementing the programme, contact either Margaret or Victoria at the above addresses.
(N.B. Victoria and Margaret look after Scottish enquiries. For enquirers from the rest of Britain and Ireland, see the general Eco-Congregation Website)
A Guide to the Eco-Congregation Resource Modules
Grounding in Faith
- Module 1 Church check-up
An aid to identifying a church's current
environmental practice and developing
priorities for action
- Module 2 Celebrating creation!
Ideas and resources for worship
- Module 3 Creation and Christianity
Some green theological perspectives
Growing in Faith
- 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
|
Managing in Faith
- 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
Living in Faith
- Module 10 Green Choices
Information and suggestions to green
personal lifestyles
- Module 11 Community Matters
Ideas to help churches work with,
through and for their local community
- Module 12 Global Neighbours
Sources and resources to help
Churches' think globally and act locally.
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Eco-Congregation Scotland is supported through a partnership between ENCAMS Scotland, the Society, Religion and Technology Project (SRT) and Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) and is funded by the Scottish Executive's Sustainable Action Fund.
SRT Information Sheets
This is an SRT Information Sheet, one of a series aimed at presenting some of the key aspects of current ethical and social issues in technology in simple terms for the non-expert. Other SRT Information Sheets are available on BSE, Car Use and the Environment, Church Energy Conservation Scheme, SRT Environmental Work, Genetically Modified Food, Environmental Risks of GM Crops, Sustainable Agriculture, Patenting, What is Genetic Engineering, Cloning for Therapeutic Purposes, Embryonic Stem Cells, Human Cloning and Animal Cloning.
Return to Top of Page
Go to SRT Home Page
Go to SRT Contents Page
Go to SRT Information Sheets
Go to SRT Eco-Congregation Pages
Action of Churches Together in Scotland, ACTS
Eco-Congregation Website
Ref.No. SCECONG3 Created 19/6/02. Updated 19/6/02.
