Oakwood Church Leeds

Environmental Policy

At the Oakwood Church AGM in April 2018 it was agreed that work should proceed to develop an Environmental Policy for Oakwood Church

This page is follows our journey

Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy

for Oakwood Church

Agreed March 2019

We affirm these elements of our faith:

• Through Christ, God has created an awesome and majestic cosmos to bring Him praise and glory. We are but one part of His created order.

• Jesus has redeemed the whole earth through His death and resurrection.

• We recognise that we have a special responsibility to care for the Earth so that human life and all God’s creatures may be sustained in harmony.

Aim

As a local church, we aim to take the practical steps necessary to realise the Fifth Mark of Mission, which is “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth”.

Objective

As a church community, we will take environmental concerns into account in our mission, worship, study, education, training, pastoral, administrative and other projects and programmes.

Actions

1. We will appoint a person as our Environmental Officer/Champion to lead our programme and encourage him or her to bring relevant environmental issues and concerns forward to the PCC on a regular basis.

2. We will include our concern for sustainability in our worship and teaching.

3. We will undertake an environmental and energy audit of the church premises and property, identify the most significant issues and impacts which should be addressed and make and implement plans and programmes to tackle them, recognising that some additional costs may be incurred to minimise environmental impacts. (See partial lists below).

4. We will work with REAP

[ Roundhay Environmental Action Group]

https://www.reap-leeds.org.uk/ and others in our local community to identify environmental issues which should be addressed in our area and help develop actions to tackle them.

5. As the church’s energy use is arguably its greatest environmental issue, we will seek to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the electricity and gas used in church premises by where possible:

• Switching to “green” energy suppliers (renewably generated electricity and biogas)
• Using thermostats for temperature control
• Fitting LED light bulbs
• Improving insulation wherever practicable
• Turning off lights, appliances and computers when not in use
• Replacing old, inefficient boilers where practicable and investigating renewable heating alternatives

6. We will encourage our staff and congregation wherever possible to use forms of transport to work, meetings etc. which have minimum or reduced environmental impact – e.g. walk, cycle, public transport, car sharing electric/ hydrogen vehicles.

7. We will seek ways to reduce material consumption and the impact of our activities on the environment by, wherever possible:

• Serving locally produced food where possible
• Minimising the amount of red meat and dairy products served
• Using email rather than sending hard copies
• Using recycled paper
• Reusing/repairing or recycling items
• Using low environmental impact cleaning materials
• Avoiding the use of disposable plastic products where practical (e.g. plastic bags, cups, cutlery and straws)

8. We will avoid using water unnecessarily, install water meters where appropriate, check for leakages, fit water minimising systems to taps and cisterns wherever practicable.

9. We will assess our land and property for wildlife and manage them to conserve bio diversity.

10. We will encourage individual members of our congregations to take actions in their personal lives to complement and supplement these actions of the church community.

11. We will participate in the Eco Church programme.

12. We will communicate this policy to our congregation, church groups and all users of the church and seek their cooperation to follow these guidelines.

This policy and programme will be reviewed every three years in light of developments.

Next review date Spring 2022.

In THE BROADCAST May 2018 Al Fraser wrote

“The Oakwood Church Annual General Meeting in April 2018 agreed to proceed with the development of an Environmental Policy for Oakwood Church.

With Leeds Diocesan support and direction, as a local church, we will aim to take the practical steps necessary to realise the Fifth Mark of Mission, which is “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth”.

As a church community, we will take environmental concerns into account in our mission, worship, study, education, training, pastoral, administrative and other projects and programmes.

An Environmental Policy will aim to address the issues of air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystem management, bio diversity protection, the protection of natural resources, wildlife and endangered species, and the preservation of these natural resources for future generations.

Our first step will be to complete an Environmental audit and work towards accreditation of the national and prestigious Eco Church scheme.

We will keep you informed of progress. Look out for more information and how you can support the Environmental Policy. If you have any questions, please let me know.”

Al Fraser

Environmental Policy Representative

Oakwood Church

May 2018 - Environment Matters

Steps towards an

Environmental Policy for Oakwood Church

To address the issues of

• air and water pollution,

• waste management,

• ecosystem management,

• bio diversity protection,

• the protection of natural resources, wildlife and endangered species, and the preservation of these natural resources for future generations

Environmental Policy Recommendations

1. Include our concern for sustainability in our worship and teaching

2. Undertake an environmental and energy audit of the church premises and property, recognising that some additional costs may be incurred to minimise environmental impacts

3. Work with others in our local community to identify environmental issues which should be addressed in our area and help develop actions to tackle them

4. As the church’s energy use is arguably its greatest environmental issue, seek to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the electricity and gas used in church premises

5. Encourage our Church members wherever possible to use forms of transport to work, meetings, etc. which have minimum or reduced environmental impact e.g. walk, cycle, use public transport, car share

6. Seek ways to reduce material consumption and the impact of our activities on the environment by, wherever possible

• Serving locally produced food
• Using email rather than sending paper copies
• Using recycled paper
• Using low environmental impact cleaning materials

7. Avoid using water unnecessarily, install water meters where appropriate, check for leakages, fit water minimising systems to taps and cisterns wherever practicable

8. Assess our land and property for wildlife and manage them to conserve bio diversity

9. Encourage individual members of our congregations to take actions in their personal lives to complement and supplement these actions of the church community

10. Participate in the ‘Eco Church’ programme

Eco Church is Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth

It offers a free online survey and supporting resources designed to equip a church to express care for God’s world in worship and teaching; in how to look after your buildings and land; in how to engage with your local community and in global campaigns, and in the personal lifestyles of your congregation

The actions taken will count towards a prestigious Eco Church Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level

The vision is for churches of all denominations to care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbours and following God faithfully

Become more recycling savvy at

Oakwood Church

PLEASE MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE RECYCLED IS PUT INTO

OUR GREEN RECYCLING BINS

PLEASE USE THE GREEN BINS FOR

card / paper / newspapers / magazines / clean foil /

 bubble wrap / washed food cans / plastic bottles /

  trigger sprays [empty and rinsed] / bread bags /

[clean, clear] fruit, meat and vegetable trays /

carrier bags / toilet roll and kitchen wrappers /

Stationery / cardboard packaging / aerosols

Exhaust aerosol tins of furniture polish and air fresheners and remove their plastic caps      

Please remove packaging tape from cardboard boxes and flatten them to save bin space

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling/your-bins/green-recycling-bin

THE BROWN BINS ARE FOR

Grass cuttings / Flowers and plants / Weeds

Hedge clippings / Leaves / Windfall fruit

Twigs / small branches (not more than 3 cm thick)

NOT

Plastic - including compostable and biodegradable /

Glass / Rubble

Noxious weeds / Soil / Compost /

Food waste (including fruit and veg peelings) /

Pet bedding, pet waste or cat litter

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling/your-bins/brown-garden-waste-bin

ONLY PUT WHAT IS NOT RECYCLABLE IN OUR BLACK INCINERATOR BINS

Margarine tubs / yoghurt pots / black plastics /

Cartons [Tetra Paks] / crisp packets /

film lids from fruit and vegetable trays /

food waste / wet waste / nappies

polystyrene / general refuse

The Leeds Incinerator at Cross Green

Q.I. (Quite Interesting

Did you know that it takes only seven days for your recycled newspaper to become newspaper again?

In no time at all you could be reading recycled news on your recycled paper...

In THE BROADCAST May 2019 Al Fraser wrote

Oakwood Church Environmental Policy

I am delighted to report that both the Resources Team and Church Council agreed and pledged support to an Environmental Policy for Oakwood Church, presented on 25 February.  The Policy was also endorsed at the Oakwood Church Annual Meeting on the 26th March. The Environmental Policy is now available to read in full on our website and on our notice board in Church.

Our Environmental Policy means as a church community, we will take environmental concerns into account in our mission, worship, study, education, training, pastoral, administrative and all other activities impacting on our environmental footprint and climate change.  As Christians in our local church, we aim to take the practical steps necessary to realise the Fifth Mark of Mission, which is “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth”.  We will give our support to address the issues of air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystem management, bio diversity protection, the protection of natural resources, wildlife and endangered species, and the preservation of these natural resources for future generations.

In practical terms it will mean we will take the following actions:

1. Bring relevant environmental issues and concerns forward to Church meetings on a regular basis.

2. We will include our concern for environmental sustainability in our worship and teaching.

3. We will undertake an environmental and energy audit of the church premises and property, identify the most significant issues and impacts which should be addressed and make and implement plans and programmes to tackle them.

4. We will work with REAP (Roundhay Environmental Action Project www.reap-leeds.org.uk) and others in our local community to identify environmental issues which should be addressed in our area and help develop actions to tackle them.

5. As the church’s energy use is arguably its greatest environmental issue, we will seek to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the electricity and gas used in church premises by where possible:

• Switching to “green” energy suppliers (renewably generated electricity and biogas), when we can.
• Using additional thermostats for temperature control.
• Fitting more LED light bulbs. Improving insulation wherever practicable.
• Turning off lights, appliances and computers when not in use

6. We will encourage wherever possible to use forms of transport to work, meetings etc. which have minimum or reduced environmental impact – eg walk, cycle, public transport and car sharing.

7. We will seek ways to reduce material consumption and the impact of our activities on the environment by, wherever possible:

• using email rather than sending hard copies

• using recycled paper, reducing the amount of printed paper in meetings and Church communications, including the number of Broadcast copies.

• using low environmental impact cleaning materials

• avoiding the use of disposable plastic products where practical (eg plastic bags, cups, cutlery and straws)

8. We will avoid using water unnecessarily, install water meters where appropriate, check for leakages, fit water minimising systems to taps and cisterns wherever practicable.

9. We will assess our land and property to promote wildlife and plant bio diversity. We have installed a hedgehog nesting box (with a successful resident smile), and are planning additional bird nesting boxes and aim to review what additional plants we can grow, particularly fruit bushes.

10. We will encourage individual members of our congregations to take actions in their personal lives to complement and supplement these actions of the church community. We have a regular Eco tips page in the Broadcast most months. (Reproduced on this web page)

11. We will participate in the Rocha Eco Church programme, you can find out more details here www.ecochurch.arocha.org.uk

12. We will communicate this policy to our congregation, church groups and all users of the church and seek their cooperation to follow these guidelines.

13. This policy and programme will be reviewed every year to assess progress.

Environmental Champions are needed!

To support and deliver the Environmental Policy and to participate and be awarded a Rocha Eco Church award we need everyone to work together and to allocate a number of Environmental Champions (volunteers) to support the large areas of different work.

 The Environmental Champions could be one individual, a number of individuals or an existing group e.g. House Groups, Messy Church, Uniformed Groups, SYNC, Walking Group, Junior Church, etc.

They could be of any age and experience provided they have passion and enthusiasm for making a difference in this area.

The Areas where Environmental Champions are needed are listed on of this web page

Please let me know if you would like to sign up to be an environmental champion, as an individual, a number of individuals (the more the better) or an existing Church group or sign up on the sheet on the Environmental Noticeboard at Church.  I can obtain support with further information and resources to help each group.

Many thanks

 Al Fraser, Environmental Steward

PLEASE SEE THE NOTICEBOARD

ABOVE THE BOOKSHELVES

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Eco Church Silver Award - April 2020

We are very pleased to announce that Oakwood Church was awarded the Rocha Eco Church Silver Award certification

This is in recognition of our commitment to Environmental issues in our Worship, Buildings, Energy Use and Lifestyle.

Thank you to all who have supported our environmental work

A copy of the certificate is here and more details on the Rocha Church scheme is available here

We will be working towards the Gold Award over the next 24 months. If you would like to know more details, or how you can support Oakwood Church in caring for the Environment, please contact Al Fraser

Oakwood Church

Climate and Environmental Emergency Recognition

On the basis that:

1. The world is facing a severe crisis of environmental degradation and climate change that affects our ability to sustain human civilisation in its present form;

2. The main cause of the crisis is human activity;

3. The crisis is inextricably linked to global injustices and inequality;

4. The crisis indicates a failure of human beings to follow God’s mandate to care for the world and to seek justice among its peoples;

We, the leaders of Oakwood Church, want to publicly recognise a Climate and Environmental Emergency, and commit ourselves to:

1. Examining our lives individually and as a Church in relation to this crisis, and seeking to live faithfully to God;

2. Bringing forward by December 2021 an action plan to minimise our negative impact as a Church on the environment and climate and to help restoration where possible;

3. Encouraging our members to make relevant lifestyle changes appropriate to their circumstances;

4. Encouraging action on this emergency in our neighbourhoods, workplaces and other spheres of activity;

5. Using whatever influence we may have to bring about positive actions by local and national government and by corporations.

Oakwood Church, Springwood Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire

April 2021