- Psalm 5, 3
Eco-Congregation is an environmental programme for churches, available to Christian denominations throughout Ireland, England & Wales, Scotland, Hungary, Norway and Canada. It developed through a partnership within the ecumenical body Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and the environmental awareness charity “Going for Green” (now the British environmental charity, ENCAMS).
Eco-Congregation Ireland has been developed in co-operation with four Christian Churches – the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church – whose ecological representatives are in touch with the many groups operating in Britain and Europe. The programme is available to all parishes with a keen interest in environmental issues and offers resources and support to help them to take practical action in the context of their Christian faith.
To get started all you need to do is complete a simple environmental audit provided on the Eco-Congregation website. This initial audit helps parishes or congregations to assess what they are already doing and to determine future priorities. They are then encouraged to download the appropriate resource modules (12 modules in all) which aim to integrate environmental care into different areas of parish life. Each parish will normally choose three modules on which to focus for the year from a list including: Worship and Teaching, Children’s and Youth Work, Property and Grounds Management, Finance – Purchasing and Waste, Personal Lifestyles, Working with the Local Community and Thinking Globally.
Eco-Congregation Ireland is an internet initiative and therefore all resources are free and can be downloaded from this website. The modules are designed to enable congregations to become self-sufficient and monitor their own progress. Just register your interest with Eco-Congregation Ireland who will send you a starter pack, which includes a special Eco-Congregation Ireland folder and Module One – an environmental audit. Once you have completed this audit, you are on your way to becoming an eco-parish or eco-congregation!
- Psalm 1, 2