For God So Loved The World
At HTB we long to see the transformation of society, to see the world changed and lives transformed. We recognise the urgent need to care for and protect our planet, which is a precious gift from God. We are committed to being responsible stewards of the environment and integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our ministry.
· Creation Care: The Earth and all its inhabitants are intricately connected, and we strive to promote a deep respect for the natural world. Through teaching and other resources, we encourage our congregation to cherish the beauty and diversity of God's creation, as well as fostering a sense of responsibility towards the well-being of all living things.
· Sustainable Operations: We are dedicated to minimising our environmental footprint by adopting sustainable practices in our church operations. We seek to reduce energy consumption, conserve water, promote waste reduction and recycling, and responsibly manage our resources. We strive to use eco-friendly products and support local and ethical suppliers whenever possible.
· Prayer and Teaching: We understand the power of prayer and teaching to inspire change. Through our Sunday services, talks and other resources, we encourage our congregation to embrace sustainable lifestyles and make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives. We integrate environmental themes into our teaching, highlighting the biblical mandate to be caretakers of the Earth.
As a church community, we are committed to continuously improving our environmental practices and promoting a sustainable future for generations to come. By embracing our responsibility to care for God's creation, we hope to inspire and empower others to join us in this essential mission.
Urban Forest Planting
HTB rewilded the ground surrounding the drive in to HTB Brompton Road in September 2023 to promote biodiversity and as a celebration of God’s creation. The central 200m2 section has been planted with fifty species of wildflowers, separated by six species of shrubs and low-level trees. The Eastern section (400m2) was planted with sixteen unique tree species, to eventually create a 3-metre-high pocket forest. The Miyawaki method used is a dense planting method to create an interconnected root system that requires minimal maintenance once maturity is reached. The planting was carried out by members of our community and other volunteers, with thanks to the team at The SUGi Project, who led the project.
Why not watch our most recent teaching series on Caring for God’s Creation, or our Healthy Conversation episodes focused on Climate Justice?
Healthy Conversations
What Shall We Do About The Planet - Annie Ellis
Caring for Gods Creation
What are we doing?
Over the last ten years, we have been taking action to reduce our carbon footprint. A few key steps we have taken are set out below.
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We source 100% of our electricity from renewable sources, mostly through Good Energy, who have been awarded a USwitch Green Tariff Gold Standard.
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We have recently overhauled our waste management and engaged a zero-to-landfill waste disposal company to help us ensure that we minimise our waste sent to landfill.
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Our café consumables (cups, plates, cutlery etc.) are all compostable and are broken down completely within 180 days.
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Our vergers manage our land in a sustainable manner, including adopting appropriate mowing regimes and encouraging native wildflowers to grow in Brompton Road gardens.
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Our IT, events, creative, and production teams are continually making changes to minimise their environmental impact. Examples include extending the lifespan of equipment, sourcing easily repairable equipment and reusing materials for multiple creative projects.
What will we do?
Despite our progress, we recognise we still have much further to go. Our aims over the next few years are as follows
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To continue to integrate teaching on creation care and climate justice into our annual church cycle and to create related resources
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To minimise our emissions and work towards being carbon neutral as a church by 2030 in line with the Church of England’s target.
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To develop a year-on-year roadmap for HTB church aimed at minimising our environmental impact. We are initially focusing on the areas of energy use, procurement, and increasing reuse and recycling through our waste disposal systems.
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To report annually on our progress to our Church Council.
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To reduce the environmental impact of our major events such as Leadership Conference and Focus.
What can you do?
This looks different for everyone. Reducing your plastic consumption, altering your food choices, choosing low emissions travel, engaging with your MP and local groups, and sparking a conversation with peers, all help to protect God’s creation.
If you have a passion for sustainability and regularly worship at HTB, we would love you to be a part of our Environmental Advisory Group. If you are interested, please contact Alex Hughes, our Environmental Project Manager, at alex.hughes@htb.org.uk.
Below are some useful resources detailing how you can make a difference.
It is important to be transparent with our environmental response, we are by no means where we want to be, but we are determined to play our part in ensuring a more sustainable future.