This week we were asked to talk to our PCC/leadership about how we might improve our relationship with creation.
I would love to think that we could start to look at Ecochurch, but this is just not on our agenda at the moment. We are currently focussed on making sure we can keep the church open after a worrying quinquenial report. You could say that ultimately everything we are doing is about safeguarding creation in that it is about making the building safe for worship and use. We currently need extensive electrical work, which will also lead to decommissioning some very inefficient heaters, so hopefully this will reduce our energy consumption. This is reliant on funding, and the immediate future is not entirely clear.
Furthermore we are waiting on a survey and an action plan to maintain our trees. There will have to be some pruning, so perhaps we can make a habitat pile in the corner of the graveyard with some of the brush to encourage wildlife to lodge with us.
All our rubbish is taken home, so we will look to recycle what we can. We tend to car share when this is appropriate, and I car share when I go to deanery synod or bible study groups in a neighbouring parish.
Later in the year, provided we are open, I hope to prepare a wildflower display, based on the survey Phillip did of our graveyard, and perhaps prepare a nature treasure hunt for our younger visitors. Hopefully we will be able to hold our annual Flower festival at the end of August.
There is a dialogue for me to have with our vicar about what else we can do, but I feel at this point it will be more about trying to take people along with me, rather than us deciding to work together as a PCC on environmental issues.
Amanda
Hi Amanda, It's great that you have focus on this, and I recognize challenges you are facing. As an offer, let's have a chat about how you can use some of the Eco church work we are doing ( for others info, we are in the same benefice) and how we can share what's been done so you don't have to start from scratch. I've taken a step by step approach which seems to work best vs big changes all at once! We should be at Bronze level for our Eco church work soon, and I've learnt lots about the scheme that I'm happy to share.
Oh dear Amanda I'm sorry to hear about the problems facing your church. You can see how the environment issues get put on the back burner when you have such problems with the structure of your church. People will obviously focus on doing the necessary work just to keep your church open which I presume wont be cheap and if your anything like our church you wont have the funds available to carry out the work.
what is really touching is that in the midst of all this trouble you are still doing your bit for the environment by doing your recycling and car sharing. Well done Amanda your a inspiration and I'll be praying for you and your church
Chris
Well, I have managed to talk to our vicar and she agrees that at the moment we are not ready to focus on this. She suggested I take the time while I'm 'waiting' to look at what other churches in our benefice are doing. Some are already looking at Ecochurch, and by informing myself I may be able to present a range of options to my PCC when the time is right. So that is what I will do....
Amanda