A major theological training college with facilities in our Huddersfield area is looking to better protect God’s creation by formally recognising the climate emergency.
St Hild College, which offers teaching in Sheffield, Mirfield, York and online, is taking steps to reduce its carbon emissions as it works towards carbon neutrality.
In 2017 St Hild became the first theological college to be awarded the A Rocha Eco-Church Bronze Award, and, in the four years since, environmental concerns have remained high on the college’s agenda due to the work of the student-led Eco-Team.
The staff-student group is now pushing forward with the college’s plans to address the climate crisis and to spread an urgent message of change to all its partner organisations.
St Hild hopes to influence not just the churches in which its students serve but also the schools, charities and businesses that those church members are involved in.
Mark Powley, Principal of St Hild, said: “Recognising a Climate Emergency is crucially important, and I am delighted St Hild is taking this step.
“As Christians we are responsible for protecting God’s creation – and part of this means we must speak out about climate change.
“The crisis is happening now.
“Extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels and high levels of atmospheric carbon are resulting in catastrophic suffering for our fellow humans and the animal world.
“Far from being an empty gesture, I believe our recognising will not only cut the carbon footprint of the college but will also help the St Hild community, and the churches and organisations we are connected with, to be beacons of hope.
“I would like every church and Christian organisation to join us in making a formal declaration of the climate emergency during 2021.”
To find out more about what St Hild are doing, please click here.