Switching your energy supplier

One of the quickest changes that churches can make to reach Net Zero is to switch to a green energy tariff. Though it may seem like a small change, it is an important one and can make a real difference to your carbon footprint before you make any material changes to your building. It also demonstrates to energy companies that the demand is there, encouraging continued investment in renewable energy generation.

The Church of England is running The Great Switch for Creation campaign, encouraging churches to make the pledge and switch to a green tariff. Whilst Methodist Churches can’t join the pledge campaign, there are lots of resources you can use. There’s a simple guide to switching to a green tariff, which includes possible suppliers, as well as a video on how green tariffs are definedEco Church also have a guide to Buying Greener Energy.

As always, a reminder you can find more about Action for Hope here, guidance on getting your building down to net zero here, and you can contact Anna here for net zero support and guidance.

Christmas with Christian Aid

When armed conflict swept through Chance’s community, she knew her family had to escape to survive. Clutching her newborn baby and rallying her children, Chance fled on foot. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Christian Aid is working through partners to deliver financial assistance and clean water to people who’ve been displaced and  marginalised, like Chance and her family. 
 We know that Advent and Christmas are busy times for churches. With this in mind, Christian Aid’s suite of worship and fundraising resources is designed to complement what you might already have planned for the season. Order or download resources via the Christian Aid website.

Scotland Deserves Better – more information for churches

The Methodist Church in Scotland is an official supporter of ‘Scotland Deserves Better’ (SDB). Some individual Methodist Churches are also official supporters in their own right. SDB is not part of a political party and works for the end of poverty in Scotland.  MSPs from various parties have joined. SDB wants to represent the Civil Society and Faith groups (churches).

SDB is organising a demonstration on the 25 October 2025. Individuals and groups are invited to gather in Edinburgh for the demonstration from 10am and the march will start at 11am. Two routes are planned, a longer and shorter one. Please see details about the march: https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/march-and-rally

You or your church don’t need to register but if you need updated information you can register for their newsletter: https://www.tfaforms.com/5177012 .

There is a fund to help the transport of groups to the event: https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/travel-bursary

If you would like to join in the church bloc of the march, please meet outside the Scottish Parliament at 10.30am to leave at 11.00am, at our pre-agreed location which you can find here: https://what3words.com/wiping.small.chief .

We encourage Methodist churches and members to join the demonstration and the movement as an expression of their faith and in seeking for a better, fairer, more just world. Some Methodist churches may choose to organise their own presence. Please contact Revd Laurent Vernet if you are interested in coordinating the Methodist response.

#ScotlandDemandsBetter

The Scotland Synod has agreed that the Methodist Church in Scotland should  become an official supporter of #ScotlandDemandsBetter.

For more information on this campaign, please look at the video below – or click on the button for access to the website.

Change for the better happens when people stand together and demand it.

Visit #ScotlandDemandsBetter website

Government Must End Scapegoating of Migrants

A letter to the Home Secretary
“The people we help and hear from every day are all impacted by politics of division rather than solutions. After years of these policies, the asylum system is at a breaking point, and our streets have become scenes of violence. We are asking you now to unite communities and invest in meaningful solutions to prevent further damage.”
Coordinated by Refugee Action, The Methodist Church is one of over 100 charities who have signed a letter to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to express deep concern at the Government’s direction on immigration and urged her to change course.

Read the letter