Context.
The Environmental Issues Network (EIN) was set up some years ago under the umbrella of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland ( CTBI ). Members of the network are not required to be members of CTBI, but should recognise CTBI’s significance as an ecumenical instrument and be in sympathy with its aims.
Any Christian organisation, denomination or formal network of local churches may be a member if it is committed to working on issues relating to the environment, including climate and/or biodiversity, and willing to collaborate ecumenically.
EIN currently has around 40 organisations, denominations and networks on its circulation list. Its primary purposes are information-sharing, coordination and networking, although members have occasionally collaborated in specific projects, most recently Climate Sunday. We are conscious that we need to review EIN’s purpose and direction for the next period, much having changed in the external context since we last undertook such a reflection. The new co-chair will be well-placed to help develop and lead a strategic process to achieve that.
We have for the last three years had two co-chairs, Andy Atkins of A Rocha UK, and Jenny Brown of Christian Aid. Andy is stepping down as co-chair at EIN’s April meeting and we are therefore looking for his successor. We have recently established a small steering group of members who are willing to support the co-chairs in seeking to grow and enhance the impact of EIN. In addition to Jenny, the other members of the Steering Group are Stephen Curran from Eco-Congregation Scotland and Gethin Rhys from Cytûn (Churches together in Wales). We hope to add one or two more to that number soon.
The main elements of the co-chair role
- With the steering group and other co-chair, preparation for meetings, including setting the agenda, finding speakers, liaising with Romina Infantino of CTBI (who provides meeting support)
- With the other co-chair, chairing the actual meetings (currently largely on-line), finalizing minutes (the first draft being produced by Romina)
- With the Steering Group ensuring follow-up actions from meetings
- Sending occasional communications to members between meetings (eg sharing information from members and external sources)
- Supporting and enabling strategic thinking and direction for EIN
- Developing the role and contribution of the steering group
What we’re looking for in a co-chair
- personal commitment to and interest in EIN and the issues it covers, and a desire to help it reach its potential
- ability to commit time to the role
- strategic thinking
- good chairing skills
- good networking skills, ideally including experience in working in church or charity coalitions
- working in an organization, denomination or network already involved in EIN
- political awareness and nous
- diversity as between co-chairs in terms of as many as possible of: size of organization; church/NGO; nature/climate; gender; heritage
- Willingness to do the role for 2 years
If you are interested in taking on this strategic role
We would be delighted to hear from you! Please contact Jenny Brown if you’d like a chat about what’s involved. If you’d like to offer your services, please e-mail Jenny with a brief (emphasis on brief!) outline of what you would bring to the role.
We’d like to hear from you by close of business on Friday 24th March 2023, please. After that the steering group will look at all the proposals and come to a decision which will be announced at the April meeting.
