Caring for Creation Together

The Environmental Issues Network and the Growing Ecumenical Response to Climate Justice

Across the churches of Britain and Ireland there is a growing recognition that care for creation is not an optional extra to Christian discipleship.  Questions of climate justice, biodiversity, sustainability and responsible stewardship sit close to the heart of Christian witness and mission.  However, many churches and congregations still ask the same practical question: where do we begin and what more can we do?
 
One important answer will be found in the majority of denominations themselves, who have appropriate church leaders and structures to help the churches within their own tradition.  For example, we are especially lucky in Norfolk and Waveney to have Graham Usher, who is the Bishop of Norwich and environmental lead for the Church of England.
 
Another answer, however, is the Environmental Issues Network (EIN), a key network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).  EIN brings together representatives from churches, Christian charities and faith-based organisations to collaborate on environmental issues, climate justice and biodiversity.  Its purpose is both practical and theological to help churches respond faithfully and intelligently to the ecological challenges of our age.
 
The network recognises that environmental concerns are deeply connected to questions of poverty, justice and human dignity.  Communities already suffering economic hardship are often those most affected by climate change, environmental degradation and extreme weather.  For Christians, this means environmental action cannot be separated from care for neighbour.
 
EIN therefore serves as a place of ecumenical cooperation where churches can share resources, practical experience and theological reflection.  It encourages churches to move beyond anxiety or uncertainty and towards informed and hopeful action.  In many ways, it represents ecumenism at its best: churches learning from one another, acting together and offering a united Christian witness in the public square.
 
The latest EIN Member Update for May 2026 gives a vivid picture of the breadth of this work.   Rather than focusing only on abstract policy debates, the update highlights practical initiatives, campaigns and resources already helping churches engage with environmental concerns in meaningful ways.
 
Among the most significant developments is CTBI’s endorsement of the Green Investment Declaration, promoted through organisations such as Operation Noah and the JustMoney Movement.   The declaration encourages churches to think seriously about how their investments and financial decisions align with Christian commitments to justice, sustainability and care for creation.  This reflects a growing awareness that stewardship is not only about energy use and recycling, but also about how financial resources are deployed.
 
The update also highlights a new “Call to Action on Climate and Nature”, encouraging churches to host community screenings of the People’s Emergency Briefing film.   Importantly, the initiative seeks to foster informed local conversations involving congregations, communities and even MPs.  It demonstrates how churches can become places where difficult but necessary public conversations are held with seriousness, compassion and hope.
 
Several initiatives featured in the update focus on grassroots participation and practical engagement.  Green Christian’s “Million Acts of Hope” campaign celebrates the countless ordinary actions that strengthen communities and care for creation - from litter picking and food banks to neighbourhood safety projects.   Such initiatives matter because they remind Christians that environmental responsibility is not only global and political; it is also local and personal.
 
One particularly encouraging aspect of EIN is its ecumenical character.  The environmental crisis does not recognise denominational boundaries, and neither should the Christian response.  Through EIN, churches are able to collaborate across traditions while drawing upon their distinct gifts and experiences.  In an often-divided world, this shared commitment to the care of creation can itself become a powerful sign of Christian unity.
   
Click to download the latest EIN Member Update for May 2026 
 
For more information click on these links:

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI)

Environmental Issues Network (EIN)
 
Article and image by Dr Ian Watson, County Ecumenical Officer for Norfolk and Waveney