Ecclesiastical conference tackles net-zero goal
THE Church’s goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 (News, 14 February 2020) was discussed at a two-day Net Zero Connect Conference hosted by Ecclesiastical Insurance at Benefact House, in Gloucester, this month. Sixty church representatives and climate experts from 35 dioceses attended. The church operations director at Ecclesiastical, Helen Richards, also launched its Made Simple guide on how churches can tackle each day climate challenges, including extreme weather, maintaining and heating church buildings efficiently, and providing risk-management advice on alternative heating and energy options. The Benefact Trust recently pledged £1.5 million towards supporting 60 churches over two years to attain net zero by the tip of 2025.
Funding for Farsi-speaking refugee charity
THE charity Taban, founded in 2020 to assist Farsi-speaking asylum-seekers and refugees in Manchester, has secured a funding package from the National Lottery and Benefact Trust price £22,500, matched by private donations, it was announced this week. Taban was initially funded by a grant from Manchester diocese, which was matched by private individuals. The latest funding will support its expansion and the recruitment of a second paid employee.
Peers argue over foetal sentience
FIERCE argument were heard during a debate on the proposed Foetal Sentience Committee Bill (Private Members), tabled by Lord Moylan (Conservative), during its Second Reading within the House of Lords, on Friday. He described it as a “modest measure” to determine a government committee “to be a source of evidence-based, scientific expertise on the sentience of the human foetus”. Baroness Kennedy (Labour) said, nonetheless, that “the aim of the Bill is to hunt to roll back advances which were made in relation to abortion, and to try to cut back the deadlines we currently have.” Baroness Barker agreed: “This Bill is an element of a far wider anti-gender, anti-LGBT attack on human rights.” Baroness Smith described this concept as “disingenuous”. Lord Alton said that the Bill was “sensible and humane”, and that this didn’t make him a bigot. Responding, Lord Markham said that the Government had “reservations over the Bill as we don’t consider that laws is required”.
Stewardship awarded Planet Certification
THE charity Stewardship has been awarded Planet Mark Business Certification for its commitment to reducing its environmental impact, it was announced last week. To achieve this sustainability certification, Stewardship — a sponsor of the Church Times Green Church Awards — followed a three-step process: measuring its impact, engaging everyone within the business, and communicating progress. It measured a carbon footprint of 34.3 tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), or 0.4 tCO2e, per worker. Its goal reduction is 1.7 tCO2e. stewardship.org.uk
PETER STARKINGSVolunteers: the Archbishop of Canterbury (centre) joins an interfaith iftar on the Eritrean Muslim Community Association on Wandsworth Road, London, at which he called for people of religion within the UK to become involved with the now-annual Big Help Out volunteering drive, as a consequence of happen from 7 to 9 June
