Faith and the environment The Diocese of Lincoln is actively involved in a range of ways to protect and enhance the environment, which we believe is both an imperative and a responsibility given to us by God. As individuals, we are encouraged to adopt creation care as part of our everyday faith. As a corporate church, parishes are encouraged to embed creation care, supported by a network of deanery environmental champions. Parishes are supported and resourced in reviewing and enriching their environmental responses through the work of the diocesan offices and by building it into the strategic decisions of the diocese. Diocesan environment policy: Our vision for the Diocese of Lincoln is a healthy, vibrant and sustainable church transforming lives in greater Lincolnshire. Environmentally, this has implications for us as individual Christians, each of our churches and as a diocese together, becoming a place where: Every aspect of the diocese’s ministry and mission, including our worship, training, assets, churches, churchyards, schools and glebe lands, contribute to the well-being of creation through our stewardship of land, biodiversity, water, air quality, materials, resources and people Carbon emissions produced through the activity of the Diocese of Lincoln are reduced to net zero by 2030 in line with the motion agreed at General Synod in February 2020, using the Church of England’s ‘Energy Footprint Tool’ as a measure for churches. Diverse ecologies and habitats of all living creatures thrive, aiming that in the future Lincolnshire and its neighbouring seas will be richer in biodiversity Partnership working builds resilient communities able to respond well together to situations of environmental crisis. Our vision contributes to our diocesan mission through: Faithful worship adopting the whole-life activity of glorifying God our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer supported through liturgy, teaching, training, worship, resourcesConfident discipleship inspired by Christ’s redeeming love for the whole of creation through building confidence and maturity in our Christian environmental stewardship and in our cherishing of all creationJoyful service bringing nearer the Kingdom of God through individuals, partnerships, parishes and as a diocese by engaging in our local contexts and acting as global partners in God’s mission in the flourishing of life in all its fullness. You can download the full policy at Diocese of Lincoln – Environmental Policy updated 2020 Join the Diocesan Environment Network to receive termly newsletters with the latest stories, resources, events, training and ideas. You can find the latest issues here. Eco Diocese and Eco Church: The Diocese of Lincoln has committed to becoming an Eco Diocese and actively supports churches to sign up to A Rocha's Eco Church as a toolkit for change. There are over 50 churches signed up to Eco Church across the diocese, and many have been successful at achieving Bronze and Silver awards. To support our creation care, here are some links and resources: Worship: Host a 'Climate Sunday' service the website is full of resources - a local 'Climate Sunday' Liturgy and readings supplied by Revd Annabel Barber. Use the Season of Creation from the 1st of September to the Feast of St Francis on October 4th, worship resources available here. Explore outdoor worship with Forest Church Lincoln, Forest Church Alford, Mossy Church Scunthorpe, Wild Church Great Hale, Park Church Lincoln. Buildings: *Carbon Reductions and Energy Efficiency for church buildings* Winter 2022/23 There are various timely resources to support church groups in reducing their energy and carbon emissions including: Steps for Churches working towards Net Zero 10 Top Tips for Church Energy C of E Routemap to net Zero for Churches Webinars and Case Studies on Net Zero Practical Suggestions on saving Energy & Money The Diocesan Advisory Committee has produced a wide-ranging document of how you might make your churches and churchyards more environmentally friendly, many fairly straightforward and at minimal cost. Why not download it and see what you might be able to do? To measure the carbon footprint of churches and church hall, there is an annual Parish Return called the Energy Footprint Tool which every PCC completes. Download the guide , fill in the EFT form and use the data as a baseline to measure the effects of any carbon saving changes you make - reopens January 2023. Land: There are many ways to support biodiversity in churchyards, the land around church halls, and as part of a community 'naturehood'. Caring for God's Acre have an excellent resource hub to guide you through the planning and implementation stages. Visit a local God's Acre churchyard at Carlton Scroop. Community Local and Global: The way we care for each other and God's world is a justice issue which effects everyone. Building resilient and sustainable communities locally and globally requires partnership, communication and collaboration. Schools, Parish Councils, politicians, organisations, charities, businesses and farmers may all work towards the same end. With whom can you be working? Check out: Christian Aid, Tearfund, Operation Noah, USPG, CMS etc for a more global focus. Lifestyle: Whatever we do as a church congregation can be adopted in our discipleship. CreationCare is a way to support each other to make a difference to our lifestyles as we make choices that honour God - Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Try a Carbon Fast, Plastic Free Lent, join Fairtrade, measure your carbon footprint and more here. Environmental action in the parishes We regularly collect stories of environmental action in the parishes and these regularly appear on our website. A selection of these are available at Diocese of Lincoln – Environmental stories from around the diocese. We also have a group of people who are actively engaged with environmental issues and are available to help and advise on many aspects of care for the environment, and in the work around the Church of England’s ‘Energy Foot-printing Tool' accessible through Parish Returns from March - September. If you would like to know more, please contact Sarah Spencer, Diocesan Environmental Officer by email or by calling 07375 638635. Moana: Water of Life. Navigating Climate Change for Planetary Health In 2019, the Diocese of Lincoln jointly hosted a conference with the University of Lincoln. Entitled Moana: Water of life, Navigating Climate Change for Planetary Health, it explored the key role of water in the challenge of climate change from a scientific perspective and also from a Christian faith perspective. The conference talks were recorded and are available on YouTube Moana Water of Life Climate Conference, Lincoln UK here. In 2020, a book that serves as a record of the conference and which also seeks to provide further inspiration for individuals and faith communities, was published. Further details on Science, Faith and the Climate Crisis may be found here.