We’re building a network of chaplains across the diocese. If you’re already a parish Eco Rep, this will really simply mean sharing your experience with churches in a wider area. Could God be calling you?
The primary purpose of this voluntary role is to encourage and support churches to respond to the climate an ecological crisis, by advocating for environmental action, resourcing others, and helping churches on their Eco Church and net zero journey. The role is supported by the Diocesan Environment Officer and Net Zero Adviser.
The next training course takes place over Thursday 9 and Thursday 16 October, from 2-4pm, at St Stephens, Rampant Horse Street, Norwich, NR2 1QP. The training sessions will cover the theological context of our climate and biodiversity crises, our missional response to them, and how to signpost parishes to practical support on working towards net zero, improving biodiversity and progressing through the Eco Church survey.
For a more details of what the role commitment and responsibilities are, please see the role description HERE and/or contact Barbara.bryant@dioceseofnorwich.org 07876 634867 for a chat.
You’ll need to be able to commit to attending both dates, but do not need to commit to the role until after training is completed. You will need to have the agreement of your parish priest/incumbent. Please contact Barbara if you would like to book onto the course.
Read on for James’ story
This summer 24-year-old James Lee became an eco-chaplain. He is one of the Diocese of Norwich’s first four eco-chaplains – trained and commissioned to help parishes embed creation care in their mission and ministry.
James, who worships at East Church in Norwich, has just completed a masters degree in environmental science at the University of East Anglia. Last year he joined a new Creation Care team at his church and when he found out about the voluntary eco-chaplain role, he was immediately interested.
“I have been very passionate about the environment since I was about 18,” said James. “Since then God has taken me on a profound journey of discovering the importance of all creation in God’s plans for renewal. I was instantly interested in becoming an eco-chaplain, particularly as at the time I was praying to find a way to really get involved and help lead change in the church, so this opportunity came up as a real answer to prayer.”
James hopes to work with new and existing church and community groups in the Norwich area, encouraging and supporting them as they take action on climate and ecological crises.
He said the work is vital. “Creation provides for us everything we need physically, through food, water, air and resources, and in return we are called to protect and allow it to flourish.
“Creation (including other people) – through its beauty, grandeur, peace and all other attributes – is also a key means through which we experience and commune with our Father. Therefore, this work is so important as it is connecting Christians to a core part of their being and faith, as well as leading wider change and connection to this identity in the communities churches are in.”
James spent part of his childhood in the Philippines where his parents established a Christian ministry working with children and families in extreme poverty. He returned, with his family, for two years when he was 18. “During that time God gave me a real passion for the environment and I was really drawn to the renowned environmental science course at UEA,” he said. “Since moving here I’ve fallen in love with Norwich and Norfolk so have decided to stay after uni.”
He hopes to embark on a career in conservation, land management or the energy sector – and serve as an eco-chaplain in his spare time.
The new eco-chaplains were commissioned in Norwich Cathedral by the Bishop of Thetford and include:
Richard Beach who runs a Climate Care group in Newton Flotman, mainly supports parishes in the Depwade Deanery and surrounding area.
Norman Johnson, a Licensed Lay Minister in the Heart of Norfolk benefice, supporting parishes in West and Mid-Norfolk.
Sam Ruddock, who is training for ordination and based at St Matthew’s, Thorpe Hamlet, and supporting parishes in the greater Norwich area.