Harrogate and District Christian Ecology Link
Christian Ecology weblinks: Anglican carbon footprint, Methodist & URC green issues plus Operation Noah; Traidcraft shop, Harrogate:
2008 Spring meeting, Tuesday 6 May, 7:30pm at St Paul's URC on the theme 'How green is your church - the way forward' followed by the AGM. More info: 882726 or 885731. Flyer available (jpg, 24kb)
Environmental Audit To live sustainably we need to examine the activities of organisations as well as our personal lifestyles. Many companies now carry out environmental audits in order to identify ways to minimise their impact on the environment. This downloadable leaflet has questions to ask when conducting an environmental audit of your church, followed by suggestions for action. (pdf, 101kb)
Methodist Church Bible Study pack: study pack and leader's notes on Climate Change are available to download from the Methodist Relief and Development Fund website.
Local library: Other resources in the area of Christian Ecology are available; contact Pam Shaftoe, 19 Kingsley Road, Harrogate, 885731 (2008)
2006/7 report:
Two Open Meetings were held during the year at St Paul 's URC. At the AGM in April we welcomed the newly appointed Diocesan Environment Officer (DEO) for Ripon and Leeds , Rev'd Ian White and in November a return visit from Howard Wass, organic farmer from the North York moors, who gave us a fascinating insight into his life's work and philosophy. Both meetings were attended by some 16 people, and proved very helpful and inspiring.
By contrast a walk along the Ripon Canal towpath was poorly supported despite the good weather.
Highlights of the year came in April and November when members of the group joined Sunday evening congregations at Woodlands and Wesley Methodist Churches respectively. Services with an environmental theme were led by the local Ministers and followed by refreshments and thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion.
Communications
Between meetings members have been kept in touch by a regular newsletter, which Pam Shaftoe has produced (in addition to her invaluable work as Treasurer and Membership Secretary) since John Margham had to relinquish editorship. A HDCEL “Members and Friends” e-mailing list has grown steadily and now has 46 names on it.
National, Regional and Local Outreach
The Link has continued to support CEL's national campaigns and initiatives. The Operation Noah video has been shown to several groups and the Link was instrumental in helping arrange for CEL's national chairman to speak to Wesley Chapel's “Spotlight” on energy policy.
The Link has worked closely with the DEO and ran an information stand at the Diocesan Environment Conference in April 2007 where several Link members led and helped with workshops.
Link members also manned CEL's information stall at the Riding Lights Theatre Company's production “Pipe Dreams” in Harrogate and Ripon. We have helped to promote the C of E's “Shrinking the Footprint” campaign and continued to support Eco-congregation, A Rocha and the Wildlife Trusts' “Living Churchyard” project, among others. We have been represented on Harrogate Borough Council's Action for the Environment Group and developed a good relationship with Churches Together in Harrogate and District.
The lending library is being extended by the addition of new titles.
Obituary
Early last summer, we were saddened to learn of the death of Doug Rawson, a long-standing member and true environmentalist. Our sympathies were and are extended to Eileen and all his family. Several members attended a wonderful memorial service at Summerbridge Methodist Church, which was followed by a green burial.
The Future
There is still much work to do if responsibility toward Creation is to be widely accepted as an integral part of Christian and Church life. The committee has many ideas as to how this might be furthered, but is unable to carry them out with its present resources.
Steps are being taken to attract younger people through an internet presence. A web site is in preparation which should attract people of all ages. We are building up a network of church magazine editors and we need to improve our communications with the press. We would like to reach out into the district through communication with the Churches Together groups in Knaresborough and Upper Nidderdale . Ideally we would like to see a “green contact” in place in every congregation. This is an ambitious programme, and we are actively praying and seeking for people with the vision and energy to help us accomplish it.
Local contacts
If you would like further information, or to offer help in any of the ways suggested in this report please e-mail George Dent.
Green burials
Arrangements for burials at Gertrude's Pasture, Scotton (Map), to follow
Agenda 21
The term Agenda
21 refers to a "dynamic programme.... to be carried out by the various
actors according to the different situations, capacities and priorities
of countries and in full respect of all the principles contained in the
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in 1992".
Harrogate
Borough Council is committed to sustainable development through
its Environmental Strategy Section in which the Council continuously improves
its services, policies and practices to contribute to a better quality
of life for everyone now, and for future generations.
What is Agenda 21? The UNEP website describes it as: "The United Nations Environment Programme aims to to care for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations."
The term Agenda 21 refers to a "dynamic programme.... to be carried out by the various actors according to the different situations, capacities and priorities of countries and in full respect of all the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in 1992".
Links:
The
2002 Churches Together in Harrogate Annual Assembly focused on
these issues. A report
is available.
Harrogate Borough Council (use their alphabetical search for Agenda 21)
Grants::
Harrogate Borough Council Environmental Strategy Section are encouraging local grant applications to central government and other grant providers for renewable energy systems. More info from their website or tel: 556827.
The
Harrogate Action
for the Environment steering group website provides ideas to promote
enivironmental awareness and action.
Rt Rev John Packer (WYEC chair 2005) offered the My Footprint website as an aid to assessing personal oimpact on the environment.
Return to the "groups directory" menu.
Top : Please contact the CT Secretary for more info.
This page last updated
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:22 PM
Churches Together in Harrogate : loving God and neighbour - together : www.ctharrogate.org.uk