THE encouragement of greater biodiversity and sustainable land use was backed by the General Synod during a brief debate on Saturday afternoon.
Introducing the talk, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, spoke of the devastation of UK biodiversity lately: 26 per cent of mammals were facing extinction, 97 per cent of wildflower meadows had been lost because the Thirties, and 41 per cent of species had declined since 1970, he said.
His motion was an invite to “live out the Fifth Mark of Mission” — to safeguard the integrity of creation and renew the earth. He then introduced a slideshow of images depicting church biodiversity projects.
Church land was a present from God which parishes and diocese must steward correctly, the Bishop said. “How can we manage it in such a way that it’s a blessing to nature and to the broader human community?” Churchyards were home to quite a lot of wildlife and, in lots of places, were the one remaining area of species-rich grassland untouched by development and cultivation. Churchyards “ought to be places of the living, not only the dead”, he said.
There had already been a positive response to this motion, Bishop Usher reported. He also hailed the work of charities corresponding to A Rocha and Caring For God’s Acre. Churches with glebe land should pay heed to national guidance on tips on how to best manage this land, not only as a income, but as a present of nature.
The Church Commissioners owned large agricultural and timber estates and were working with their tenant farmers to spice up soil health and biodiversity, he explained. “To be out in nature, to smell and touch, hear and taste, is nice for our mental health, children’s learning, financial returns, and rekindling in us a way of joyous wonder at God’s gift throughout us.”
Beginning the talk, the Revd Paul Bradbury (Salisbury) supported the motion, but asked whether it might be more ambitious, even prophetic. The ecological crisis was, he suggested, a part of an even bigger crisis in society, which some called a “time of endings” — with broken relationships not only with creation, but additionally the Creator. Do not see land just as a small a part of the environment, he told the Synod, but as a component of church life which might be higher aligned “to the entire mission of God”.
Prebendary Rosie Austin (Exeter) said that biodiversity loss, climate change, and falling food production must all be addressed together. The UK must “stop pushing farmers to the brink”. The agricultural community had much to show the Church, despite the crisis looming for it. Food shortages within the pandemic showed just how fragile food systems were. Sustainable farming practices needed more investment and support from church bodies, she suggested.
Geoff Crawford/Church TimesThe Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, presents his motion on Land and Nature
Robert Zampetti (London) moved his amendment, which would come with a requirement to publish a list of glebe land and its “net zero rating”. His church in central London was making good strides towards its silver Eco Church award, he said, because of more sustainable practices within the planting of flowers, adding bug hotels and bird boxes, and banning pesticides. Good planning couldn’t occur without knowing where you were ranging from: hence his call for a list of glebe land.
Bishop Usher resisted the amendment, nevertheless, arguing that it had not been costed and will find yourself being very expensive for dioceses. It could also force the discharge of commercially sensitive information, he warned.
The amendment lapsed.
The Revd Andrew Yates (Truro) then moved his amendment. He backed the fundamental motion but desired to introduce a component of accountability. His amendment would require the Commissioners to report back inside three years on their progress in enhancing biodiversity and their engagement with tenant farmers about sustainable practices. He said that there was no call for motion on the Commissioners in the unique motion, despite their being the biggest landholder within the C of E. Mr Yates quoted a recent survey of 605 churchgoers by Green Christian wherein most wanted all farms owned by the Church to be utilising sustainable practices.
Bishop Usher accepted the amendment, saying that it might help to carry the Commissioners to account.
The Revd Ross Meikle (Oxford) recalled a story from Genesis about Joseph’s utilising wisdom in tips on how to manage land well during a time of climate crisis. He praised the amendment for creating accountability for the Commissioners in how they were using the ability accrued by the land they owned.
Susan Cavill (Derby) supported the amendment and the fundamental motion, and praised the encouragement to parishes and dioceses to get entangled in practical ways in caring for God’s creation. But a higher-level strategic role was also essential, which was were the Commissioners got here in.
The amendment was carried.
Fr Stephen Maxfield (Greek Orthodox Church) said that, within the planting process, weeds could reduce a crop by as much as 85 per cent; and, too often, trees were planted with good intentions, but without proper care, which led to their death. Rewilding also needed proper planning, he said.
The Archdeacon of Ludlow, the Ven. Fiona Gibson (Hereford), praised the charity Caring For God’s Acre, which had helped many churchyards to flourish, with increased biodiversity, beautifying the countryside. Without properly resourcing the agricultural Church, nevertheless, it might be inconceivable to deliver on the motion, she warned. “Country churchyards need country churches.” The rural Church had much wisdom to supply the broader C of E on the theology of place, she said.
The Bishop of Bath & Wells, Dr Michael Beasley, suggested connecting the motion to the work of the Anglican Communion Forest, launched on the 2022 Lambeth Conference (News, 3 August 2022). His diocese can be using its links with dioceses overseas to encourage biodiversity, he said.
Debbie Buggs (London) said that the initiative ought to be connected to other debates, including those on the war in Ukraine and the longer term of labor. Aiming for self-sufficiency in food and timber was essential due to the disruption after war, and would also cut carbon emissions, she said. Being prepared to pay a good price for UK-grown produce and lobbying the Government for farming subsidies may additionally be a part of the Church’s response.
Roy Faulkner (Leicester) questioned how expensive the implementation of the motion can be, and encouraged more efforts to lobby foreign governments who produced the majority of the world’s emissions.
The Archdeacon for Rural Mission (St Edmundsbury & Ipswich), the Ven. Sally Gaze, welcomed the motion, and said that caring for the environment could help to develop discipleship amongst believers. Farmers were keen to enter into partnership with the Church as an establishment that might give them a voice, she said. “They see us as crucial to get that message out.”
Voting for the motion can be good for people, good for farmers, good for the land, and good for the nation, Bishop Usher concluded.
The motion was carried:
That this Synod, recognising the necessity to respond urgently to the ecological crisis, consistent with the worldwide scientific consensus that the climate change and biodiversity loss crises are intricately linked
(a) welcome the work being done by the Church Commissioners, the NCIs, and lots of dioceses, parishes, cathedrals, and schools to administer all or a part of their land for climate and nature, in urban and rural communities alike.
(b) request Diocesan Secretaries to task a named person / committee of their dioceses to create an motion plan to realize the “Land” section of Eco Diocese at Silver level by 2026 at the most recent.
(c) request Chairs and Secretaries of all diocesan property/finance committees to include nature-positive objectives into their asset management policies inside the following 6 months.
(d) call on all parishes, cathedrals, TEIs, NCIs offices with land they manage or influence to:
i. create an easy land management plan, on the subject of the guidance and examples from Caring for Gods Acre,
ii. work towards an increasing level of Eco Church, including the actions within the “Land” section, and
iii. record the biodiversity of their green spaces, through collaborating in Churches Count On Nature annually.
(e) call on all Diocesan Boards of Education to work in accordance with the Department for Education Sustainability Strategy.
(f) request the Church Commissioners to report back to General Synod inside three years about their progress with:
(i) enhancing and supporting biodiversity across their agricultural and forestry land, (ii) engagement and collaboration with tenants about sustainable farming, and
(iii) their leadership amongst landowners in a way that recognises the importance of shared learning, support and respect in achieving these objectives.
