Church of England

The Church of England is delighted to be a supporter of Together because it complements its own Shrinking the Footprint campaign. This national initiative, launched on World Environment Day 2006 aims to enable Church members and institutions to address – in faith, practice, and mission – the pressing issue of climate change.

The initiative began by setting out to Measure our Footprint a challenge to all its 43 dioceses to discover the energy used during 2005 in all 16,000 churches along with diocesan offices and bishops’ houses. Only when this is done can the church begin to show the reductions needed to achieve the General Synod’s wish to create the “The 40% Church”

Along with the request for details of energy used, every church has received a basic audit with the encouragement to consider all aspects of energy use and how this might be reduced. In addition the national network of Diocesan Environment Officers is being encouraged to develop opportunities to encourage churches and their congregations to consider ways of promoting energy saving and good practice.

In supporting the launch of Together the Rt Rev and Rt Hon Dr Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and chair of the Bishops’ Environment Group, said “The Church of England is officially committed to ‘cutting the carbon’. Our Shrinking the Footprint campaign is helping congregations to see the connection between caring for God’s creation and embracing a greener way of life. We are glad to support this effort because it is true that ‘We’re in this Together’ and to engage our own members and those of other faiths.”

The Church of England marked the launch of Together by publishing ‘How many light bulbs does it take to change a Christian?’ This pocket guide offers practical and achievable suggestions for changes an individual, church and community can make to reduce their ecological footprint. Available from Christian Bookshops, Waterstones or from Church House Publishing hotline: 020 7799 4064 or website.