When students and young people in York demonstrated in the City’s St Helen’s Square during the Global Youth Climate Strike on Friday, 20th September, the Revd Liz Carrington of St Luke’s Church was there to support some of St Luke's student members with the church’s banner.
The young demonstrators in York spoke movingly about their concerns and hopes for the future of the planet, as millions took to the streets in more than 150 countries to protest about weak corporate and government action on climate change.
Liz said, “It was an opportunity to highlight what churches are doing in response to the climate emergency through Eco-Church, which is a project of the international environmental charity A Rocha.
“Churches wanting to attain eco-status complete a survey and gain points towards a bronze, silver or gold award.”
About nine of the 589 churches in the Diocese of York are currently registered as Eco-Churches, while York Minster and St Luke’s, York, have achieved a silver award.
“If ten churches signed up and another three gained awards, we could become an eco-diocese,” added Liz.
“Creation care is the fifth mark of mission; don’t we owe it to God our creator and our young people?”
- For more on A Rocha and the Eco-Church scheme see ecochurch.arocha.org.uk