The Climate Sunday initiative aimed to support, promote and facilitate collective engagement by the churches of Britain and Ireland ahead of the United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow in 2021.
There were three strands to the engagement: Worship, Commit and Speak Up.
Climate Sunday brought together a wide range of Christian churches and agencies, facilitated by CTBI through its Environmental Issues Networks. Thousands of churches participated, using the resources provided for worship and other activities.
In 2024, following a delay arising from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, CTBI commissioned Brendan Research to provide an independent evaluation of the impact of the initiative, together with recommendations for future work. A summary of the findings and recommendations is provided below.
Engagement: Worship, Advocacy and Community Action
The activities undertaken during the Climate Sunday Initiative varied across regions and localities but shared the common themes of worship, advocacy, and practical community engagement.
Worship
Across all regions, Climate Sunday services were held with churches integrating climate themes into their worship service either once or over several weeks. Sermons, prayers, Bible readings and hymns were dedicated to environmental issues. Congregants were also encouraged to take climate initiatives following the services.
The primary goal was to use Climate Sunday to raise awareness and encourage congregations to consider the relationship between climate concerns and their faith. The Climate Sunday initiative thus provided a structured opportunity to help Christians focus on this important topic, which can often be overlooked in church life despite its prominence in the media. Participants concurred that the feedback from church members regarding the Climate Sunday services were generally positive. Congregants appreciated the change in routine, the new information presented, and the different or new hymns sung. Some groups used the opportunity to capture the attention of and engage their younger generations in church life.
Advocacy and Public Engagement
Churches across all regions also engaged in advocacy, participating in events such as public rallies, communicating with politicians, and raising awareness through diverse campaigns.
Community Action
Practical community activities were a significant part of the events implemented during the Climate Sunday initiative. Many churches and groups initiated and executed engaging local environmental projects. Eco-gardens for example, were a popular feature across the regions.
Effectiveness and impact
The Climate Sunday initiative was generally seen as positive across all regions, although there were some differences in the specific outcomes and challenges. The initiative was widely praised for raising awareness and encouraging new conversations about climate action within church communities. For some, the initiative provided new platforms and opportunities to reach new audiences.
The Climate Sunday Initiative significantly raised awareness about climate issues within church communities. Participants reported a marked increase in conversations and understanding about climate change among their congregations.
In addition to raising awareness, the initiative also increased engagement in climate-related activities. Churches organized a variety of events such as community clean-ups, educational workshops, and advocacy efforts, encouraging active participation from their members.
The Climate Sunday Initiative led to tangible environmental actions within many local churches and denominations. Practical activities such as tree planting, eco-friendly
gardening, and creating eco gardens were commonly reported. These activities not only promoted sustainable environmental stewardship but also fostered a sense of community and collective responsibility. Moreover, the initiative prompted renewed commitments and significant institutional changes within some denominations.
The initiative strengthened ecumenical ties and promoted collaboration among different denominations and faith groups. Participants reported that the initiative facilitated networking and sharing of resources, enhancing the collective impact of their efforts. A sense of unity and collaboration was also fostered through the sharing of experiences and resources.
This collective approach not only amplified their efforts but also created a supportive network for ongoing climate action and discussion. Some local churches came together to hold joint events and coordinate action, each contributing something unique to the process.
There was a balance of affirmation and challenge causing groups to realise they were part of something bigger. This collaboration highlights how churches can work together effectively, transcending theological differences, for a common cause that impacts all of creation. By adopting a team approach, the initiative has demonstrated the strength and efficiency that comes from collective action. Churches not only share resources and ideas but also build a more unified Christian response to climate change, showing that tackling such a global issue is more effective when done in solidarity.
A significant impact of the Climate Sunday Initiative is the sustained commitment to climate action observed within many churches. Some participants reported that environmental themes have been integrated into regular worship activities, ensuring ongoing engagement and awareness.
Despite the positive impacts, the initiative faced several challenges in its implementation. These included resistance from some congregations, uneven engagement, the need for contextualised resources, inadequate communication, and unsustainable or temporal enthusiasm. The euphoria and global media frenzy in the run up to and during COP 26 galvanised people and organisations to engage with climate issues in a way in which they had never done before. However, in the absence of such a specific context, it can be challenging to continue or replicate this same kind of urgency, enthusiasm and mass engagement.
A resounding critique across most regions was the lack of consideration of different socio-cultural and political contexts in the provision of resources and materials. Ensuring that all communication and language used was relevant to the local context, especially when dealing with issues pertinent to specific governments, was a challenge.
Recommendations
The recommendations for future work included:
- Continue to develop flexible and practical resources that can be adapted in the local church context.
- Provide advocacy and communication toolkits for local leaders.
- Develop specific guides for local churches on important themes such as net zero targets.
- Facilitate collaborative engagement of relevant faith-based agencies with local church leaders.
- Support and encourage churches to promote theological reflection and worship on themes of climate justice.
- Promote CTBI’s Environmental Issues Network as a critical space for bringing together the different strands of this work.
- Develop interreligious dialogue on climate justice.
These recommendations have since been reviewed by the Environmental Issues Network leading to the publication of an information bulletin with news, resources and events after each Network meeting. You can register to receive this bulletin via the CTBI Newsletter (see the form below).
Material for the annual Season of Creation is available on this website.
Members of the Environmental Issues Network are grateful to receive any feedback, recommendations or questions about their work. They can be contacted via this e-mail: ein@ctbi.org.uk.