St. Andrew’s Draft Environmental Policy (October 2008)
Our calling
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
It does this through:- worship
- learning and caring
- service
- evangelism.
Under the heading of service we assert that: The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice.
We therefore must ask the question, Who is our neighbour? and recognise that our actions have consequences for people far away because of the environmental problems which face all communities including, resource depletion, climate change and the injustices of global trade.
This statement aims to:
- spell out a commitment to act responsibly on matters of environmental concern
- identify ways in which this commitment can be translated into action
- identify the means by which progress can be measured.
Action in working towards environmental objectives should have regard to the:
- challenge of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
- potential for harnessing the skills, expertise and enthusiasm of our congregation
- opportunities for co-operation and joint initiatives with other churches and other faiths or environmental initiatives
- effectiveness of the overall mission of the church
- valuable contribution of small steps by individuals as well as major initiatives.
Christian mission shares in putting right the relationships within God's creation that have gone wrong, and growing towards the balance and good stewardship envisaged in the Biblical vision of the world as it is meant to be.
Environmental policy objectives
Awareness and commitment
- celebrate in worship our joy in creation, and remember the environment in our prayers
- promote awareness within our congregation of these principles and objectives, and of the values underlying them
- enable our office holders to become familiar with, and implement, the environmental commitment and objectives
- ensure our activities comply with all relevant environmental regulations.
Energy and water
- ensure energy is used efficiently and reduce its use wherever possible
- encourage the increased use of renewable energy
- use water efficiently and with care.
Waste
- reduce the production of material waste including unnecessary packaging
- encourage re-use, repair and recycling of materials including organic waste
- dispose of waste in a safe and responsible way.
Materials and resources
- buy products that are made in accordance with the principle of using material in a sustainable way, and use locally-made goods where practicable
- maintain our commitment to buying and using fair-trade goods, particularly tea and coffee
- show concern for the environmental quality of food production systems and the equitable global distribution of food
- take into account the lifetime costs of materials when repairing, altering or rebuilding premises
- maximise the proportion of paper used from sustainable sources and recycled materials
- offer electronic communication as an alternative to paper for those who are suitably equipped.
Natural and built environment
- be aware of local planning developments
- be sensitive to the impact of church activities on the local environment.
Travel
- make every effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by avoidance of unnecessary travel
- explore undertaking the work of the church in ways which reduce the need for travel, particularly by car, and allow for the possibility of, and encourage, access by public transport, cycle and on foot
- share car transport where possible
- support the expansion of good quality public transport, the provision of improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and local green travel programmes.
Reporting
- Church Council shall ask that each group within the church consider environmental issues at its AGM, and shall charge the groups with monitoring progress on our commitments.
