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'People who are not religious have no duty to care for the environment' 12 marks

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Now's the chance to get your own opinion across! Do you think we should care for the environment? Are there any reasons why you think we shouldn't care for the environment? You can present this however you want: draw a picture, write a paragraph, draw a table, write a poem, write a speech!

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Use the Church audit below to help you decide how, if you are/were a Christian, you might make your church 'greener'. Write down a plan of action! What will you do to help combat issues such as Climate Change, fossil fuel usage (recycling), deforestation, pollution and extinction of animals? Think about other ways of combating these that we already know about. Handy hint: Think about the energy saving lightbulb!

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How green is your church? Audit questionnaire

Here is a check-list to assess your church's starting point around engagement with environmental issues. You can make comments and note ideas and actions to take forward.

Worship

How often, in worship services at your church, is the environment or care for creation mentioned?

Do you regularly sing hymns celebrating God's creation?

Do you have prayers that feature environmental concerns?

Do you have sermons that speak about the call to exercise responsible stewardship of creation (or 'Creation Care', one of the Five Marks of Mission in the Church of England)?

Do you have sermons that speak about climate change?

Are film clips about the environment or climate change shown as part of the service in your church?

Do you ever hold church services outdoors? Or take walks or have quiet times together outdoors to feel closer to God, through the beauty of God's creation?

Comments and ideas for next steps:
Education and awareness-raising

Are Christian environmental resources displayed or made available at your church?

Does your church have display boards or posters about key environmental issues such as climate change and what action people can take, or information from faith-led organisations (eg Operation Noah, Tearfund, Christian Aid, A Rocha, CAFOD, All We Can)?

Does your church hold events about key environmental issues - for example, inviting a guest speaker or showing a film?

Do your church magazines, newsletters, website or blogs feature environmental concerns? Do they include green lifestyle tips and campaign actions and events?

Does your church offer study courses or Bible studies exploring environmental concerns, such as Operation Noah's Lent course 'Climate Change and the purposes of God'?

Do the children's or youth programmes at your church include activities that focus on the environment?

Comments and ideas for next steps:
Church mission

How well is the church's role in care for creation and addressing climate change embedded in the overarching mission of your church?

Do members of the church understand the importance of addressing climate change as part of their Christian discipleship?

Has your church shared information about Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration and the role of the church in responding to it?

Comments and ideas for next steps:
Campaigns and lobbying

Does your church disseminate information about environmental and climate change campaigns from environmental and faith NGOs?

Have members of your church heard about the 'For the Love of ...' campaign?

Have members of your church heard about the fossil free campaign, the divestment campaign or Bright Now?

Is your church aware of the 'Pray and Fast for the Climate' movement? Has it participated?

Have members of your church or eco group contacted senior church leaders, such as a bishop, to discuss environmental concerns and the role of the church?

Is your church active politically in the run-up to the forthcoming general election? Are they planning to hold a hustings event or letter-writing workshop to contact MPs and political candidates?

Has your church committee (or other governing body) ever written collectively to key decision-makers to express your concern about an environmental issue? Recipients could include local MPs, the government, local authority, Church investment decision-makers, or other national or regional Church governing body.

Have members of your church community ever been active around raising environmental concerns through official Church channels, for instance by submitting a motion for debate at national level?

Does your church publicise key national or local actions or events, such as the national climate marches, speaker events, etc?

Comments and ideas for next steps:
Church buildings and grounds

Has your church undertaken an energy audit?

Does your church monitor energy consumption?

Has your church installed energy-saving measures in its buildings, for example low-energy lighting, draught-proofing and insulation, an efficient boiler or solar PV panels?

Does your church encourage building users to reduce energy or water usage wherever possible?

Has your church switched to a 'green' energy supplier?

Does your church community participate in outdoor activities to improve the natural habitat of the church grounds or use areas for food growing?

Comments and ideas for next steps:

Does your church purchase sustainably sourced, Fairtrade and environmentally friendly products, such as recycled paper, tea/coffee, cleaning products, etc?

Is your church active on recycling, including composting?

Does your church actively minimise waste wherever possible, for example by not using disposable items for events?

Does your church have an ethical investment policy for savings?

As part of such a policy, has your church considered avoiding investment in fossil fuels?

Comments and ideas for next steps:
Church community and wider links

Is your church an Eco-Church or interested in becoming one?

Do you have an environment or eco group that is active on environmental issues in your church or area?

Is your church connected to the local Transition Network group or other local sustainability groups?

Has your church done any outreach or partnership activities with the wider community on environmental projects or events?

Has your church participated in any environmental projects with local schools?

Comments and ideas for next steps:

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How green is your church? Audit questionnaire - Operation Noah

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Here is a check-list to assess your church's starting point around engagement with environmental issues. You can make comments and note ideas and actions to take forward. How often, in worship services at your church, is the environment or care for creation mentioned? Do you regularly sing hymns celebrating God's creation?

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Finally, why do A Rocha do what they do? Note down the four key points.

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God created us to look after it

We are created beings, part of the whole community of creation, joining together to praise God (Psalm 148).

But we have also been given a special task - to look after the rest of what God has made (Genesis 1: 26-28; Gen. 2:15). This is not an optional extra for a few keen environmentalists, but a fundamental part of what it means to be human.

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God created us to look after it We are created beings, part of the whole community of creation, joining together to praise God (Psalm 148). But we have also been given a special task - to look after the rest of what God has made (Genesis 1: 26-28; Gen. 2:15).

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Now explain, in your own words what A Rocha do.

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Equipping churches

The gospel is good news for the whole of creation, as well as for human beings.

So A Rocha UK equips the Church to demonstrate this good news for God's earth.

We operate Eco-Congregation to help churches reflect the full scope of the gospel in their congregational life, and to acknowledge their achievement in that.

Through Eco-Congregation, A Rocha UK provides ideas, resources, speakers and support for churches who put caring for God's earth at the heart of mission. We connect churches with each other to:

be inspired by stories of what really works

share creative ideas

encourage each other

The Eco-Congregation award recognises churches taking steps to become greener in their spiritual life, practical management and community outreach.
More about Eco-Congregation >>

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The gospel is good news for the whole of creation, as well as for human beings. So A Rocha UK equips the Church to demonstrate this good news for God's earth. We operate Eco-Congregation to help churches reflect the full scope of the gospel in their congregational life, and to acknowledge their achievement in that.

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Look at the page below and write a sentence which explains (in your own words) who 'A Rocha' are.

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A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world.

This is our response to the biblical mandate to care for the earth, and a demonstration of the Christian hope for God's world. We do this through:

- practical involvement in nature conservation projects and ecological research;

- campaigning on biodiversity issues;

- engaging with churches, schools, communities and individuals.

Part of the worldwide family of A Rocha organisations committed to conservation action as an expression of Christian mission, we work collaboratively with others who share our passion for the planet and our desire for its flourishing.

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A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world. This is our response to the biblical mandate to care for the earth, and a demonstration of the Christian hope for God's world.

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Watch this clip and write a sentence to for each question to answer the questions below.

1) What is the Green Bible?
2) How is the Green Bible environmentally friendly itself?
3) How does the Reverend say that he's going to use it in church?

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Amazing Hebrew Meaning of 1st Verse of Bible

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Abby Berendt & Jeremey Lavoi JadedMultimedia

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ON SALE NOW! Browse Inside The Green Bible: http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061627996 The Green Bible will equip and encourage people to see God's vision for creation and help them engage in the work of healing and sustaining it. With over 1,000 references to the earth in the Bible, compared to 490 references to heaven and 530 references to love, the Bible carries a powerful message for the earth.

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Find 3 useful quotes to use to show that the Earth belongs to God using this page. Use it in a sentence to explain what Stewardship means.

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When you borrow something from a friend, your friend expects you to look after it. Since everything is a gift from God, God also expects you to look after it! Watch this clip to gain more understanding of what Stewardship means. Now write down the definition of Stewardship