Religion and the rainforest

Religion and environmental conservation may not seem like the most obvious of partners. Many people will wonder what possible link there can be in religious teachings and the growing concern that surrounds our impact on the planet.

Christ Church & St John in Nelson, Lancashire have shown that there is definitely a link between religion and conservation. Since October 2008 the church has sponsored six acres of endangered rainforest through Cool Earth.

As part of the Eco-Congregation network Christ Church plays an active role in the local community by raising awareness of the issues surrounding threats to the environment.

Selling potted plants and seedlings they have raised enough funds to buy 6 acres of rainforest through Cool Earth, stopping up to 1500 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

Barry Dickinson, vicar for Christ Church said; "We have a great interest in Cool Earth here at Christ Church. Being part of Eco-Congregation means we take our environmental responsibility seriously."

Eco-Congregation was developed from a partnership between the government funded environmental charity ENCAMS, and the Environmental Issues Network of Churches in Britain and Ireland.

To further promote good environmental practices the Eco-Congregation Award "is designed to affirm good practice in environmental stewardship and help churches witness to the importance of caring for God's creation."

By providing its members with the tools to improve their knowledge and awareness of conservation and concern for the environment, such as green worship and greening your church, the Eco-Congregation Award has done much to support the natural world.

Whether you believe in the existence of God or not there can no doubt that the power, beauty and grace of the natural environment which surrounds us is worth protecting.

We have been blessed with this environment and as its custodians, whether through divine right or evolutionary chance, we need to take care of it.

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