Ecology

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:27-28)

I used to play a board game called “Careers” with my children. Among pursuits such as becoming a Solicitor or an Astronaut was the option to work as an Ecologist. On one square was the phrase I remember as “spot a yellow bellied sapsucker and gain 6 happiness”. It a sort of ridiculous career with happiness rather than fame or money as its main gain.

The King was for many years ridiculed for his stance on the environment. Seen often as a “tree hugger” and criticised for talking to his plants.

Then the Church started to get the idea. The worldwide Anglican communion chose their five marks that the Church should look at to see what mission they are doing (activities in keeping with the commands of the Bible). The fifth (added in 1990) surprised many of us as “Strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”

The present situation in the area of ecology is our focus on “net zero carbon”. The national Church feel this is so important that they have funded us with an officer to enable the parishes to work towards caring for the environment. One of the first things is to come up with an “energy footprint tool” which helps us to calculate where we are and therefore as we change things we can measure how we are doing. Our buildings were built so long ago that there is a negligible carbon footprint from their construction. Moving to LED rather than halogen bulbs in the Churches will help, and there was serious discussion about changing the heating system from Gas to Electric for ecological reasons at Alton.

There is a guide on the Diocesan website called “A practical guide to net zero carbon for Churches”. Changes to Churches for the sake of the environment are now much easier to do, with their value recognised.

There has been a theological shift whereby care for creation is no longer seen as a niche concern for enthusiasts, but as a natural outworking of discipleship. If humanity is made in the image of God, then how we treat what God has made reflects how we honour the Creator himself.

The Psalms remind us of this truth clearly: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are not owners, but caretakers. This changes the tone of the conversation. Net zero carbon is not simply a political target or a fashionable idea; it becomes part of our obedience. If the earth is the Lord’s, then reducing harm to it is an act of worship.

There are also strong themes of responsibility towards others that support this direction. Climate change and environmental degradation do not affect all people equally. It is often the poorest communities, those who have contributed least to the problem, who suffer the most. As Proverbs 31:8–9 urges, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Working towards net zero carbon can therefore be seen as an expression of love for our global neighbour, aligning with Jesus’ command to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

Practically, striving for net zero encourages us to be attentive and intentional. It prompts churches to examine energy use, travel, land management, and purchasing decisions. These changes are often modest in isolation, switching lighting, improving insulation, reconsidering heating, but collectively they form a witness. They demonstrate that faith is not confined to words spoken on a Sunday, but lived out in the everyday stewardship of resources.

The quieter spiritual benefit is a paying attention to creation that can deepen our awareness of God. The intricate detail of the natural world, from birdsong to changing seasons, draws us into gratitude and wonder. What once seemed like a “ridiculous” pursuit like spotting a bird for the sake of happiness begins to look more like a rediscovery of joy in God’s world.

In the end, the move towards net zero carbon is not about chasing perfection or meeting an abstract target. It is about faithfulness. It is about aligning our lives, individually and collectively, with the character of a Creator who delights in what he has made and calls it good.

We have a meeting of the Deanery Synod with the Diocesan Environmental Officer Dr Jan Firth on wed 3rd June 7:30pm at the Stanton Village hall which anyone can attend if you would like to join us and see what is happening.

Brian Leathers May 2026