The Church of St Paul and St Stephen Gloucester
Environmental Policy

 We affirm these key elements of our faith:
               •         We have been created by God as part of one great, interdependent living system
               •         We recognise a special responsibility to care for the Earth and to seek the best 
                         possible harmony with the created world
               •         We are inspired by the biblical vision of peace which includes the fulfilment of our
                         individual potential, a just social order and a concern for the well-being of creation 
               •         We are empowered by Christ who, through his death and resurrection, reconciled 
                         all things to himself, so making peace
  Aim
                         We aim to take the practical steps necessary in order to realise the value of careful
                         stewardship
  Objectives
  As a church community:
             •           We will take environmental concerns fully into account in our mission, worship, study,
                        education, training, pastoral, administrative and other programmes and projects
             •          We will  seek appropriate information from a Christian environmental group (e.g. Christian
                        Ecology Link,Eco-congregation) and keep abreast of current thinking
             •          We will undertake an ‘environmental audit’ of our premises and property and devise
                        appropriate plans to care for them
            •           We will consider the environmental impact of all our policies and plans, and accept
                        that additional costs may be incurred by minimizing that impact
            •           We will hold a discussion on environmental issues and policy at least once every 
                        three years. We are a fair-trade church and therefore support ‘fair-trade fortnight’
                        annually during which will promote and raise awareness of wider environmental issues.
           •            We ask the Archdeacons to continue to include questions on environmental policies in
                        their Articles of Enquiry to the parishes on a r egular basis, and to review and assess 
                        the answers received
           •           We will continue to pay attention to environmental concerns in our banking
           •           We will encourage environmentally-friendly forms of transport, walk, cycle, use public
                       transport, share cars, keep journeys to meeting venues short wherever possi ble, and 
                       keep fossil fuel emissions as low as we can
           •           We will make an energy audit at least every three years
           •           We will look for economies in energy by:
                                                           ?      using thermostats to keep temperatures down 
                                                           ?      fitting low-energy light bulbs
                                                           ?      improving insulation where possible
                                                           ?      switching to ‘green’ energy suppliers 
                                                           ?      installing solar panels (if we get a grant)
                                                           ?      turning off computers and electrical appliances when not in use
          •          We will seek ways to reduce consumption and the impact of our activities on the environment 
                      wherever possible: 
                                                           ?     using email where possible
                                                           ?     using recycled paper
                                                           ?     recycling waste and if necessary take it to collection points
                                                           ?     reducing the negative social and environmental impacts of computers
                                                           ?     using low-environmental impact cleaning materials (avoiding chlorine-based
                                                                  and phosphate-rich powders)
                                                           ?     not using disposable and plastic items
         •         We will encourage the use of locally sourced flowers, hedgerow or garden greenery when decorating the church
         •         We will endeavour to purchase food and drink that meets the LOAFprinciples (Locally sourced, Organically-grown, 
                   Animal-friendly, Fairly-traded), avoid over- catering, and use seasonal foods
         •         We will avoid using water unnecessarily, check for leakages regularly, fit water-minimising systems to taps and
                   cisterns, and collect rainwater, wherever possible