The United Reformed Church has reached a milestone of environmental sustainability. It’s a good start, says Rob Weston

Every regional synod in the United Reformed Church has now signed up to the eco synod award scheme. The URC is only the second denomination to achieve this, after the Church of England in January.

We should be clear that this does not mean the synods have won those awards yet. So far the West Midlands Synod is the only one in England and Wales to win the bronze award. The synods have signed up to a target rather than having reached it.

It is a start though, and a significant milestone because our experience shows that where the synod has made this commitment, more local churches sign up for the eco award scheme and get involved. In West Midlands, over 40% of churches are now signed up to the eco church scheme, and as a synod they have made policies such as encouraging solar panels and electric vehicle points on manses…

Rob Weston is Minister of Tavistock and Bideford Lavington United Reformed Churches. He was talking to Stephen Tomkins

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This is an extract from an article published in the May 2022 edition of Reform

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