Christian Leaders and the Green Plastic machine.

More and more in the media we are hearing about the damage we humans are doing to our environment, through our use of Single use plastics and our polluting habits in our oceans and wilderness areas. Our children are being bombarded with green and environmental issues at their schools. Many children bring those issues and concerns home and expect parents and even their peers in church to give a lead and have a view, which helps them understand what is going on. Do we as Christian Leaders have a responsibility to shoulder some of the ecological burden to look after our planet? When God told us to subdue and to rule over the earth in Genesis 1 verse 28, was he giving us an ecological responsibility to sustain our world?

Please don’t get me wrong, I am not one of these enviro warriors or radical greenies. I also believe that there is some uncalled for hysteria about our use of plastics, not all plastic is bad. However I do feel that as Christians and especially as leaders, that we do have a responsibility to lead and be prominent in these areas. I believe the church should be involved in helping to save the planet.

Here are some very obvious ways that churches and their leadership can help and show children that the church is not mute on these issues;

·         Churches can have solar panels installed. Perhaps an expensive first step but can in the long run save money on power usage form the grid. It can actually help churches make money as they are closed for the most part during the week; excess power is taken back into the grid with money refunded back to the church.

·         If you have a large property how about looking at a large wind turbine.

·         Most churches serve tea and coffee after the service. Only use crockery that is reusable, unrecyclable coffee cups are not the answer, they are single use plastic get rid of them.

·         Energy saving light bulbs have been around for a while, when the old bulbs go replace with modern LED’s.

·         Get rid of the plastic cups at the water fountain, encourage congregation members to bring their own water bottles, a lot of people do.

·         In the church office only use recycled paper and put the photocopier on economy mode. Reduce colour printing to where necessary only.

·         Encourage congregation members to use alternate transport to come to church, such as bikes or public transport. A difficult one I know for those more rural churches where distance is a factor. But there are ways round it have a car free Sunday service a few times a year where congregation members and leadership are asked to come to church without their car. With a bit of imagination it could be a great service.

·         Have a sign up on your website and in other prominent places that you only use “Fair Trade Coffee.”

·         Helping or organising community clean ups.

·         Ask the families in your church for ideas you will be surprised by what they come up with.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and I don’t think that church leaders need to get too stressed about things, but if they take small steps it will all help towards a sustainable planet, at least until Jesus returns.