Module 01 - Church Check-up

The Alliance of Religions and Conservation produced a detailed audit for the new millennium,

Christian Ecology Link have a leaflet with ideas

Alice Jupp Bsc AMIEnvSc, a former Diocesan Environment Officer, has created an unique audit service for Churches to give them a broad overview of their environmental status. Like Ecocongregation it's not just lighting and buildings, but focuses on faith, youth, community, planning, people etc.

“I warmly commend Alice to you as someone who understands environmental issues and who understands the Church. Time spent with her is a cost-effective, fun and helpful way for your parish or deanery to move further on the road to environmental wisdom.”
Bishop of Hertford - Rt Rev Paul Bayes

Visit her website for more information

Some denominations have produced environmental policies: does your church match up?

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management has produced a report on Faiths and the Environment and also a presentation as to why it is important for faiths to get involved, and some ideas as to how.

Faiths and the Environment - report on the role of faith groups in promoting environmental issues and sustainability, with some case studies from different faith groups around the world. It is really designed to persuade professionals to engage with faith groups, but it makes interesting reading if you want to find out what other faith groups are doing.

Faiths and the Environment - What can we do?  2.3mb .pdf - includes some practical questions that you can ask of your faith group.

Also the Alliance of Religions and Conservation have worked with the Benedictine community in Pennsylvania on an audit aimed at rural Benedictine communities in Latin America, but which has lots of in depth challenges to any community.

• Some energy efficiency advice centres might consider undertaking a survey of the church premises. Call 0800 512012 and your call will go through to your local centre.
• If your local council has a sustainability team, an agenda 21 team, or an action 21 team, they may be willing to offer advice. Try phoning your local council and asking. You might need to go through the environment services department, or the planning department, depending on how your council is organised.
• Community Action for Energy commissioned an agency to carry out an environmental energy audit for St Peters Church Caversham, so it might be worthwhile contact them: 08701 261 444.

For Welsh-speaking churches, the Union of Welsh Independent Churches produced a booklet in May 2008 outlining the basic issues, and with suggestions covering worship to recycling.