The Big One

Over the weekend thousands of campaigners, including several of our congregation, joined a protest in London, calling for meaningful action to tackle the Climate and Biodiversity Crises. Although national news gave the impression that all those present belonged to Extinction Rebellion, the reality was that lots of other organisations including Christian Aid, Tearfund and A Rocha were present too. On every day there were services led by different church groups in addition to daily Franciscan prayer walks. Former archbishop of York, Lord Sentamu, tried to deliver a letter of protest to Shell headquarters - you can see what happened here.

Diocesan Report

At last week's deanery synod the report of the diocesan synod was all about environmental issues. Reading deanery's motion to make it easier to put solar panels onto churches was passed, as was a motion from Wantage:

That this Synod, embracing the principles of the Sustainable Church Flowers movement, which encourages a living into the Fifth Mark of Mission by promoting the use of local, seasonal and fully biodegradable/compostable flowers and foliage without floral foam, 1.) encourages a sustainable approach to church flowers throughout the diocese and 2.) strongly discourages the use of all floral foam in churches and churchyards across the diocese. 

Their supporting paper is here.

We were also encouraged to take a look at the Diocese's plan to reach net zero, which was accepted by the synod. This has ambitious targets aimed at tackling the Climate Crisis, and both the Diocese and parishes have a part to play in meeting them.