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Eco Congregation

What it is

Eco-Congregation Scotland is an ecumenical charity which aims to encourage churches to consider environmental issues within a Christian context and enable local churches to make positive contributions in their life and mission. It was officially launched at a special dedication service at Dunblane Cathedral on 28 March 2001.

What we do

St Machar’s Cathedral has embraced the principles of Eco-congregation and this is embedded in our mission statement. We completed our environmental audit, the first stage in becoming an eco-congregation, in 2002 and received our first eco-award in 2004, our second in 2009. We are now working towards our third and final eco-award.

There are three main areas of focus to an eco-award:

To grow in faith and understanding

To put God’s house in green order

To change lives, change communities

To grow in faith and understanding

Green issues feature regularly in Sunday services and in Friday prayers for peace and justice while special services such as Harvest Thanksgiving, World Environment Day and Creation Day focus exclusively on our stewardship of the planet. The Sunday School covers green issues and a Thought for the Month features regularly in the weekly news. Occasional special events consider the relationship between humans and the environment as for example when Michael Northcott spoke on ‘A Moral Climate: Climate Change and Christian Witness.

To put God’s house in green order

The entire heating and lighting systems have recently been overhauled in the Cathedral to more eco-friendly standards; a purchasing policy is in place and the fabrics committee follows an eco-agenda. Recycling is vigorously pursued. Members of the congregation are encouraged to take steps in their private life towards a greener lifestyle and, following a year of eco-tips in the weekly news, a survey was conducted of environmental attitudes. The congregation takes an active interest in the maintenance of Perwinnes Moss (qv) and the Boys Brigade and congregation members assist the Aberdeen City Rangers in such activities as gorse clearance and wetland development.

To change lives, change communities

The Cathedral chooses two charities each year to be beneficiaries of funds raised at various events: one supports a local need and one an overseas one. There is a Fairtrade policy in the Cathedral and Fairtrade goods are sold in the shop. We support Christian Aid and schools in Uganda and they in turn have a link with our Sunday School. We also support local environmental groups and they us. We are a member of the Aberdeen and Shire Eco-congregation Network.

In addition

Under the auspices of the Eco-congregation we hold an annual Plant Exchange on World environment day with proceeds to Christian Aid and, to remind us of the delights of the environment that we are working to care for, we conduct occasional Eco-walks accompanied by an environmental expert so that we can learn while we enjoy.

News

St Machar's has two Eco Congregation Awards and is working towards the third.  As part of this, we have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint by 5% a year. The Kirk Session are working on opportunities with the Cathedral and our other buildings, however, we need your help as our congregation.  With this in mind there will be a monthly eco tip in Weekly News and periodical articles on our website to suggest what you can do to help. For February, please take the simple step of making the most of the facilities provided by our Councils and other organisations such as supermarkets.  Are you reducing, reusing and recycling all household waste, garden waste, batteries and carrier bags?

Useful websites
www.ecofriendlylightbulbs.co.uk
a useful site for hard to find lightbulbs. Next day delivery (free if over £40) and 5% discount for churches

www.nigelsecostore.com

Offers tips and advice on energy-saving and sells inexpensive energy-saving devices and recycled products often useful as gifts

www.newstatesman.com/environment/2007/11/global-warming-lynas-climate

a thoughtful article on tackling global warming without alienating the public

www.becycle.org.uk

The Aberdeen University Bicycle Project, beCyCle is a community based volunteer run bicycle project that recycles unused bikes and provides free bike lending and an open workshop.

Open Wed & Sat 1-6 pm, G34 Don Street, Old Aberdeen

www.grow@greyfriarskirk.com

A wood recycling project