| Composed of ecologically-concerned
Christians from churches in England’s Oxford
region, Sage promotes environmental awareness and
ecological practices among Christians through education,
outreach, events, and programs. Rooted in a Christian
worldview, Sage understands the environment to
be God’s good creation and calls on churches
and individual Christians to serve as caretakers
and stewards of the Earth and its inhabitants.
Although primarily Anglican, Sage is an ecumenical
group and includes a variety of Christian denominations.
In addition to making presentations, holding prayer
services, organizing events, and sponsoring conservation
initiatives, Sage has produced various resources
for use in Christian settings. Besides its thrice
annual newsletter, Sage Words, which
provides information about environmental issues
and upcoming events, Sage has published environmental
Bible Studies for use in churches and created poster
boards for displays at churches and environmental
events. “Walk with the Creator” events
provide an opportunity for people to combine outdoor
walking with theological reflection. Through its
connection with the Oxford Urban Wildlife Group,
Sage members participate in conservation projects
that help to maintain nature parks and survey
local urban wildlife areas. The Sage website has
also been utilized to promote other environmental
Christian activities in the Oxford
area such as
the Oxford diocesan group, A Christian Response
to the Environment (AChRE), and the Ss. Mary
and John Churchyard Project (Cowley Road, Oxford).
Many Sage members have strong links with other
national groups (e.g., A Rocha, UK and the John
Ray Initiative). At present Sage has a mailing
list of more than 100 individuals. |
| Christianity |
United Kingdom
(Oxford region) |
| 1990–Present |
Sage was established
by members of St. Aldates Church in Oxford in
1990, and has since spread
to other churches in the Oxford region and beyond.
Since its founding, Sage has organized conservation
projects, recycling initiatives, educational
events, and walks in the countryside. It also
produced
Christian environmental materials and supported
sustainable development projects overseas through
its connections to organizations like A Rocha
and the Amani project. In the early 1990s, Sage
produced a series of environmental Bible Studies
entitled, “God, the Environment, and You,” that
have recently been updated and are now available
online. In 2000, it launched a new series of
countryside walks called “Walk with
the Creator,” and in 2004 these walks focused
on exploring trees in an Oxford park throughout
an annual, seasonal cycle. Since 1999, Sage has
led a Conservation Sunday
service
in early June at a different church every year.
|
| Sage aims to be an environmental voice among
Christians and a Christian voice among environmentalists. |
A Rocha
The
Oxford
Urban Wildlife Group
Sage also has links with:
The John Ray Initiative
A Christian Response to the Environment (AChRE)
Ss. Mary and John Churchyard Project |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
Sage
Dr. Martin J. Hodson
School of Biological and Molecular Sciences
Oxford Brookes University
Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
United Kingdom
Ph: +01865.483954
Email: info@sageoxford.org.uk |
