We invite your church to join us on the Eco Church journey!

• It is free to register - but we do ask you and/or your church to consider giving to A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand to support the project and our work in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Registration is a statement of intent - that your church is concerned about the environment and wants to do something about it. It means your church is already on or is beginning the Eco Church journey.

• Registration also means that your church wants to connect with other like-minded churches to share resources, stories and opportunities with each other and to inspire and spur each other on as kaitiaki of this earth.

Registration gives you access to:

• Recognition of the church's environmental work by being able to call yourselves a part of the Eco Church NZ movement.

• Initiatives organised for Eco Churches such as the A Rocha / Para Kore Zero Waste programme for churches.

• Support through the Eco Church NZ network.

• Eco Church NZ training and hui.

Step 1 - Get approval from the church decision-making body

As this a commitment by a congregation or parish, we need approval from its decision-making body. This varies by denomination but it could be the Vestry or Parish Council - or it could be a pastor, minister, priest or other clergy. The Eco Church NZ Relationship Commitments document sets out the commitments to each other as we journey together to care for God’s earth and is a useful document to share with the decision-making body.

Step 2 - Appoint a contact person and an Eco Church team for your church

Everybody needs a team - don't go at this alone. Find other eco-champions in your church to form a team and talk to your leadership. It's important for your long term success and sustainability that you have capacity at the grassroots and support from your church leaders. The main contact person should be the best person for us to get in contact with at your church regarding Eco Church NZ matters.

Step 3 - Complete the Eco Church NZ registration form

Complete the online form below.

What happens next?

We will:

• Send you a welcome email to confirm that you are now a part of the Eco Church NZ network.

• Add you to the mailing lists you subscribed to.

• Put your church on the Eco Church NZ locations map.

• Introduce you to the Eco Church liaison person in your area (if we have appointed someone for your area).

• Send you an Eco Church NZ sign that you can put up at your church.

Next steps:

• You can use the self-assessment Eco Church NZ questionnaire to help you prioritise which areas you would like to work on on your Eco Church journey.

• Join the Eco Church NZ group on the A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand Facebook page to chat with others and support each other.

• You can also download the Eco Church NZ posters to display them at your church to show that you’re a part of the Eco Church NZ network.

• Talk to us! We would love to hear what you are currently doing or thinking of doing in your church.

• Share your story with us and send us photos to be featured on the Eco Church NZ website.

You can also:

• Explore joining Eco Church NZ’s Zero Waste Programme for Churches.

• Explore using the Rich Living series as small group studies at your church to get members to reflect on how they live and offers practical steps to make sustainability integral to lives of faith.

• Explore Resources by Topic on the Eco Church NZ website - these resources are collated to match the areas of the self-assessment questionnaire.

• Read Stories shared by other churches to inspire action and connection.

• Consider using any of our listed Speakers at your church events.