Working toward net zero is both a spiritual and missional practice.
We grow spiritually as we contemplate creation – ‘God’s second book’ – and care for it.
We grow missionally as we fight the injustice of climate change and work alongside community partners who may be even more passionate about net zero than we are.
We may grow numerically as more unaffiliated people join with us in this shared work. The Methodist Church has set itself the challenging target of becoming a net zero carbon emissions church by 2030.
Churches often worry that working towards net zero involves thousands of pounds spent on solar panels and insulation, but you can get started with small, simple actions that add up to carbon savings over time. Check out the Getting your building down to net zero page for tips to get you started.
Creation care is not simply about our buildings and land, however: it's about considering sustainability in every part of our church life. We can care for creation in the way we worship, in the ways we connect with our communities and in the small, everyday choices we make as individuals.
Growth planning gives you an opportunity to review your existing activities and think about how to reduce their carbon footprint. A simple way of building this into your listening process is to register to become an Eco Church. You don’t need to have done anything about net zero to register: it’s simply a way of taking your first step on the journey.
The Eco Church questionnaire will ask you about your worship, buildings, land, community engagement and lifestyle, helping you see where you are already making sustainable choices and where you could develop further. You will then receive a rating for each area and will have taken your first steps to achieving your bronze award.
Some churches will choose to focus on the ‘Flourish’ station of A Methodist Way of Life in their growth plan. There are all kinds of possibilities for growth activities, from community gardens to climate action groups to eco-themed Messy Churches - check out the Flourish page for more ideas. If God is calling you to focus on ‘flourish’, consider developing a full net zero plan for your church. You can find lots of guidance to help you on the Action for Hope webpages.

Eco Church
A Rocha UK’s Eco Church programme equips churches in England and Wales to care for creation.

Action for Hope
The Methodist Church has set an aspirational target of becoming a net zero carbon emissions Church by 2030.