Eglwys Eco
Mae'r argyfwng newid hinsawdd yn rhywbeth sy'n effeithio arnom ni i gyd er ei fod yn effeithio ar wledydd tlotach yn fwy nag ydym ni. Mae tymereddau cynhesach, tywydd eithafol, tanau dinistriol, lefelau’r môr yn codi, stormydd trychinebus a dirywiad mewn bioamrywiaeth yn rhai o ganlyniadau newid yn yr hinsawdd, ac nid yw’r rhai yr effeithir arnynt fwyaf yn gallu cynnal ei bwysau. Mae gofalu am greadigaeth Duw yn rhywbeth y mae pob Cristion yn gyfrifol amdano. Mae gan Eco-Eglwys weledigaeth "i eglwysi o bob enwad ofalu am y greadigaeth fel rhan annatod o garu eu cymdogion a dilyn Duw yn ffyddlon."
Isod, mae Delyth Higgins, Swyddog Eco Church newydd Cymru yn cyflwyno ei hun ac yn amlinellu’r cynllun Eco Church.
Helo, fi yw Delyth Higgins, Swyddog Eco Church i Gymru, ers mis Ebrill diwethaf. Dw i’n cael fy nghyflogi gan yr elusen gadwraeth A Rocha UK sy’n rheoli cynllun gwobrwyo’r Eco Church ar draws Cymru a Lloegr.
Mae’n anrhydedd mawr cael y rôl newydd sbon yma ac i fod yn rhan o dîm prysur a chyffrous iawn sy’n profi galw cynyddol am y cynllun gwobrwyo. Prif nôd y swydd yw cael presenoldeb yng Nghymru i helpu cydlynu digwyddiadau, gwneud rhyngweithio’n haws ac i hybu’r cynllun yn fwy eang. Dwi’n byw gyda fy nheulu yn Abertawe a tan yn ddiweddar yn gweithio i Renew Wales/ Adfywio Cymru.
Er bod dros 300 o gapeli ac eglwysi o bob enwad yng Nghymru eisoes wedi cofrestru â’r cynllun, yr Eglwys yng Nghymru sydd â’r rhif mwyaf ohonynt. Serch hynny, mae pob Esgobaeth yn wahanol – rhai yn frwd iawn ond ambell un yn llai, gyda nifer bach iawn o rhai sy’n ymwneud a’r cynllun ar hyn o bryd. Mae nifer o eglwysi hefyd wedi cyrraedd gwobr efydd neu arian drwy gwblhau’r arolwg ar lein ac yna mynd ymlaen i weithredu’n ymarferol i ofalu am ddaear Duw. Ond rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn eiddgar am y wobr aur gyntaf yng Nghymru.
Mae’r cynllun yn gofyn i chi asesu ardaloedd allweddol o fywyd yr Eglwys: addoli ac addysgu, adeiladau, tir, cysylltiadau cymunedol a byd-eang a ffordd o fyw. Mae’r dull cyfannol yma yn eich annog i ddeall ehangder y gweithredu sydd ei angen i ddod i’r afael ag argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur. O fyfyrio i ynysu, o fuddsoddi i ailgylchu, o ganu i blannu!
Er y gall hyn swnio’n ddantlyd, cewch eich synnu ar faint mae’ch Eglwys eisoes yn ei wneud, ac a fyddai’n cyfrif tuag at y wobr. Edrychwch ar yr adran adnoddau ar ein gwefan, ac yno cewch ddigon o syniadau, gweithgareddau, cyngor ac ysbrydoliaeth i gael dechrau neu i symud ymlaen ar eich siwrne Eco Church.
A beth am gysylltu ag eglwysi eraill yn eich ardal sydd eisioes wedi dechrau gweithredu? Gallwch ddod o hyd i ba eglwysi sy’n rhan o gymuned Eco Church drwy gyrchu ein map yma Byddant rwy’n siwr yn ffynhonnell arbennig o wybodaeth ar beth i’w wneud (ac o bosib beth i beidio â gwneud!)
Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at gwrdd â phobl ymysg eglwysi’r gogledd yn arbennig dros y flwyddyn nesaf – rheiny sydd wedi, a rheiny a fydd yn y dyfodol agos yn cychwyn ar eu taith Eco Church. Rwy’n awyddus i ffurfio perthnasoedd a rhwydweithiau ymhlith capeli ac eglwysi er mwyn iddynt fedru dysgu oddi wrth, a chefnogi ac annog ei gilydd.
Beth am gael pip heddiw a chofrestru ar wefan Eco Church?
Eco Church
The climate change emergency is something which affects us all although it is affecting poorer countries more than it is us. Warmer temperatures, extremes in weather, devastating fires, rising sea levels, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity are just a few of the consequences of climate change, and those most impacted are unable to support its weight. Caring for God's creation is something all Christians are tasked to do. Eco Church has a vision "for churches of all denominations to care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbours and following God faithfully."
Below, Delyth Higgins, the new Eco-Church Officer for Wales introduces herself and outlines the Eco-Church scheme.
Hello, I’m Delyth, the new Eco-Church Officer for Wales. I am employed by the conservation charity A Rocha UK who manage the Eco-Church award scheme across Wales and England. It is a privilege to have this role, to be a part of a very exciting and busy team experiencing an increased demand for the award scheme. The main aims of having a more regional presence in Wales are to help coordinate events, to facilitate networking, and to promote the scheme more widely. I am Welsh speaking, live with my family in Swansea and most recently worked for Renew Wales.
Over 300 chapels and churches of all denominations across Wales are already registered with the scheme and it is the Church in Wales who have the vast majority of these. Despite this, each Diocese is very different - some are very enthusiastic, but one or two others less so, and have a very small number of churches involved thus far. Many churches have achieved bronze or silver awards by completing the online survey and progressing through practical actions to care for God's earth. We are waiting eagerly for the first Gold award in Wales.
The scheme asks you to assess the key areas of church life; worship and teaching, buildings, land, community and global engagement and lifestyles. This holistic approach encourages you to understand the breadth of action needed to get to grips with both the climate and nature emergencies. From meditating to insulating, from investing to recycling, from singing to planting!
Whilst that may sound daunting, you might be surprised by how much your church is already doing that could count towards an award. Take a look at the resources section on our website, where you will find plenty of ideas, activities, advice and inspiration to get you started or moving further on your Eco-Church journey.
And why not link up with churches in your area that have already taken action? You can find out which churches near you are part of the Eco Church community by looking on our map here. They will be a great source of information I’m sure about what to do (and possibly what not to!).
Over the coming year, I look forward to meeting people, especially amongst congregations in North Wales, who already have, and who will be embarking on the Eco Church scheme. I am especially keen to build relationships and networks amongst chapels and churches so that they can learn from, support and encourage each other.
Why not have a look today and register on the Eco Church website?