Churches make creation care their mission

Putting creation care at the heart of church life has earned a Buckinghamshire parish the Eco-congregation award.

‘The two St James’ at Gerrards Cross and Fulmer recently received the honour after an intensive 18-month journey into environmental issues. They not only pursued a programme to make their congregations eco-friendly, but also set up a Love Creation team to spearhead the changes.

WOODLAND ART

Their eco-efforts included a whole range of activities – from children’s woodland art to a complete energy audit of their building. Everything from staff training to house group Bible studies covered environmental issues. They invited A Rocha UK founder Dave Bookless to speak at services.

‘We felt it was particularly important that we modelled creation care,’ said Love Creation team member Tricia Fiddian. Tricia looks after their communications, which include a blog and newsletter.

They have also been building ‘strategic partnerships’ with groups outside the church. Those include Change4Chalfont, a local initiative taking action to combat climate change.

‘Becoming an Eco-congregation is not an accolade, so that we pat ourselves on the back,’ said St James Rector Martin Williams. ‘It’s a means through which we come to worship our creator God more deeply – and to bear witness to his wonderful works in creation.’

CREATION VISION

A Rocha UK chief Steve Hughes thanked St James for being ‘a significant supporter’ of the charity’s work. ‘What’s exciting is the way they’ve now brought that vision for creation care into what they do as a church through their Love Creation campaign.

‘A Rocha UK is grateful for the many churches who support us financially – and even more so when that external vision is translated into specific action within the congregation to practically work out what it means there.’ Pictured is a bird box in the church grounds (Photo: Cindy Crump). Meanwhile, the Love Creation initiative continues at St James.