The Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane
Growing Faith Communities
A Diocese of the Scottish Episcopal Church
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So far, the following Charges in our Diocese have completed the EFT:
St Columba, Aberdour
St Ninian, Alyth
St Catharine, Blairgowrie
St Serf, Burntisland
St Modoc, Doune
Holy Trinity, Dunfermline
St Paul, Kinross
St Margaret of Scotland, Leven
St Mary, Newport-on-Tay
St John the Baptist, Perth
St John the Evangelist, Pittenweem
St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St Andrews
The EFT (Energy Footprint Tool) is the online software, developed for the SEC, to gather greenhouse gas emissions data from across the Province. This is an essential part of learning to reduce our carbon footprint as part of the Net Zero Action Plan. Vestry Treasurers have been emailed asking that this information is submitted as they are most likely to have access to utility bills, which are needed to input the relevant energy consumption information into the tool. The task is generally a 5-10 minute job. If there are any difficulties in completing the tool, ‘how-to’ details are available. Questions and queries should be directed to Neil Rawlins NeilR@scotland.anglican.org
Launch of Diocesan Participative Art Project
The Diocese has launched an artistic activity drawing on our missional purpose that underlines all our climate change and wider environmental actions. It is intended to be enjoyed in each of our churches within the Diocese and when it comes together for Diocesan Synod 2025, the installation will bring hope, be thought-provoking and a sign of our discipleship.
The activity is to colour in one (or more) of the leaf-shaped images and/or petals. This may be completed as individuals, as a group, as a study tool perhaps during Advent or Epiphany, in any way whatsoever. Simply print off the pages desired. The completed images should be sent to the Diocesan Office before or by 12th January 2025.
The artist, Antonio Maggi, could not be present at the Diocesan Environment Gathering on Sunday 22nd September when this was launched, but sends this message to us. In the video he refers to Rev Lara Dose, Rector of Holy Trinity, Dunfermline who liaised with Antonio to commission this work.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mDynr-3_AfAeHVBbvpDSyzlCmJyDqzp8/view?usp=drivesdk
Participative Art across the Diocese colouringbook
Rev Canon Elaine Garman, Convenor of Diocesan Environment Group and Rev Canon, Liz Baker, Convenor of Mission Board
“About sixty people gathered in Perth Cathedral from across the diocese on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd September 2024 for our Diocesan Net Zero Environment Gathering. Our aim was, within the context of worship, to reflect on our place in creation and our responsibilities. Participants from across the Diocese and more widely from the Province, as well as some ecumenical partners used the opportunity to meet, swap stories and chat. We also browsed the information stands by external organisations.
Susanna Rae – Sustrans Officer embedded in Perth & Kinross Council
Perth & Kinross Climate Café
Jess Pepper – Climate Reality Leader and Founder/Director of Climate Cafés https://www.climate.cafe/
Karen Hind – Cherish Support Officer
Perth & Kinross Climate Action
Susan Norrie, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Officer (not in attendance but provided leaflets and posters)
After a welcome from the Provost, Bishop Ian and Rev Canon Elaine Garman, Convenor of Diocesan Environment Group, we joined together in worship with prayer, Scripture readings and song. Everyone learned more and joined in discussions at two of our four stations around the building. These were Positive Finances, led by Bethany Nelson, SEC Net Zero Team – Empowerment Coordinator, and Jack Nevin, SEC Net Zero Team – Innovation Coordinator; Rooted Worship, led by Alan Werrity, Chair of Eco Group, St Andrew’s, St Andrews and Rev David Coleman, Environmental Chaplain of Eco-Congregation Scotland; Zero Waste led by Ross Stirling-Young, Ordinand and soon to be Assistant Curate at St Columba’s, Stanley; and Training and Education led by James Gardner, Officer for Children and Youth in the Diocese and Convenor of the Diocesan Communications Group. We then briefly reflected on our learnings and heard from Rev David Coleman, the Environmental Chaplain of Eco-Congregation Scotland. Rev Lara Dose launched “Participative Art across the Diocese” before we closed in worship, with a blessing from Bishop Ian.”
Participative Art across the Diocese colouringbook
More information and support will be coming on stream in the next weeks and months now that the SEC has its Net Zero Delivery Team in place. The General Synod Office and the Provincial Environment Group have also been working hard to put in place different funding streams to help Charges on their journey to Net Zero. It is anticipated to have more details on this soon. The Diocesan Environment Group will also be helping to direct people to useful resources and to share experience of others. To that end it would be useful to have an ‘Eco Rep’ in each charge to whom much of this information could be sent either in addition to the Vestry Secretary and Incumbent or for some bits of information to only go to the Eco Rep. We appreciate that some Vestries do not have huge capacity and it perhaps does not need to be a Vestry Member. Some Charges may prefer that any information continues to go direct to the Incumbent or the Vestry Secretary. It is requested that Vestries consider nominating an Eco Rep (who has an active email address) and providing that name and contact details to Holly Scott, Bishop’s Secretary at bishopsec@standrews.anglican.org .
Rev Canon Elaine C Garman, Convenor, Diocesan Environment Group
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Psalm 24: 1
The Scottish Episcopal Church has committed to reaching Net Zero carbon by 2030. This is a huge challenge and a huge opportunity: to create a sustainable church for the now, and the future. A Net Zero Action Plan was approved by General Synod in 2023.
Tackling the significant challenge of Net Zero 2030 is guided by three Christian values: discipleship, justice and hope. Collectively, they are the lens through which we see the journey ahead.
Discipleship calls us to be steadfast advocates for justice and compassion, and to take urgent action to protect the planet and its inhabitants.
Justice requires that those most affected by the climate crisis are considered in every decision we take.
Hope encourages us to find strength in the midst of uncertainty, to trust in God’s universal love, and to keep working for a flourishing future.
With these Christian values rooting our work, we can together transform our church and make a lasting and positive impact on the climate crisis. Together we can bequeath to future generations a church that is fit for purpose.
This Net Zero Portal is a central online resource where information and stories can be shared. The website is publicly available and content will be added over time. Please do get in touch with Bethany Nelson regarding suggestions of content to add.
The Provincial Environment Group (PEG) is pleased to announce the release of the updated Net Zero Toolkit.
This online resource has been completely redesigned to complement the ten core objectives identified in the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030), approved by General Synod in June 2023.
The new toolkit:
Integrating the online version of the Net Zero Cards directly into the toolkit enables a seamless link between the objectives identified in the Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030), the many tasks outlined in the Net Zero Toolkit, and the individual actions described on the cards. Together, the new Net Zero Toolkit and online Net Zero Cards provide a one-stop resource, enabling all churches to take immediate steps to work towards Net Zero 2030.
You can find out more and access the toolkit now using the link below:
Creator God, giver of life, you sustain the earth and direct the nations. In this time of climate crisis, grant us clarity to hear the groaning of creation and the cries of the poor.
Challenge us to change our lifestyles. Guide our leaders to take courageous action. Enable your church to be a beacon of hope. And foster within us a renewed vision of your purposes for your world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, by and for whom all things were made.
Amen
(Archbishop of York)
We have been thrilled with the engagement of congregations in our diocese at the four Area Council Gatherings held in October and November 2021, and with the wonderful fellowship and commitment to work together and encourage each other in addressing the pressing issues of climate change.
We will be highlighting your stories and projects to celebrate steps taken toward better care for creation, and to challenge and encourage all of us on our journey to becoming carbon neutral.
If you have a climate action story to share please email the Convenor of the Climate Change Group revelainegarman@outlook.com.
We can DO this… together!
Young Lily Drage lives with her family – parents Dan and Kimberly, and younger sister Joanna – in St Andrews. They each are inspiring leaders in raising climate awareness and modelling and encouraging change. Together, they are quite a force for climate action in our community.
At thirteen, Lily is doing her part to help keep her carbon footprint small. She is most pleased about her and her family’s efforts to buy second hand, reuse items and reduce plastic – especially single use. She has been encouraged by what is happening at home and at school, saying, ‘My family has been buying a lot less single use plastic and brand new things made of plastic; and my friends and I do make an effort to put our rubbish in the bin and avoid single use plastic.’
In addition to these actions, Lily believes that two of the most tangible impacts she is making personally are using a reusable mask and a metal insulated water bottle. ‘It makes me feel better that I am doing something to help,’ she commented.
In addition to efforts at her home and school, Lily is very pleased with the commitment she sees in her church community of Saint Andrews, St Andrews and is encouraged by the initiatives underway. It is inspiring to see her so knowledgeable and attuned to what is happening within the congregation, and to hear her, without skipping a beat, mention all the impactful initiatives our Eco Congregation group here have stewarded (it perhaps helps that her mother, Kimberly Drage, is a key member of this group!):
Lily helped make the signs for the plants in the beds on the outside wall of the church and said she ‘got cool information about potatoes from Jenny – how they grow and how to take care of them.’
Lily feels most passionate about climate change when she is out in nature: ‘It’s about respecting the world,’ she says. Nature – especially animals and walking the Lade Braes in St Andrews – is what is most personal for her, what is most familiar and what she likes.
She cares very much about the impact of climate change on wildlife and took part in making climate change posters at her school. For her part, Lily made a drawing, and named the work Tiger: Paws, a play on the homophones ‘paws’ and ‘pause’. She said she imagined ‘wildlife talking to us humans and asking us to hear them – they don’t like it.’ She said she feels guilty (on behalf of all humans) about the animals’ predicatment – ‘It’s not their fault.’
She hopes to encourage people to pause and pay attention to our wildlife.
Like most, Lily feels the enormity of climate change and the challenges we face, especially in believing we can make a difference as individuals. She comments, ‘Sometimes you feel like you are on your own. . . and it can be hard to feel hope about it’. But she offers encouragement:
‘Keep going, even though it may seem like a lot of other people aren’t doing enough. There are lots of people who are. A lot of people are aware and that gives me hope.’
And she, like so many young people who are helping to lead climate action efforts, give all of us hope.
Click this link for our page containing updates, information, resources and reflection on COP26 in Glasgow, which occurred over two weeks in November 2021.
https://mailchi.mp/cop-resilience-hub/looking-back-on-cop26-9180857?e=57b4590a15
https://mailchi.mp/cop-resilience-hub/looking-back-on-cop26-9180857?e=57b4590a15
The Diocese of St Andrews Dunkeld and Dunblane
28a Balhousie Street
Perth
PH1 5HJ
Office Tel: 01738 443173
General: office@standrews.anglican.org
Media: media@standrews.anglican.org
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