Mission
The Church of England has committed to work towards net zero carbon after a motion by General Synod.
Our target date is 2030.
This is because we know emissions of carbon dioxide - and other green house gases, need to be reduced to arrest the damage we are doing to the planet.
They are currently rising and are above the target for carbon dioxide 350 parts per million (ppm) at 420ppm [June 2022].
To do this we have to rethink how we operate our buildings.
Six principles are to:
- maintain buildings
- buy renewable
- waste less
- electric not gas/oil
- generate more
- offset the rest
How is Net Zero measured?
Energy use (oil, gas, electricity) + fuel (travel)= gross carbon footprint.
From that value we takeaway 100% renewable energy and carbon offset/sequestration.
This calculation gives us ‘net zero’ carbon figure.
Which energy providers count as renewable?
>> View this list issued by the Church of England
A fuller and more technical explanation, resources and film are available.
Renewable energy generation
Generating our own electricity is a solution that should be seriously considered. The aim of the recent The way finder project is a pilot study looking at high energy use buildings and how to get them to net zero. It has advice for people responsible for all sizes of building.
Net zero webinars - include the Wayfinder project [this is a pilot of renewables on a range of Cof E buildings and plans for net zero on these premises, commissioned by General Synod], heating, lighting, solar panels, EV car charging, and more.
They are available as a single YouTube playlist here.
Many of our buildings can be used more sustainably by adjusting in ways that are simpler. There are case studies and guidance available.
There are renewables case studies and you can search for local churches with existing renewables on the renewables map.
If your church is considering replacing a boiler and want to review renewable options, please consult Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) colleagues as you deliberate.
>> CofE sustainable buildings national guidance
Smaller churches might also like to see a film from a group of rural churches in the Diocese of Leeds: https://youtu.be/13LF_waQFpU
Beginning
Practical path to net zero
The practical path to Net Zero is a two page checklist and a great place to start.
Download the Practical Path to Net Zero here.
The Energy Footprint Tool or EFT
Measure your parish carbon footprint now to set a baseline measurement. This can be done simply using the parish return system, the resource from the Church of England. Go to your where you add your normal Stats for Mission return or see Energy Footprint Tool | The Church of England. This is currently closed for analysis and will be live from January 2023 to end of July 2023.
To measure your personal energy footprint see: WWF Footprint Calculator The UK average is just over 12 and to meet our target to get to net zero by 2045 10.5. We aim to reduce this towards a fair share globally which would be 1 tonne which would require a huge change of current infrastructures.
Carbon Literacy
Although embedded carbon footprint isn’t current measured, we need to know about it. A very rough guide it is related to cost, so make large expenditure decisions slower and research them thoughtfully.
This autumn 2022, we intend to increase Carbon Literacy amongst the Diocese of Derby leadership. This is externally accredited training.
Resources are available at: Home - Centre for Alternative Technology (cat.org.uk) and Climate Stewards.
Offsetting
Climate Stewards is one place you can use to calculate offset to get to net zero carbon.
Link to Climate Stewards: Climate Stewards
The advice is to keep the percentage of offset as low as you possibly can. If you have got to Net Zero Carbon this should become your target.
Action Packs
Routemap Net zero carbon routemap now has specific tools for different organisations:
Where to get help locally
John Beardmore, is an engineer and adviser on renewables for the DAC John@T4sLtd.co.uk John.
Funding
>> Diocese of Derby funding resources
Map of renewables CoEngland.
Please add your example to the map. The CofE is seeking renewables, transport and community engagement case studies from this area.
Contact
Diocesan Environmental Engagement Officer. [vacant]
Take a moment to read the May issue of Green Ideas.
The next local Environment Network is being rescheduled. It is open to anyone in a parish with an interest.
Contact us with any environmental queries and/or if you register as an Eco church or obtain an award. It would be great to tell your story.
Send in notice of your local events, good news stories, photos and events to share on the "What's Happening" page. The national church is actively seeking Environmental case studies from this area: focus renewables / transport / schools / community activity.
If your PCC are talking about making Environmental changes, there are a number of people who are willing to support you and who will preach on environmental issues, both licensed readers and clergy.
Anne Knyhynyckyj
Chair
The Derbyshire Churches Environment Network
anne.knyhynyckyj@btinternet.com
Anne is a Reader at All Saints, Wingerworth and is chair of an ecumenical group of volunteers that meet called The Derbyshire Churches Environment Network.
Practical activities from the group:
- supporting training for example Eco Church in the Learning in Faith (Community section) programme
- supporting Derby University public lecture programme from the Environment and Sustainability research department Sept 2019 - Jan 2020, Autumn 2021
- signposting to the latest virtual training resources 2020-2021 from key partners
- Supporting the development of the Land and Biodiversity conference Oct 2021
- offering an information at clergy conference Nov 2019 with the support of members from All Saints Wingerworth
- a mailing to all PCCs and incumbents July 2019 about Climate Emergency
- pilot development of a series of talks and discussions beginning October 2019
- leading the presentation at June 2019 Synod where there was an update report about progress on Eco Diocese and, as requested, offering reasons to make a policy against fracking
- a paper for the Parsonages Committee on Solar PV
- architect training partnered with DAC
- advice to individual parishes and Eco church leads
Details of your events, or news of progress in your patch for us to celebrate and photos illustrating it should go to Communications Team. See 'Whats Happening' section for upcoming events.
John Beardmore
John@T4sLtd.co.uk
John offers technical support and advice on sustainability issues, including facilitating decision-making processes, and the design and diagnosis of heating and renewable energy systems.
He is a member of the DAC and on the board of Operation Noah.
Richard Henderson Smith
r_smith07@btinternet.com
Richard is the World Mission and Development Officer with the role to remind people about the urgent and ongoing needs of those most at risk and deprived beyond our horizon.
He points out that the impact on the planet and it resources impact the poorest in the world. He presented facts on health and fracking June 2019 Diocesan Synod.
Steve Retout
Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham.
Anne and Howard Clarke
Members of St Peters Belper, a silver awarded Eco Church.
John Payne
Churchwarden at Eyam and member of Green Christian.
Godfrey Meynell
Church Warden at St Michael, Kirk Langley.
Jeremy Gowers Cromie
JGowersCromie@christian-aid.org
Regional link from Christian Aid.
Stephen Pratt
Methodist Minister in West Hallam.
Bryan Jones
Reader and Church Warden - All Saints, Mackworth.
Rita Brierley
St Matthew, Darley Abbey.
There are vacancies for reps from other CTBI Christian Denominations including Baptist and United Reform Church.
Living Lightly is the Diocesan policy. We are encouraging parishes and churches to become Eco Churches and registered as an Eco Diocese in 2018.
How you can act in response.
Our recommendations and links....
Young People
What is MAP?
MAP stands for Mission Action Planning. The main purpose of MAP is to listen and discern the will of God for your church and its community. It is about looking at what is happening in your parish and as a church community considering the direction that you think your church should be heading. Once you have established a vision for your church you then set yourselves priorities for you church for each of the following 3 years and then plan the specific steps you need to take to deliver these goals. At the end of each year we will ask you to review your action so that you can adjust your plan accordingly.
Why should churches do MAP?
The MAP process gives every parish an opportunity to take time out to reflect and discern on what God’s mission is for their church and their community. It also gives an opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved and consider what needs to be done in the coming year. It is also an opportunity for you as a community to dream some dreams and consider what God wants you to be both individually and as the family of God.
Is MAP a top down initiative?
MAPs are intended to be done at a local parish level. The reason we want to do this together as a Diocese is so that Bishop Alastair and other senior staff can see what your plans are and be able to pray for you. It also gives us an opportunity to consider what resources we need to provide for you all to deliver your plans. We would prefer to describe that MAPs become part of the life of each churches annual cycle rather than an initiative.
Is MAP a "one size fits all" process?
During the pilot we are looking at how the process works across a wide range of churches both in size and churchmanship. The process has been designed to ensure that you can use it in the most appropriate way for your particular situation.
We are also testing a simpler process for our small rural churches to see if this is more appropriate for them.
What if we already do a form of planning and review: do we have to repeat everything?
The purpose of MAP is that we are all encouraged to plan on an annual basis and it is great that some of you are doing this already
If you already have a system of annual planning and review then all we would ask is that you fill in the MAP summary form so that we know what you are doing. You might want to look at the materials we are using to see if there are any ideas that you can use.
What is the timetable?
MAP launch events are currently being planned for May 2011 and we will be asking that churches have sent in their completed MAP summary forms to Bishop Alastair by Advent Sunday 2011.
Is this just another one-off initiative?
We really want mission action planning to become a way of life for all of us in the Diocese. It should become part of our annual cycle in each parish so that we have an opportunity to review what has gone well and to refine any activities that haven’t been quite so successful.
Revd Phil Michell is licensed as the lead agricultural chaplain within Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy (DRC). The DRC is hosted by Chaplaincy Derbyshire, an independent Christian organization and registered charity, operating across the county. Alan works with a small team of chaplains and volunteers drawn from various backgrounds and different Christian denominations, but all of whom are passionate about walking alongside the agricultural and rural community in Derbyshire.
What we do
We celebrate the contribution of agriculture, we listen and by invitation, we pray with and for the agricultural and rural community. We provide Christian spiritual and pastoral care and we complement the rural church by supporting patterns of worship and prayer around the agricultural year, as well as pastoral services for the farming community by invitation. We also attend the Agricultural Business Centre every week and host a monthly prayer meeting and annual farmer’s harvest and carol service.
For more information or to meet the team:
visit the DRC website: www.derbyshireruralchaplaincy.org.uk
Email Revd Phil: phil@derbyshireruralchaplaincy.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/derbyshireruralchaplaincy
Instagram: www.instagram.com/derbyshireruralchaplaincy
