Mission
The Diocese of Derby is currently working to become an Eco Diocese.
In 2018, a motion, proposed by Archdeacon Carol and seconded by Dr Richard Henderson-Smith, was:
"This Synod agrees to implement the process of becoming an Eco Diocese through the efforts of parishes, deaneries and diocesan officers and offices as it moves towards applying the gospel mission of caring for God’s Earth for the sake of God’s creatures. This is agreed to be reported, shared and celebrated at deanery and diocesan level."
Contact Stella Collishaw on 01332 388685 or email Stella.Collishaw@derby.anglican.org
A Rocha Eco Church Award Winners within the Diocese of Derby- we have our first Gold!
There are 3871 churches registered in England, over 1000 have made bronze award, over 350 have silver awards and 22 gold awarded.
Awards in this Diocese:-
Gold Awards
Glossop Parish Church, read the story here
Silver Awards
St Johns Mickleover
St Barnabas Derby
All Saints Sawley who describe their approach on the church website
St Marks Winshill
St Margarets Carsington
St Peters Belper
Derby Cathedral who describe thier approach in this article
Bronze Awards
All Saints Wingerworth
St Lawrence Church Eyam
Christchurch Hulland
Christchurch Belper
St John the Baptist Bamford
St Peters Littleover
St Peters Fairfield
St Michael Hathersage
St John Bamford
St Thomas Biggin
St Matthew Darley Abbey
To contact these churches go to find a church or ask Stella Collishaw or your Deanery Administrator for a best contact.
A Rocha UK
From meditation to insulation, from location to invocation; loving God and his creation should impact everything in our church lives.
That's why A Rocha UK has developed Eco Church.
Eco Church – is an award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth.
Eco Church is the exciting initiative, which will challenge and equip you to care for God’s world in all areas of your life together.
Join in with neighbours and the wider Diocese as we work together to achieve a Diocesan bronze award.
To participate in the Eco Church scheme, register your church at Eco Church - An A Rocha UK Project
There is also a tutorial and user guide.
You can then begin completing the online survey by indicating how your church is caring for God’s earth in your worship and teaching, around your buildings and grounds (if applicable), in your community engagement at local and global level and in your personal lifestyles as church members.
As you complete the survey, your church collects points towards an Eco Church Award. You can save your survey responses and update them as you find out more by consulting church leaders. The survey serves as both a record of actions achieved and as a ready-made plan for future action that can be updated as and when new initiatives are undertaken. Accompanying the survey there is a new suite of resources to help churches undertake the actions recommended in the survey.
Once your church has amassed sufficient points, you will qualify for an Eco Church Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level. Bronze and Silver Awards will be granted on receipt of written confirmation from your church leader that the survey responses are a true reflection of the current work and witness of your church. Gold Awards will only be granted following a visit to the church by Eco Church Assessors who need to be satisfied that your survey responses are an accurate reflection of your work and witness.
Award-winning churches will receive a certificate to mark their achievement and will have the option of purchasing (at cost) an Award plaque fashioned from recycled church pews to display on their premises.
The Church of England Transition Pathway Initiative influences companies using the weight of our collective investment including the pensions.
Choose renewable energy.
Climate Stewards offset calculator
Gold Award
Congratulations to Glossop
read their story on the front page click here
If you are not yet registered as a parish, why not check out the new user guide and tutorial from A Rocha along with the Diocesan bitesize course.
Good news from Hadfield
The Wild Peak Programme: St Andrews Junior School | Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Latest training / events from internal and external networks
DEO+
The Church of England Environment Team actively support Diocesan Environment Officers (DEO). They are a brilliant team to connect with.
They are offering wider invite virtual events twice a year. If you are reading this as a volunteer from a parish in Diocese of Derby you are invited.
Tuesday September 12th 2-3:30 Register in advance for this meeting.
This is free and if you can't attend on the day you will get updated information through signing up.
As part of the new action packs on Net Zero there are some new resources click here.
The full Net Zero series can be caught up, book to get the links sent to you first. See Net Zero Carbon - YouTube for most recent uploads.
Young Christian Climate Network, are an action-focused community of young Christians in the UK aged 18-30, website https://www.yccn.uk/
Their campaign Take the Veg Pledge, includes a recorded launch event,
What Would Jesus Eat?, exploring connections of food, Christianity & climate change.
Biodiversity
>> Latest statement on Biodiversity from the CofE National Investing Bodies
Climate intercessors monthly Zoom prayer meet is on the second Tuesday of the month at 1pm or 8pm.
It is a well managed international prayer gathering with items of focus - both well researched and with continuity.
Recommended by DEO as a useful space to listen, thank God and interceed on these issues it is highly recommended. It is also a valued antidote to being overwhelmed or grieving the impact of humans on the planet. there is also a monthly update to direct your prayers see Prayer Resources & Guides — Climate Intercessors.
click here to find out more Climate Intercessors
Local News: Eco Church newsletter
If you are from a parish in Diocese of Derby and want to obtain the newsletter then email. It is offered approximately three times a year. Last publication date was Feb 2023.
Subscribe to the CofE Environment bulletin for the latest offer nationally including virtual training courses.
It includes training opportunities and is recommended for Eco Churches and parishes working to net zero.
Citizen Science: Churches Count on Nature June 2023
Catch up on the Webinars on Land and Nature for Churches Count on Nature
see the new Guide to Ancient and Veteran Trees
Whether you are the custodian of an ancient tree or just an interested observer, Caring for God's Acre's comprehensive guide to ancient yews and other trees is an interesting read. It includes history, folklore, management and some tips on how to enthuse other people about these majestic trees.
Take a look at the webpage or download the guide directly.
Operation Noah:
Operation Noah: News Expanding the Bright Now Campaign.
Church Land and the Climate Crisis report 2022: says we should 1) get our own house in order, 2) use our assets- land and investments- wisely, 3) use our voice.
Environmental Fundraising - webinar recordings can be viewed here.
See Funding - Parish ResourcesParish Resources and/or Diocesan advice.
Recommended publications
- “There is no Planet B” and “How bad are bananas?” by Mike Berners Lee
- “Wilding” by Isabella Tree – about nature and rewilding in general and the Knepp Estate (West Sussex) in particular
- “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Katharine Hayhoe
- “A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues” by Martin J Hodson and Margot R Hodson
Grove Booklets
- Grace Thomas, DEO for Manchester, “Climate Action as Mission: How to Link the Gospel with Safeguarding Creation”
- Rachel Mash, Green Anglicans, “Renewing the Life of the Earth: Christian Discipleship and Environmental Action”
- Policy interest Watch the Climate Assembly UK documentary on BBC iPlayer | involve.org.uk
IPCC report Feb 2022 shows climate change is hitting wildlife hard.
IPCC report published (Aug 2021) shows
- It is unequivocal that human behaviour is changing the climate
- The impacts of climate change are already being felt in every region across the globe (temperate regions are not safe)
- The impacts of climate change will continue to get worse until we stop burning fossil fuel
- The longer we leave it to make change, the worse the impacts will be
Summary for Policymakers and comment from Bishop Graham.
Eco Church case studies and webinars from the CofE.
Eco Church
To contact a local church engaging or find volunteering opportunities contact or go to find a church or see the up to date list on Eco Church: Turn your church green
There is a bitesize introductory course on Becoming an Eco church (community section) and a resource sheet for parishes.
The Eco Church website has a resources page - everything from measuring your carbon footprint, or being wildlife friendly to different types of recyclable cup available.
Please contact us when you register your parish so we can keep in touch with your news and share training and new resources. If you have been on the journey for sometime, please give the best email contact for your parish or benefice.
Buildings advice
Historic England guidance and webinar programme
SPAB - Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings
Advice in this Diocese is from DAC
Carbon footprint
- CofE churches - Energy Footprint Tool
- Any church - 360Carbon - includes energy, transport, food, procurement, and more
- National report on the findings of the Energy Footprint Tool
Transport
Useful carbon footprint transport calculator from Climate Stewards - it allows you to compare journeys.
The Environment Working Group are looking car charging points currently so advice will be forthcoming.
OZEV - grants for EV car charging posts.
EV charging posts Zap Map.
(note - church webinar programme above includes a webinar on EV car charging).
Simply car share journeys, use of public transport and active travel are ways to act more sustainably too.
Sustainable preaching and Service resources
ARocha UK produced prayers including videos for Great Big Green week Pray with us this Great Big Green Week - A Rocha UK.
A new resource combining the benefits of previous resources with preaching notes and ideas for every Sunday in the lectionary.
https://preachingforgodsworld.org/
If you decide to hold an outdoor service see the Church of England advice and related resources.
Ask your Pioneer minister about Forest Church or Muddy Church.
Resources
Churches could do more on climate change.
Tearfund report with young Christians: only 1:10 young people say churches are acting as they should.
Two thirds of young people had never heard a Sunday sermon on the issue.
>> Tearfund campaigns information.
Worship and music
Outdoor worship guidance page
Creation-themed liturgy A Time for Creation
Liturgy for the Agricultural Year
Doxecology by Resound worship
Bishop Olivia of Reading’s theological reflections (+Olivia chairs the Oxford net zero taskforce)
A Rocha International - YouTube channel - search for Dave Bookless New Wine talks NL 2020
Land and nature
Land and nature webinar programme - A great place to start, with lots of videos offering practical advice on a wide range of topics from bats to biodiversity, trees to Forest Church, and managing your grass. (You can also find them as a single YouTube playlist here.)
CofE Biodiversity page and Trees page
Botanical Companion which has a list of the species most often found in churchyards:
Caring for God’s Acre free resources
information sheet on the Five Steps for good churchard management
Bats in Churches project .
Study resources
Saying Yes to Life Ruth Valerio, written as a lent course - useful stand alone chapters for novice and engaged Christian. Highly readable. Available as a book and as a e-read.
Tenants of the King, a 4 part study updated for 2022 looking at what the Bible has to say about climate change, from Operation Noah. Worth looking at purely for answers to common questions pages 22-25. Paper copies were offered at clergy Conference 2018 so ask around and it was recommended by those who used it.
Dave Bookless Planetwise and God doesn't do waste. The study series for planetwise. Dave was a founder of A Rocha Uk which gave rise to Eco church.
Mission and Creation Care for disciples, John Ray Institute.
Faith in a Changing Climate USPG downloadable study resource with case studies from across the Anglican Communion. It includes a very helpful page on Climate Change FAQs
Bible study based on Cherishing the Earth (2008) Margot and Martin Hodson- six week course. A blend of science and theology.
Let there be stuff...? Course of 6 sessions aimed at teenagers/ young adults.
7 weeks detox from consumerism. Based on Consumer Detox by Mark Powley, St Georges, Leeds.
Christian Aid Theology of Climate Change.
Church Mission Society study resource 'The Possible world'.
Plenty from Joy in Enough (Green Christian) offer a study and a challenge to rethink our economy, acknowledge our complicity in consumerism and climate change.
Range of resources from A Rocha including one based on Jesus and the earth, James Jones (2003).
Caring for Creation and Living in Hope York Courses.
All age service from Sarah Brown sign up for her newsletter email.
Resources from Christian Climate Action
Derbyshire Churches Environment Network service outline aimed at use in small social distanced groups in the outdoors.
Climate is highly political, some global multinationals have alot to loose. So Climate Denial hasn't gone away – here's how to spot arguments for delaying climate action. New research exposes the common tropes of bad faith arguments about climate change. Read more in The Conversation UK
Frameworks for individual / household action
- Creation Care, a framework for households which congregations can follow together
- Count us in - 16 high impact steps which individuals can take to cut carbon
- WWF Footprint Calculator - simple footprint tool, and an informative process
Frameworks for schools and youth
- For schools: resources from Let’s Go Zero, Eco Schools, Christian Aid, and PECT
- For youth engagement: resources from Tearfund, Christian Aid, and ACEN
- The CofE net zero carbon schools webinars
- Letters for Creation, and joint project with Christian Aid. Resources include an assembly, lesson plans, and resources to help produce creative letters and art.
Funding
- Watch the recordings of CofE webinars on environmental fundraising for environmental projects
- CofE grants funding guide from Parish Resources
- And a suite for “how to” guides from Parish Resources.
- Community Energy England funding opportunities
- For local grants, find out whether you have a local CVS (Council for Voluntary Services). If so, they generally have a free searchable grants directory. Also contact the sustainability or community engagement officer at your local authority or in the DM+M team and at webpage.
News archive
Green Christian magazine is freely available online.
List of councils who have declared a Climate Emergency.
Other resources
Repair Cafe helps reduce waste through mending items that might otherwise be discarded. Please note there are conditions to using the name and logo.
There may be one nearby you can access - in New Mills, Eyam, Chesterfield.
Refil app. If your church has a publicly available tap which people could use to refil drinking bottles (and reduce waste) you can add it to this scheme.
For the keen cyclist - the cathedral cycle route challenge
Plant Lock bike rack - as one example of what is possible where there is no local scheme available.
Misc Training
- The CRES (Christian Rural & Environmental Studies) courses
- Scythe Association to find trainers in scything
Climate Resilience
- The Climate Resilient Church landing page
Forest Church
- Forest Church Grove Booklet - a good place to start if you want to know about Forest Church
- Forest Church facebook group
- Wild church page
Food in the Anthropocene, how changes in diet could feed the planets population.
Frack Free Barlborough talk with Dr Ian Fairlie, international toxicologist talking about radon risk in Fracking. For Powerpoint slides email.
Sustainable Heating and Lighting conference [Powering Gods Northern Powerhouse Dec 2018] resources to download.
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.
