OUR Creation Care Commitment

Below you can find our draft Creation Care Commitment which will be initially presented to the church family on Sunday 13th June. We encourage you to take time to prayerfully read and consider this commitment, and to help shape it by completing the short survey using the link at the end of this commitment. We plan to propose the final commitment to the church family during our service on Sunday 27th June.

We the leaders, PCC and congregation of Christ Church Surbiton Hill publicly declare that in the current climate and environment emergency we will commit to speaking up and playing our part in protecting and restoring God’s creation as part of becoming whole-life disciples of Christ.

 
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We make this declaration because:

  • The world is God’s creation ‘the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it’ (Psalm 24:1);

  • We are called by God to look after and enjoy creation, to be gardeners, who to sit in the cool of the garden and walk by still waters;

  • The world is facing a severe crisis of environmental degradation and climate change;

  • The main cause of the crisis is human activity, which hurts ourselves, other people and our relationship with God;

  • The crisis is inextricably linked to global injustices and people suffering poverty, famine and displacement from their homes;

  • The crisis indicates a failure of us to follow God’s mission for us to care for the world and each other;

We live in a beautiful world, a gift from a loving God.  Looking after creation is part of discipleship, following Jesus and being more like him, as “All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17).  We will share the good news of creation, speak for justice and take action in God’s strength.

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We commit ourselves to:

  • Continue to promote and teach about creation care as part of the good news of Jesus Christ and our discipleship;

  • Make changes in our lives, our families, our workplaces and our communities, making creation care part of whole-life discipleship;

  • Deliver on a practical action plan of changes to Christ Church, including achieving the Silver Eco-church Award by 2023 and becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

  • Support and work with global mission partners, such as A Rocha and Tearfund, and community organisations across Kingston;

  • Use whatever influence we may have to bring about positive actions by government and by corporations.

 

Take a look at our useful hints and tips page for ideas to help inspire you to make changes that help Gods earth.