The current questionnaire for the Eco Church programme will soon be updated, and we encourage churches to complete the next Eco Church award level (bronze, silver or gold) before it changes at the end of January.
The new questionnaire is already available, but if you’d like to have a last push to get over the line with the old style questionnaire, then we have some top tips to get you started.
1. Connect with your local Eco Ambassador
Most deaneries in our diocese have appointed an Eco Ambassador to help churches in their Eco Church journey. Ask your Area Dean for details. These volunteers are an excellent resource and can provide guidance and practical advice on making further improvements in your church’s environmental practices.
2. Share your top tips with others
Eco Church is a collaborative effort, and many churches have found success by learning from others. If you have any tips or best practices that have helped your church move through the Eco Church process, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps your church has adopted local, seasonal flowers for your floral arrangements or found creative ways to reduce waste. If you’re willing to share your experiences, please send us your top three tips, along with any photos, and we may feature them in our upcoming communications.
3. Complete the short contact form
If your Eco Church Lead has not already done so, please complete this short form so we can stay in touch with them directly.
4. Online and national support
Our website has lots of information about Eco Church – check out our Environment page and Eco Church in an Hour. There is also online support via A Rocha’s website, including resources.
Top tips for completing the questionnaire and moving forward
St John the Baptist Church in Great Rissington achieved the Silver award a few weeks ago. Their EcoChurch Lead, Andrew Fleming provides some tips for moving forward with your Eco Church journey.
“Start by reviewing what your church is already doing towards fulfilling the criteria. Consider what is possible and practical for your church to implement in order to earn more points. The key is to break down the process into manageable steps and focus on one section at a time. This approach can make a huge difference as you work through the questionnaire.
“Assess your current points to see where your church currently stands on each of the sections. Remember that you need:
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- 25% for Bronze
- 50% for Silver
- 75% for Gold
“Look for opportunities to earn more points: Identify areas where it’s feasible to make improvements. Focus on answering questions where small changes could have a significant impact on your score.
“Work through each section: Tackle each section methodically, starting with the questions where an improved answer is easiest and/or offers the greatest potential for points. Don’t overwhelm your PCC with too many options; start with the ones that are most achievable and gradually move to the harder ones.
“Present your findings to the PCC: When you present your options to the PCC, highlight the impact of each change and how many points it will contribute to your overall score. Be sure to explain any rejected options and why they are not viable for your church.
“For example, for our church, our final hurdle was the ‘buildings’ section. With an all electric Grade 2* listed church and no church hall, priest’s house or other church buildings, many questions were not applicable to us. However, we were able to switch the last remaining light fittings to LED, achieve net zero by using a ‘green’ energy tariff and offset our clergy and organist’s travel expenses. We set up small-scale recycling for items like old stamps and printer cartridges. With some creative thinking, we found a way to get the final points needed to secure our Silver award.”
Moving Towards the Gold Award
Completing the Eco Church journey and receiving a Gold Award is an incredible achievement, but it doesn’t just stop at the certificate. It’s a commitment to continue being a responsible steward of God’s creation and to inspire others to follow suit.
St Arilda’s Church in Oldbury is the first church in the Diocese of Gloucester to achieve a Gold Award. Read about their journey here.
By aiming for Gold, your church can take meaningful steps to reduce its environmental impact and inspire others in your community to do the same.
The deadline for completing the current questionnaire is approaching, so take advantage of the time left to finish the process and submit your application before the changes are made.
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