As Christians we are responsible for the world we live in. It is also part of our mission in our community. So we are setting about finding out what we are doing already in terms of engagement with all things Eco and to see how we can focus it and grow it. 

Eco Church

Eco Church is a scheme run by A Rocha UK equipping churches to care for God’s creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement and individual lifestyles.

In June 2021, over 500 churches around England and Wales took part in Churches Count on Nature. This was a pilot year for a nationwide project open to all churches, run in partnership by Caring for God’s Acre, A Rocha UK, the Church of England Environment Programme, and the Church in Wales. 

During Churches Count on Nature, there was a special series of webinars on different aspects of land and nature for a church audience. You can watch these here.

There are five areas that a church must demonstrate environmental engagement with to receive an award:

1. Worship and teaching
2. Management of church buildings
3. Management of church land
4. Community and global engagement
5. Lifestyle

There are three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. They are applied for through an online survey.

It is a really good and well- resourced way of engaging church members and the wider community with caring for God’s creation.