Sustainable Church Flowers

Sustainable Church Flowers (SCF) is a movement within the Church of England, passionate about sustainability in our churches, cathedrals and churchyards, who are gently campaigning for change. Through a combination of an ambassador network, social media campaigns, workshops and good old fashioned evangelism SCF is encouraging change by providing information and support to churches and cathedrals around the United Kingdom and further afield.

SCF encourages the use of locally grown flowers and foliage:

• grown without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides
• packaged without the use of unnecessary plastics
• grown by people who are paid a liveable wage and are justly treated
• never bleached or dyed
• non-invasive species
• never arranged in floral foam.

SCF embolden floral decorators to rediscover old and sustainable ways to arrange using such things such as chicken wire, flower frogs/pin frogs, and other natural structural supports that can be used.

Theology

Christianity and climate change

Christianity and climate change is a nine-part film series produced by Tearfund and featuring Katharine Hayhoe, the internationally renowned Christian climate scientist. In each episode, she responds to climate questions from key church leaders and members in Scotland.

Each video is around 6 minutes long, and a study guide with discussion questions is available to download, making this series very useable in small groups or as short evening course.

Click here for details and to access the videos and discussion guide

TedTalk

Katharine Hayhoe has also recorded a TedTalk where she gives advice to help aid discussions with people don't believe in climate change or are quite sceptical. Rather than ‘rehashing data’, Katharine suggests connecting through the perspective of shared values and then discussing the consequences if action isn't taken or climate change continues to be dismissed. Watch the 20-minute video here.

Saving Us book

The thoughts Katharine shares in her TedTalk are drawn from her book Saving Us. She draws on her interdisciplinary research and personal stories to show that small conversations can have astonishing results. “Saving Us leaves us with the tools to open a dialogue with your loved ones about how we all can play a role in pushing forward for change.” Available on Amazon for £12.97, or World of Books for £9.90.