|
Who's going to get involved?
- Keen people: Probably nearly every parish has someone for whom the state of the planet is of burning concern. Those people are going to be important,
- Groups already 'on the case': but we all live in the world and are affected by what we all do, so involve a broader group, even if this means some ambitions are lowered. It could be that in the church or village there is already a group that works on environmental issues.
- Examples: churchyard gang, fair trade stall, justice and peace committee.
- People who are thinking green about baking for the bazaar, cleaning the church, managing the investments, choosing a new heating system.
- It could be that a village or town society is concerned with nature conservation, recycling, public transport, a new housing development, or whatever.
- Perhaps start a new group: Begin by just thinking if there is an existing group that would like to wave the environmental banner or whether a new group should be convened. Whatever is created or adapted, it needs to fit what the church is already doing and how it is organised.
- Involve others: Whether new or old, draw different people into the life of this environmental group.
- Think of the congregation and ask individuals if they would like to join; those who are more on the fringe may be particularly interested.
- Think too of other local churches and ask if they would like to join in.
- And there will be people who don't come to church who might join in too; this may mean the group needs a looser link with the church.
- Get a 'constitution': The environmental group could range from a network of friends to a formally constituted committee of the Parochial Church Council.
- make sure there is some way the group can let the rest of the church know what is going on, encouraging the whole congregation in the enterprise.
- And don't let the good news stop there, tell your deanery and let the Diocesan Environmental Group know of how it is all doing - good or bad.
- Ask one volunteer to be the Link person on the diocesan group's mailing list.
- To join the diocesan mailing list email Wayne Talbot
Related Links
|
