Ncumisa

Green Anglicans was invited to the Western Cape Anglicans Ablaze on the 02 May 2015 to enlighten people about environmental challenges facing Western Cape  as a province and how the church can respond to those. About 35 people attended the environmental session to participate on ways of which we can cut down our carbon foot print and the day began  with vibrant  ice breaking games lead by Ncumisa Magadla. Rev Rachel Mash shared impacts of climate change around the province what it is to expect in future. She also clearly defined what is green Anglican and why it is important we become green especially in the Western Cape. Rev Shaun Cozett presented practical steps  that can be taken by church’s to cut down on their carbon footprint and ecologically friendly.  He made reference to some of the things his church has done and how they inspired other people to take part. Participants  were later divided into focus groups discussing different environmental issues  (water, energy, worship, land& water) and how the church can respond to them respectively. At end of workshop everyone agreed we all have to play a role in caring for creation. The event was also graced by a new member of the Green Anglicans team, Malakhiwe Bada, who joined the provincial office in April 2015 all the way from Eastern Cape. We welcome you Malakhiwe!

They refer to the Diocese as the diocese with a difference and we indeed saw them striving for change. The Anglican Diocese of Mthatha held their first environmental conference on the 24th-25th of April 2015. On the first day the conference started with a clergy workshop focusing on the link between theology and the environment, Rev Andrew Warmback, Assistant Dean and Diocesan Environmental Coordinator for the Diocese of Natal fixed on issues the diocese may face environmentally because of their geographical orientation. With life threatening repercussions from climate change and other environmental issues the clergy agreed   that care for creation and environmental ministry must be prioritised in churches. Graced by mist the second day of the conference started with a service outside led from the Season of Creation Eucharistic book and it made history to be the first time the diocese had an environmental service outside.  It was followed by full day workshop which had various programs for women, lay and clergy, as well as youth. Farming Gods Way a resourceful organisation which provides training on various ways of food presented a story of success through their way of farming and listened to challenges the diocese has with their food gardens. They offered practical solutions and even agreed to visit the diocese again for a special training on farming Gods way. Bonginkosi White the Diocese Environmental Coordinator of Mthatha ended the conference with words of encouragement for the diocese to take up this as one of their aims and goals, thanked the presence of Thulethu Ngudle who will be assisting him towards the goal of being an Eco Diocese. -Ncumisa Magadla

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba On this Good Friday, we reflect on the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Our view of salvation has often focused on our individual souls and journey to heaven. Our responsibility to care for God’s Creation has been overlooked or ignored. We have acted as if Christ only died to save the human race. The truth of the redemption of all things in Christ, which is the message of the life-giving cross, must be reclaimed (Colossians 1:20). Last month I invited a group of Anglican bishops from those parts of the world most impacted by climate change to strategise around the response of the Anglican Church, which consists of more than 85 million people. As the bishops shared their stories, our hearts were broken as we heard of the destruction caused by the hurricane in the Philippines and the devastation in Fiji, where rising sea levels is threatening to displace whole communities with the consequent loss of culture and identity. We mourned the loss of the lungs of our planet through deforestation in the Amazon, and the devastating effects of acidification of seawater and depleted fishing grounds; the impacts of air pollution and destructive mining, and energy extraction and transportation practices. In the face of such environmental degradation what does it mean to believe that “God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten son?” (John 3:16). Interestingly in the original Greek this verse would read “God so loved the cosmos”. So if God sent His son to save the whole cosmos and not just the people in it, what does that mean for us? I would like to share with you some of our reflections as a group of bishops gathered together from different parts of the globe. Climate change is a spiritual problem as well as an economic, scientific and political one, because the block to effective action relates to basic existential issues of how human life is framed and valued. These issues include the competing moral claims of present and future generations, human versus non-human interests, and how the lifestyle of wealthy countries is to be balanced against the basic needs of the developing world. For this reason people of faith must urgently find their collective moral voice. Climate justice for us as Christians demands a faith response. Creation is holy, and we are called to serve and protect the Earth now and for future generations (Genesis 2:15). We have been complicit in a theology of dominion (Genesis 1:26), and now realise that human dominion over the earth can only be exercised in the light of Jesus’ command that the greatest is the one who serves (Luke 22.26). We believe that the voices of indigenous peoples, whose relationship with creation remains integral to their spirituality and relationship with God, is of central importance to ongoing ministry on climate justice. We are painfully aware that women frequently bear a disproportionate burden of climate change largely because they make up the majority of the world’s poor, and are often more dependent for their livelihood on natural resources threatened by climate change. There is a compelling need to listen to the voices of our youth who will inherit the challenges and catastrophes we fail to address. We believe the issue of climate change is a moral issue at its heart. Attending to the current and future life and health of our planet will require sacrifices now, both personal and collective, a deeper appreciation of the interdependence of all creation, and a genuine commitment to repentance, reconciliation and redemption. We accept the evidence of science concerning the contribution of human activity to the climate crisis and the disproportionate role played by fossil fuel-based economies. Although climate scientists have for many years warned of the consequences of inaction, there is an alarming lack of global agreement about the way forward. To live in the way of our Saviour, who reconciles all of Creation to himself, we therefore committed ourselves to the following initial actions and to developing a strategic plan of action in the months ahead. The initiatives listed below are our first steps and we invite people of faith and goodwill everywhere to join us in these endeavours: lTo fast for climate justice on the first day of every month in solidarity with the Earth. lTo strengthen our ecumenical and inter-faith partnerships globally and locally, standing in solidarity with all people of goodwill in response to the climate crisis. lTo develop and distribute educational materials on climate justice and Care for Creation. lTo review our churches’ investment practices with a view to supporting environmental sustainability and justice by divesting from industries involved primarily in the extraction or distribution of fossil fuels. lTo implement energy conservation measures in church buildings and move to renewable energy sources as quickly as possible. lTo conserve water and recycle waste around church buildings and properties. lTo nurture biodiversity on church land by creating a safe habitat for indigenous species and to support local communities by sharing land resources for local food production. lTo advocate for sustainable water, food and agricultural practices in our communities We also call upon political, economic, social and religious leaders in our various countries to address the climate change crisis as the most urgent moral issue of our day. We urge them to: lWork with all possible commitment and speed towards fair, ambitious, accountable and binding climate change agreements at national and international levels. lMove from dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy on a national level. lDevelop policies that genuinely assist environmental and climate refugees, and promote mechanisms of intergovernmental co-operation that ensure their human rights, safety and resettlement. The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own, Father, forgive. The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the Earth, Father, forgive. l The Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Rev Dr Thabo Makgoba, Chair of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network. The full Good Friday

The Green Saints an environmental group from All Saints Landsowne celebrated Earth Hour on the 28th of March.  The evening service had a great turn out with visitors from other parishes.  They celebrated with poetry, songs accompanied by the guitar, breathing and laughter exercises and education about natural cleaning products vs harmful chemicals. Wonder Bags kept the healthy soup warm and the candles in jam jars gave a comforting soft light. “What a lovely warm fellowship evening. We look forward to more green evening where we learn about greening our bodies, homes and the environment.” The Green Saint’s mission is to create an awareness to be green conscious, to have green evenings where knowledge is shared and to raise funds for green initiatives at the church and community. For more green ideas or churches wanting to do similar activities, get hold of the Green Saints contact Glenda Pieterse at  [email protected] or 021 6962156   It is often difficult to judge how our actions and their impact on the environment are likely to affect others. What is clear is that we are the only species with the power to destroy the earth. Birds and insects have no such power, nor does any other mammal. And yet if we have the capacity to destroy the earth, we also have the capacity to protect it. I believe we have an urgent responsibility to do so. Dalai Lama