The Church of Ireland General Synod today passed a motion which requests the Church in Society Committee (or any designated successor) to submit a proposed 'Code of Environmental Good Practice' for the Church of Ireland to the General Synod in 2011. 

Proposing the motion, Ms Marianne Young (Ferns) commended the work of Eco-Congregation Ireland, an Ecumenical body which seeks to promote environmental awareness at a Church level, but added, "I believe we should be taking our actions one step further and declaring to the world that, we as a Church, believe in our responsibility to inspire and promote change not just within our own communities but nationally and globally. Let us answer the question “what is the Church doing about it?” with an honest and definite response in the form of a Code of Good Environmental Practice."

Referring to the Diocesan Green Charter in Cashel and Ossory she said it is "a simple but effective guideline to environmental consciousness, good practice and global awareness and may provide the basis for the Church and Society committee from which to expand."

Seconding the motion, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Revd Ken Good commended the Green Charter of the Diocese of Cashel and Ossory as "a sane, thoughtful, practical and balanced approach to green issues." He continued, "what the proposer and I are recommending is simply that this General Synod request the Church and Society Committee look at the Cashel and Ossory Charter and other similar work that has been done and come back to us in 2011 with a recommended Code of Good Environmental Practice that could be offered to all dioceses and parishes to assist us in our Christian discipleship and stewardship."

Geoffrey McMaster (Dublin) supported the motion saying it was “certainly something to be commended.” He questioned the need for service sheets alongside the Book of Common Prayer. Paul Hillis (Dublin) said the focus of the Christian should be worldwide. He invited Synod to consider the implications of overpopulation. The Revd Canon John Clarke (Meath) said that the Green party are struggling for votes, particularly in rural Ireland. Stella Durand () noted that next Sunday is Rogation Sunday and said “in God we live and move and have our being and in this is in every rock and mineral.” In a typically witty contribution, Agnes Young (Connor) supporting the motion but added that in the past we didn’t know we we’re recycling we thought we were just poor!”

Before closing the debate Marianne Young (Cashel) proposed an amendment which allow for the motion to be referred to any successor body to the Church in Society.

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