GC E-News: Jan 2020

16 Jan 2020   –   View Online

Dear  …………….

1.  Epiphany Declaration for Fossil Free Churches
2.  Money Makes Change – New ECCR Resources for small groups 
3.  GC Website:  Please send us your comments
4.  GC Online Media and Website:  Would you like to contribute in any way? 5.  Letters to MPs about UK air passenger duty tax  Do consider writing.
6.  Upcoming events (extra to those in the previous email)

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1.  Epiphany Declaration for Fossil Free Churches

On 6th Jan (Epiphany) Operation Noah reported that that 20 Christian organisations in the UK – including churches, dioceses, Synods and religious orders – have announced their divestment from fossil fuels as part of the  Epiphany Declaration for Fossil Free Churches. 
This joint divestment announcement includes the first two Catholic dioceses in England to go fossil free!

The institutions joining the announcement include the Catholic Dioceses of Middlesbrough and Lancaster, two Catholic religious orders (the Congregation of Jesus and Presentation Sisters), two United Reformed Church Synods (Wales and South Western Synods), a theological college and several local Church of England, Methodist, URC and Baptist churches.
Among those announcing their divestment commitments, there are some significant firsts.

The Dioceses of Middlesbrough and Lancaster are the first Catholic dioceses in England and Wales to divest from fossil fuels.
Ivybridge Methodist Church and Stirling Methodist Church are the first local Methodist churches to commit to go fossil free.
Churches and Christian organisations of all denominations are invited to join the next global joint divestment announcement for faith institutions, organised by Operation Noah, GreenFaith, the Global Catholic Climate Movement and Green Anglicans. The announcement will coincide with the Economy of Francesco conference taking place in Assisi from 26-28 March 2020.

2. Money Makes Change – New ECCR Resources for small groups

Money Makes Change is an ECCR (The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility) programme. It is a set of resources designed to help Christians explore and make ethical choices around money. The first resource to be launched as part of the programme is for small groups – it offers a conversation based introduction to questions of money and faith. A handbook for facilitators, PowerPoint, handouts & worksheets, can be downloaded for free from ECCR website and  https://www.eccr.org.uk/learning-materials/  with quotes such as:

“The money you pay into your pension isn’t just sitting around waiting for the day you retire. It’s invested in companies. They use your money to create the products and services we interact with every day. From the tea you drink in the morning to the television you watch at night.  Your pension builds the world around you.”

Why not run a set of discussions / small group meetings where you live?
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3.  GC Website  2. Please send us your comments

ANY suggestions on how we can make our website more readable and relevant to you would be welcomed. We would especially be pleased to hear from those of you who look at the website on mobile phones.

4.  GC Online Media and Website

Would you like to contribute in any way? Do contact me if you have any offers. People doing existing jobs could do with help; Do you think we should post on Instagram? Have any of you experience with other channels of communication?   It is much easier to donate to Green Christian now and we have thus been pleased to welcome a good number of new members. Join now.

5.  Letters to MPs re suggested cut in UK air passenger duty tax

In just two days nine members of Green Christian have written to their MPs – about the bad idea (in the light of the climate emergency) to cut air passenger duty, for the sake of helping Flybe. I have printed some here. Maybe you could use these letters to help yourself compose a letter?
Mark Boulton said: “If you followed the news this evening (15th) you will see pressure for environmental change is building and the more letters MPs receive, the more notice they will have to take. If you haven’t yet written to your MP please consider doing so. It will be difficult but not impossible to step back from an economic system steeped in continual growth and ever increasing profits and the church should be out in front encouraging change towards more sustainable living.”

6..  Upcoming events (extra to those in the previous email)

1.)  Erratum in previous email. I had the wrong date (19th) for this meeting in Wallasey. The notice should be:
25 Jan: Wallasey, The Wirral, Claremount Methodist CH45 6UE Church 12-3pm Details: 07910960316: Message in A Bottle: Rubbish Campaign. Plastic Free soupa and bread lunch with stalls, activities and speakers. Help persuade the word’s biggest plastic polluter to change their ways. https://www.facebook.com/events/503422500291250/ http://www.claremountmethodist.org.uk/

2.) Fair Trade Fortnight 24 Feb – 8 March NOW is the time to prepare for Fair Trade Fortnight.

3.) 7 March 2020 Derby : JPIT Conference: Renewal and Rebellion: Faith, Economy and Climate – The Riverside Centre DE24 8HY . We are pleased to announce there will be a Green Christian Stall at this event – so do call in at it.

Best Wishes
from   etc.

greenchristian.org.uk
info@greenchristian.org.uk
Facebook Group    Twitter:   @greenchristian_ 
Download the Green Christian Prayer Guide for January
Upcoming Green Christian Events: 1 Feb 2020: Green Christian:  Way of Life Day , London
6-7-8 March: Doncaster & Gomde, Hatfield Moor   Navigating ecological tragedy:   a collaborative inquiry with Buddhists and Christians
28 March: Exeter: Iona SW Gathering with Green Christian  Exeter
3-25 Oct: Green Christian Retreat:   Ringsfield Hall, Suffolk, NR34 8JR.
7 Nov   GC   Annual Members’ Meeting:   1pm-5pm, St Aloysius, London

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