The PCANZ Special Assembly 2022 supported the recommendation that a workgroup be established (initially for six years) to promote initiatives that help the various parts of the Presbyterian Church to reduce carbon emissions in real terms.
Since its formation, the Workgroup has promoted the following initiatives:
- Becoming an Eco Church denomination. Eco Church has a range of quality resources, including liturgical and educational resources. It has also developed a Self-Assessment Worksheet, which helps churches to identify areas where emissions are being produced (e.g. Building, Waste, Food, Transport), and to develop measurable goals to help reduce those emissions. See the PCANZ Eco Church web page.
- The 360 Carbon Calculator. Eco Church has adapted an international Carbon Calculator and customised it for New Zealand churches. The calculator is designed to help churches accurately measure their emissions so that they can then begin to reduce them.
Green Event Planning
The Workgroup developed a resource on Green Event Planning to help our Church plan low-carbon events. It is intended for regional and national gatherings, but can also be used for local, congregational events.
Building for the Future
The Workgroup also developed a Building for the Future resource for churches when they are embarking on a building project – either a renovation or a new build. The resource helps churches to think about how their building design can reduce carbon emissions. It also encourages churches to think more deeply about how their buildings relate to their mission and identity.
Sharing stories
Top-down initiatives have little success if there is no will on the ground to implement them. Therefore, alongside the above initiatives, the Workgroup has also focused on sharing stories about what various churches and ministries around the country are doing. In the past, the Workgroup has hosted workshops at General Assembly, spoken at presbytery gatherings, and encouraged churches to join the Eco Church network. They also have a seasonal (4x year) slot in the Bush Telegraph national PCANZ e-newsletter.
Climate adaptation
On a related note, the Interchurch Bioethics Council (ICBC) recently produced a document on Churches & Climate Adaptation for churches. While Adaptation is more about adapting to the reality of climate change than specifically about reducing emissions, there is a lot of crossover. The document has some excellent material catered for churches in Aotearoa.
- Download or read the ICBC Churches & Climate Adaptation resource.
The Workgroup membership is:
- Rev Dr Jordan Redding (Convener)
- Ms Alva Feldmeier
- Dr Andrew Shepherd
- Rev Brett Reid
- Mr Chris Lambourne
The Workgroup can be contacted at minister@sthelierscentre.org.nz