St Marks and the Environment Group

The climate and biodiversity emergency is a spiritual issue. At the very heart of it lie the things we believe about life, our neighbours and creation. Responding means that we must re-evaluate our lifestyles, shake off our sense of powerlessness and embed working for change into our worship and communal life.

How does this fit into the bigger picture?

What is the Church of England doing to tackle climate change?

In February 2020, the General Synod of the Church of England recognised that the global climate emergency is a crisis for God’s creation, and a fundamental injustice. They passed a motion calling on all parts of the Church of England to act swiftly to decarbonise and to aim to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
While this is very challenging, it is an important prophetic ambition, which every church is invited to respond to.
The Church of England Environment Programme has a wealth of resources for parishes which you can see here

What is Sheffield Diocese doing?

The Environment Programme aims to implement the Diocesan Synod resolution of 20th November 2020 reflecting our Christian commitment to live as Lights for Christ and care for God’s creation.
It has three main parts:
• Working towards the Diocese reaching ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2030
• Developing other aspects of creation care as an A Rocha Eco Diocese
• Supporting local churches in becoming and developing as Eco Churches
More Information Here.

The overall aim being:
“To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”.
 

What has St Mark’s been doing?

It has been a long journey and we have learned much along the way.
Our commitment did not come out of nowhere: it came from the dedication of a small group who prophetically understood, before most of the rest of us did, that issues of climate change and the threats to biodiversity were the greatest challenge of our age and that we, as Christians, have a duty and an obligation to recognise our calling to value and protect God’s beautiful planet, our home.
The group measured home energy use and found ways to be more efficient, campaigned for climate justice, and set up Hope for the Future, a national charity that brings together constituents with their elected representatives to work together on climate change. Solar panels went up on the roof. When Eco Church came along, the group signed up.

What is Eco Church?

“Our vision is for churches of all denominations to care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbours and following God faithfully.”
The scheme is run by the charity A Rocha in partnership with Christian Aid, The Church of England, The Methodist Church, Tearfund, The United Reformed Church and Allchurches Trust Limited.”

https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk

The programme runs across 5 areas of church life with a “pick and mix” menu to suit different churches and a plethora of support resources:
1. Church buildings
2. Land management
3. Community and global engagement
4. Lifestyle
5. Worship and Teaching
 

The path to Gold Eco Church

St Mark’s church was delighted to receive the Gold Eco Church award in 2023, our Diamond Anniversary year.


Eco Church has widened our horizons and given us a menu of activities to choose from and resources to support us. More people have become involved, with Environment Group keeping a focus on moving us on to greater impact. To progress through Bronze to Silver and then Gold, you need the backing and sign up from the whole church community, and this has been transformative. We now think about the environment in the liturgies we use, the prayers we say, the sermons, the refreshments we serve, how we heat the buildings, what we ask of those who rent our rooms and, of course, the choices we ourselves make in our lives. Our children delight us with their passion for the natural world and enjoyment in being outdoors, whatever the weather. We hope that people have felt supported and encouraged by the programme, a counterbalance to constant crisis in the headlines.
 

1. Our building

Our biggest energy saving to date has been the prevention of heat loss from the main church building resulting in a big reduction in electricity use. This was done with a computer programme which controls the heating according to our calendar of events. This is linked to internal and external sensors which drive the heating controls so they provide only the needed amount of heat.


We use green electricity and gas. Our lighting is LED. Double glazing is being installed. We have a plan to Net Zero.
 

2. Land Management

The Green is now managed without the use of chemicals and we value and care for the numerous trees in our care. We are under -planting with bulbs, wildflowers and native plants which support bees and birds. We have bird boxes and a bug hotel. The congregation and local community make good use of it, especially our children. We are members of Nature Recovery Sheffield.


 

3. Community and global engagement

St Mark’s hosts and chairs hustings in the run up to General Elections, encouraging our congregation and community to meet the candidates and discuss the issues most important to them. At other times, members join with larger organisations, both Christian and secular to campaign for climate justice and nature recovery. We meet our local MP to explore ways we can support these areas politically.
We are a Fairtrade Church and buy these products whenever possible. We support a number of initiatives and charities around the world including those with which congregation members have direct links. Campaigning for social and climate justice is ongoing, as is involvement in our own community where there is need or inequality.

 

4. Lifestyle

We measure our own carbon footprint and look for ways to reduce this. We support each other with the difficulties encountered and share tips. We have surveyed what people are doing outside of church and what they would like to do more of. We are looking at how people travel to services and have installed bike racks and information to make active travel easier.


 

5. Worship and Teaching

Creation care is now embedded in our worship and children’s activities and runs through every service in one form or another. Sometimes we dedicate a whole service to environmental issues. More usually we remind ourselves of the value and joy of the natural world and re-ignite our passion to work to preserve it.

Where next?

Going forward, we are asked to share what we have learned as a church community with others and continue to learn from each other the best ways to serve our communities. We must explore what it means to be “Lights of Christ”. And of course, we have the big challenge of becoming Net Zero still before us, both for our church, our homes, our city and our nation. How can we help that come to pass?
If you would like to know more, if we could support you in your journey or you would like to join our group, please contact us via the church office.

Loving God,
You called your disciples
To follow in your way:
As we journey
Help us to walk lightly,
Treasuring the world
You have given us
And cherishing each other.
Grant that our walk
May be part of your plan
To care for creation
Seeking climate justice
And the coming of your Kingdom
On earth as it is in heaven. Amen