Divest your church: new resource for local churches available now

Solar panels in the Vatican City

Does your church have investments in fossil fuel companies? Ever thought about moving your money somewhere that builds the world you want to live in? A new resource produced by Operation Noah, Divest your church, explains how your local church can divest from fossil fuels and reinvest for a brighter future, as well as supporting the campaign for the national Churches to divest.

The ‘how to’ guide takes you through a step-by-step process: making a divestment commitment (which can be done by churches with investments as well as those with just a bank account); communicating your decision to national and regional church investors; switching to a 100% renewable energy provider; and reinvesting in clean alternatives.

It outlines the range of alternative investment options available, from fossil free bank accounts to investment funds and projects with a positive environmental and social impact. What’s more, your church could meet some of criteria for the Livesimply Parish Award or Eco-Church Award!

Operation Noah launched the Bright Now campaign in 2013, calling on UK Churches to divest from fossil fuels and invest in clean alternatives. Since then, several UK Churches have responded by making divestment commitments, including Quakers in Britain and the United Reformed Church Synod of Scotland, which have committed to full divestment from fossil fuels. By January 2017, 18 out of 22 Catholic dioceses in England and Wales had switched to using energy from renewable sources, including wind and solar power. Thousands of Catholic churches are now buying their energy from suppliers of renewable energy.

Download ‘Divest your Church’ at: http://brightnow.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Divest-your-church-how-to-guide.pdf

Operation Noah’s ‘Bright Now’ campaign www.brightnow.org.uk