+S Synod Presidential Address 08-07-25 by Diocese of Coventry

A great opportunity to hear Revd Canon Grace Thomas talking to Revd Charlotte Jackson with Colin Angus. How to move from Climate Anxiety or ambivalence to actions in line with our Christian faith. Here are links to some of the resources we mentioned: A Rocha Eco Church - practical resources https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/ Let's Go Zero - for schools https://letsgozero.org/ Woody Church in Manchester - https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=woody%20church%20manchester Church of England Environment Programme Webinars - 'Quicjk Wins' Ecology and Creation courses (Manchester) and Eco-Stepping Stones Equip Hub training available across Coventry & Warwickshire https://www.equiphub.org.uk/ Carbon Confidence Course - available in 2025. https://www.equiphub.org.uk/courses-events-and-resources/carbon-confidence/ Audits as ways to measure our environmental impacts: 360 Carbon Audit, also Climate Hero and Climate Stewards https://360carbon.org/en-gb/ https://climateheroes.org/ https://www.climatestewards.org/ Thank you for listening. colin.angus@coventry.anglican.org

We're delighted to share the conversation with schoolchildren talking with Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, who has been the Acting Bishop of Coventry in 2024. Also joining the conversation are Rev Kate Massey and Miss Knight. The children have lots of good ideas for reducing carbon emissions, in the school and in their homes too. +Ruth mentioned the pledge of the Church of England committing to reduce carbon emissions. Rev Kate was pleased to add that St Paul's Church has been awarded bronze accreditation by A Rocha as an Eco church. Coventry Diocese is offering support to CofE churches and CofE schools across Coventry and Warwickshire, with resources including training courses, local accessible new documents, Case Studies and ideas about low carbon technologies. Feel free to contact Colin Angus via email for an informal chat or to arrange a visit. (Colin.Angus@coventry.anglican.org)

This time, Zero Interest focuses on our schools. With over 18,000 pupils in 75 schools, we have a great opportunity to promote and witness change in our communities. Our conversation, with Rev April Gold and Julie Jerrard-Dinn, touched on the amazing work going on across the Diocese. Let’s Go Zero is an initiative for schools that is introducing Climate Action Plans for schools. Did we also mention EcoChurch, part of the work of A Rocha UK? Check out the websites for St Nicolas CofE Academy, Nuneaton and Diocese of Coventry Board of Education. Saints, Nuneaton is an excellent place including a community cafe. Go along in person and visit! Finally, visit our own Coventry Diocese website – search for Net Zero.

During our chat, we mentioned various aspects of our lives and work around Coventry. You can follow the links below to find out more about some of the resources we spoke about. Coventry Diocese Website https://www.coventry.anglican.org/ Our Net Zero page: https://www.coventry.anglican.org/info-for-parishes/net-zero/netzero St Mary’s Church, Coventry https://www.stmaryscoventry.org/ Eco Church, A Rocha UK and their resource leaflets https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/ Veganuary https://veganuary.com/ Let’s Go Zero (Schools initiative) https://letsgozero.org/ Food Bank & Kick Back Kitchen https://coventry.foodbank.org.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN6wBhCcARIsAKZvD5jgTFjP1N17Qvz72PVIkU9gbCfHG3a07NPGsjqpDlUtfZn7F1sBqpUaAhGpEALw_wcB https://www.facebook.com/kickbackkitchenilfracombe/ CAP Money https://hopecoventry.org.uk/cap/ Act on Energy https://www.actonenergy.org.uk/ Church of England Net Zero online resources https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/net-zero-carbon-church Zero Interest is a Podcast series published by Coventry Diocese. We welcome constructive feedback as well as ideas from listeners as to what content you might like us to include in future editions. Email colin.angus@coventry.anglican.org

Hearing and sharing the concerns and ideas that some young people have. The Podcast was recorded over two days; the first part in a local church hall with Colin Angus talking to Jessica and Mathilda and then later, in conversation with Aaron at Saints, Nuneaton (saintsnuneaton.org). You may hear the clink of crockery and the buzz of activities in the background. But at the forefront are the challenges to respect and care for God's creation and to do our part. Our conversation touched on Let’s Go Zero which is an initiative for schools. We also mentioned EcoChurch, part of the work of A Rocha UK. Saints, Nuneaton is an excellent place including a community cafe. You'll be made very welcome by their friendly team when you go along and visit!

The first episode of Zero Interest is a conversation between the Diocesan Environment Officer, Godfrey Armitage and Colin Angus, the Net Zero Carbon Project Officer. These are links that come out of our discussion: Coventry Diocese website has information relevant to church buildings: https://www.coventry.anglican.org/info-for-parishes/church-buildings-dac/ Net Zero ideas: https://www.coventry.anglican.org/info-for-parishes/net-zero/ Energy Footprint tool: https://www.coventry.anglican.org/info-for-parishes/energy-footprint-tool/ Follow these links for details of the Quick Wins Fund: https://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/net-zero-quick-win-fund- and the Church Improvements Fund – Net Zero https://coventry.anglican.org/church-improvements-fund.php Read here about switching to renewable tariffs: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/switching-your-energy-supplier/#:~:text=Most%20green%20tariffs%20claim%20that,tariffs%20are%20also%20nuclear%2Dfree. Godfrey talked about the series of webinars produced by the Church of England which are accessible: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/environment-and-climate-change/webinars-getting-net-zero-carbon This link takes you to the Eco Church survey, by A Rocha UK. Thank you for listening. Colin Angus Net Zero Carbon Project Officer Diocese of Coventry