We see and hear these phrases in mission strategies locally and nationally. This page explains what they mean and how we can become more ‘Eco-minded’.
What is Eco Church?
Eco Church is an interdenominational Christian environmental awards scheme for churches, run by A Rocha UK. It is free to join, and easy to register on the Eco Church website.
The scheme provides tools and ideas to help churches integrate their response to environmental issues into worship and teaching, management of church buildings and land, community engagement and lifestyle.
For more information, see the Eco Church leaflet.
Becoming an Eco Church
Registering as an Eco Church is the first step. After this, record and celebrate the environmental activities of your church through responses to the questionnaire, as well as using this to highlight areas where improvements can be made.
Simple actions such as praying for environmental causes, twinning your toilets, championing local and Fairtrade produce, or holding a harvest festival can count towards gaining an Eco Church award.
Don't forget to share your stories and awards with us, others in your Deanery and on our Durham Diocese Care for Creation Facebook page.
St Mary Magdalene Church in Hart Village has become the first church in Durham Diocese to achieve a Gold Eco-Church award. In the video below, they explain how... If you'd like to hear more about their Eco Church journey, you can contact Reverend Janet on janetb_231@hotmail.co.uk, or read about it on their website here.
Eco Church Training webinars
There are a number of Church of England Environment Programme training webinars to watch online on Eco Church. Links to recordings are given below.
Working towards an award and maintaining momentum
This webinar is aimed at people in churches who have registered for Eco Church and taken their first steps, but need a little help to get things going and work towards their Bronze award. Watch the recordings here.
What is Eco Diocese?
Eco Diocese is part of the wider Eco Church scheme.
The Diocese of Durham has registered to become an Eco Diocese and to attain our Bronze award we need 10% of our churches registered and 5% of our churches in receipt of awards. Each church that registers as an Eco Church is a step closer to Durham becoming an Eco Diocese.
In addition, the whole Diocese is required to reach Eco-Church Bronze Award standards for its management of buildings and land. There is also a requirement for ethical investment of diocesan funds and for the inclusion of ‘Care for Creation’ in training for ministry.