Breakout session 2: Discussion questions
Land
Can we change how we use the church’s land to improve our local environment and link to the community? Areas to explore include:
Access: Should we limit access to specific areas of the churchyard, to reserve space for particular uses (such as a cycle parking facility, growing area, wildlife protection)?
Recycling: Should we install a public recycling facility (for example, for aluminium drink cans)?
Community uses: Should we offer to host other activities that benefit the wider community? To grow food for the local community?
Money: Some changes cost money, at least initially. What changes might we need to make to our church spending and fundraising to support us getting to net zero?
Overall priority: Lots of things compete for our time and attention. How far up our church’s agenda should the climate/environmental crisis be?
Community and Global Engagement
We can engage with others to promote change, both as an organisation and as individuals: by lobbying, putting on and attending events, and working with partners to achieve wider change.
Commitment: What proportion of our time, money and effort should we put into achieving change with others?
As individuals?
Together as a church?
Focus: Should we concentrate on any particular topics (such as improving the local environment or taking small steps to reduce global inequality)?
Geography: Where do we direct our efforts?
Locally: Should our local environment and community be seen as based in Greenwich town centre, or should we think of it differently?
Nationally: How much effort should we put into lobbying nationally? As St Alfege church and as individuals?
Globally: How much focus should St Alfege have on global issues? Should we direct any of our resources to helping those in other communities and countries?
Money: Some changes cost money, at least initially. What changes might we need to make to our church spending and fundraising to support us getting to net zero?
Overall priority: Lots of things compete for our time and attention. How far up our church’s agenda should the climate/environmental crisis be?
Lifestyle
A good diet (food and drink), exercise and hygiene all help to keep us healthy. And producing food is a major contributor to global warming. We can all reduce our personal carbon footprints and environmental impact.
Education: How can the church help to inform people about what they can do? Isn’t it up to each individual to find out for themselves?
Support: Should we put time and effort into helping people measure and reduce their environmental impact? If so, which areas are the most important?
Challenge: Do we as a church have a remit to try to persuade others of the desirability and necessity to take action individually on climate change and environmental degradation?
Money: Some changes cost money. Should we be raising money specifically to help individuals reduce their environmental footprint? What changes might we need to make to our church spending and fundraising to support us getting to net zero?
Overall priority: Lots of things compete for our time and attention. How far up our church’s agenda should the climate/environmental crisis be?