Action for Hope

Net Zero

The Methodist Church has set itself the ambitious target of working towards net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The Methodist Church encourages each local church, circuit and district to take concrete action for hope in three areas:

• Faith-consistent use of assets – including investments, purchasing power, buildings and land.
• Wisdom – including theology, liturgies and prayer.
• Lifestyles – including traditions of simple living.

You can find out more at Action for Hope.

Eco Church

Local churches and circuits are encouraged to work for an Eco Church or Eco Circuit award with A Rocha.

Eco Church and Eco Circuits are a series of awards which encourage you in your eco journey in every area of church life. You can find out more at How Eco Church Works and Eco Circuit.

There is also further help on how to become an Eco Circuit on the Methodist Connexion website.

Good news and events from around the District

Congratulations to all those at Willington Open Door Methodist Church. They have been awarded the GOLD Eco Church award. Well done to all.

News from the Cleveland & Danby Circuit
On Saturday 17th May we celebrated an eco thrift fair at Newcomen Methodist Church. It was a homemade event with homemade cakes and homegrown plants, with minimal single-use plastic. There were craft stalls to enjoy, making and reusing things to make something new. Stalls with second hand products, such as books and jigsaws, baby clothes and bags made from other things. We had an information point and the council ran a recycling activity. We sang with a community choir, a highlight was 'What a wonderful world' and the little ones enjoyed a Rhyme Time session. Donations were given rather than prices charged, £375 was raised, which will be donated to Footprints in the Community (Foodbank) and the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. Lots of people of varying ages had fun and the event was well attended by church and non-church goers.

Trinity Methodist Church in Middlesbrough has recently opened an Eco Shop.
They are collaborating with FareShare to reduce food waste, and then people are able to top up supplies with produce from the church garden. Find out more about this new venture here.

District Environmental Policy

As a District we are working towards the Eco District Bronze award.
As part of our commitment, we have produced an Environmental Policy which can be found here.

District Action for Hope Task Group

The purpose of the task group is to encourage and enable the Darlington District – together with its constituent Circuits and Churches – to engage with Action for Hope: implementing and reviewing District/Circuit policies, sharing information, stories and resources, and organising events.