We are in contact with a number of churches outside Scotland in countries that do not have a local Eco-Congregation movement. These are usually congregations with specific Scottish connections.

This is the latest news from these congregations.

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• St. Andrews Church, Brussels wins Silver award.

  

  St. Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Brussels has won a silver Eco-Congregation award. This is the sixteenth award plaque we have sent out in the past four weeks and it is just on its way to the Post Office.

  The assessors identified the following for particular commendation:

  • the widespread communication of the caring for creation message through all sectors of the
    congregation using noticeboard, Sunday School, sermons, film screenings and discussions;
  • the insulation of the church roof and the plans for the manse;
  • their commitment to global issues, shown in the twinning link to Adentan, support for Fair
    Trade, Christian Aid and WWF;
  • their making use of people within the congregation to link to European environmental agencies;
    the investment of church reserves in sustainable funds.

  Congratulations to everyone at St Andrew’s for their ongoing commitment to climate change and other environmental issues.

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• First Minister hears stories of climate change devastation. #cop23

  From the Church of Scotland web site:

  

  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon listens intently to concerns about climate change. Scottish Government.

  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been told that climate change is putting entire populations of Pacific Ocean island nations at serious risk.

  Delegates from the World Council of Churches said rising sea levels, increasingly severe drought and storms had questioned the very survival of people in the British Commonwealth of Tuvalu.

  Ms Sturgeon attended a meeting, facilitated by the Church of Scotland, at the UN’s Climate Conference in the German city of Bonn this morning.

  She heard stories of hope and pain from people who fear their countrymen and women are more vulnerable to migration and displacement due to the impact of climate change.

  Ms Sturgeon met with Frances Namoumou from the Pacific Conference of Churches in Fiji and Rev Tafue Lusama, General Secretary of the Congregational Church in Tuvalu.

  Read the full story here.

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• Eco-Congregation Launched in Southern Africa

  Eco-Congregation has just been launched across several Southern African countries by the organisation SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute).

  For further information visit their web site here:

  http://safcei.org/what-we-do/eco-congregations/

   

   

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• Presentation from John Ferguson of EcoideaM Ltd now available to download

  Presentation given by John Ferguson from EcoideaM Ltd on 26^th September at the Local Networks Seminar. A full report of the day will follow.

  The presentation can be downloaded in PowerPoint format here: Eco Congregation Seminar Dunblane 260915

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• Local Networks Seminar 2015, Saturday 26th September.

  This year’s Local Networks Seminar is being held on Saturday 26^th September, 11am – 3.30pm at Dunblane Cathedral Halls. Please note the date, which is later in September this year.

  The main topic for the day will be “After Paris – What happens next?”

  The Climate Justice Baton Relay (see http://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/get-involved/events/baton-relay/) has been a huge success. The Baton has been (double!) booked every Sunday, and many dates in between, since its launch in April until it departs for Paris at the end of November. Congregations from Orkney to Dumfries have taken the Baton into their churches, schools and community centres, paraded it through the streets, taken it up mountains and on pilgrimages to spread the message that now is the time for Climate Justice.

  John Ferguson of the Binn Eco Park has agreed to start the discussion by giving us an overview of the issues and how these relate to what we can do in church and community.  John is a Christian, who formerly worked for the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and is now running a ground breaking environmental business. He is an inspirational speaker with a wide knowledge of and  insights into the issues. You can download a short biography for John here.

  Trevor Jamison, our environmental chaplain will be offering some biblical and theological insights on the theme. There will also be time allowed for the usual exchange of news and views and networking between the networks.

  A full programme for the Seminar is available for download here. Places are limited please therefore book your place by replying to margaret@ecocongregation.org.uk by Monday 7^th September.

  For those unable to get to the Seminar we will be producing a Report of the day and consulting more widely on the outcomes.

   

   

  Continue reading →