NEWS RELEASE
12 July, 2007

Methodists to drop shopping for Lent 2008

The Methodist Conference is calling on Methodists all over Britain to mark Lent 2008 by only shopping for essential items. They will seek to reduce their carbon footprint and instead focus on the essentials of life, raising awareness of the demands of consumerism on the planet and on daily life.

Lent, the forty days before Easter, is a time when many Christians fast and spend time thinking about the impact of their lifestyles on other people and on creation. During Lent 2007, members of the Church's Connexional Team marked Lent by shopping for essential items only. They charted their progress, thoughts and temptations on a special blog: http://www.nonewshoes.blogspot.com/, which attracted attention from all over the world.

Michaela Youngson, Secretary for Pastoral Care and Spirituality, says; "The no new shoes project is just one example of how people can use Lent to reduce their carbon footprint and focus on spiritual priorities. It's about thinking about how each one of us can make a difference in the world and in our own lives. We can't wait to hear about all the different ways people use Lent 2008 to honour this commitment. Watch this space!"

Supporting this initiative, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund Lent study pack will offer thought-provoking information and suggestions for possible actions for change. For more information, visit http://www.mrdf.org.uk/.

For more information contact Media Relations