Ncumisa

An Urgent Cry for Ecological Justice: Reclaiming the Gospel Imperative for All Creation We, bishops, women leaders and young leaders, united by a passion for climate justice, gathered during the Season of Creation 2018 at the Good Shepherd Retreat Centre in Hartebeespoort, South Africa. We came from 17 dioceses in 14 African countries and met under the auspices of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network. Our worship, reflection and discussion were guided by the theme ‘Adaptation, Mitigation, and the Witness of the Church in an Era of Climate Change’. We affirm and celebrate our heritage: Scripture, which beckons us to bear witness, with words and works, to the Good News of the redemption and restoration of all creation according to God’s purpose and will – Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. The sacramental tradition, which celebrates the gifts of creation for the nourishment of life and godliness, and embodies new creation in Christ. The liturgical tradition of Eucharist and devotion to prayer, which centre us on the death and resurrection of Christ and God’s reconciling love for all humanity and all creation. The diversity of our cultures and contexts reflected in the global Anglican Communion. We acknowledge and lament: our failure to live true to the Gospel imperative to steward creation for the glory of God and for the flourishing of humankind and creation our gravitation to the greed systems of the world that have resulted in gross inequalities and poverty, and continue to rape the earth, erode the dignity of humanity, and break genuine communion our sometimes turning the rich sacramental and Eucharistic tradition, and devotion to prayer, to mere ritual, thereby failing to serve the cause of justice for all humanity and creation our distortion of the Gospel by focusing narrowly on individual salvation rather than the redemption of all creation our failure to harness our diversity for a truly global witness to ecological justice, and We are committed to: Theological education holding eco-theology trainings at all levels (clergy, laity, guilds, youth) popularising available ecological resources including ecology in theological education curricula including ecology in liturgies organising refresher courses/conferences in ecology making budget provision for ecological activities in our Dioceses and encouraging such provision in our Provinces. Youth: initiating and increasing environmental consciousness and awareness among children and youth empowering children and youth to initiate or take part in tree planting and re-planting programmes and to desist from contributing to pollution enhancing the capacity of school teachers, confirmation teachers, youth workers and children in ecological matters creating an African Youth Eco-Movement encouraging budget provision for youth engagement in ecological justice. Sustainability: planting indigenous and environmentally friendly species and removing alien vegetation which degrades the environment exploring ways to restore degraded land and enable natural regeneration using church land productively, for example, for solar energy, and increasing green cover and bio-diversity establishing waste management projects, including collection and productive use of waste promoting organic, climate smart, agriculture engaging proactively with urban planning systems with a view to addressing degraded human habitation, and advocating for the provision of clean water, sanitation and accessibility ensuring that our church buildings and property provide an eco-model for the community stop using single-use plastics on our church properties. Partnerships: promoting the establishment of environmental desks in every diocese encouraging the inclusion of environmental issues on diocesan websites, sharing challenges and successes initiating resource mobilisation strategies to promote ecological justice promoting active networking on environmental issues through twinning with other dioceses and Provinces, and encouraging exchange programmes in order to learn from one another. Our urgent cry is to the Anglican Communion: our Dioceses, Provinces, CAPA, and Lambeth 2020, that Good News for creation and ecological justice be placed at the top of the agenda. All of us are invested in this and all are part of the problem, whether in the north, south, east or west. Our Communion provides opportunity for global witness and resources to tackle this global challenge together. 22 September 2018 Participants: Anglican Church of Southern Africa Bishop of Swaziland, ACEN Chair Rt Revd Ellinah Ntfombi Wamukoya Bishop of Angola Rt Revd Andre Soares Bishop of Lebombo, Mozambique Right Revd Carlos Simao Matsinhe Bishop of Lesotho Right Revd Adam Mallane Taaso Bishop of Namibia Right Revd Luke Pato Bishop of Christ the King, South Africa Right Revd William Mostert Bishop of Niassa, Mozambique Right Revd Vicente Msossa Bishop of Ukhahlamba, South Africa Right Revd Moses Madywabe Bishop of Kimberley & Kuruman, South Africa Right Revd Oswald Swartz The Church of the Province of Uganda Rt Revd Dr D Zac Niringiye Church of the Province of Central Africa Bishop of Harare, Zimbabwe Rt Revd Chad Nicholas Gandiya Bishop of Botswana Rt Revd Metlhayotlhe Rawlings Beleme Bishop of Eastern Zambia Rt Revd William Mchombo Bishop of Upper Shire, Malawi Rt Revd Brighton Vitta Malasa Bishop of Manicaland, Zimbabwe Rt Revd Erick Ruwona Province of the Anglican Church of Congo Bishop of Katanga Rt Revd Bertin Subi Anglican Church of Tanzania Bishop of Shinyanga, Tanzania Rt Revd Johnson Chinyong’ole Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop of Thika, Kenya Rt Revd Julius Njuguna Wanyoike Women representatives World President, GFS Ms Thembeka Pama Chair, International Anglican Women’s Network Ms Pumla Titus Youth representatives Environmental Coordinator, Church of the Province of Central Africa Revd Sam Sifelani Green Church Movement, Central Africa Ms Norah Magaya Green Anglicans, South Africa Ms Boipelo Tau Green Anglicans, South Africa Mr Bino Makalanyane Anglican Communion Environmental Network Steering Group members ACEN Secretary, Anglican Church of Canada Very Revd Ken Gray Environmental Coordinator, Anglican Church of Southern Africa Revd Dr Rachel Mash Hon Director, Department of Ecological Concerns, Church of South India Synod Professor Dr Mathew Koshy Punnackad Anglican Communion Office support Revd Canon Terrie Robinson   Notes to news editors: The meeting took place 19 to 22 September 2018 For the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, see http://acen.anglicancommunion.org For the Season of Creation, see https://seasonofcreation.org For Green Anglicans, see https://www.greenanglicans.org

ANGLICAN CHURCH CALLS FOR A BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS ANS MICRO PLASTICS  IN SOUTHERN AFRICA The Provincial Standing Committee of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, meeting in Benoni, Johannesburg passed a resolution calling for a ban on single use plastic bags in the six countries of South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and Swaziland The text of the resolution is as follows: Whereas it is becoming increasingly clear that plastic is proving to be extremely damaging to the health and well-being of people and planet, That the quantity of plastic is polluting water, air and soil and threatening the survival of millions of species, And that this applies in particular to microplastics which can enter the respiratory system and blood stream, This PSC requests The Archbishop, Bishops and ACSA-EN to inform our congregations and the people of our countries of the seriousness of plastic pollution, now threatening the health and well-being of people and planet; And furthermore requests the Archbishop and Bishops to communicate this danger to the respective governments of our Province, urging them to: Prohibit the manufacture (or production), importation and sale of microplastics as a matter of urgency, as is now the case in the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand, Ban non-biodegradable plastic bags, as has happened in Rwanda and Kenya, And to ask the parishes of ACSA to encourage their parishioners to: Put pressure on local shops to stop using non-biodegradable plastic bags, Combat plastic pollution by joining with local communities in river, beach and township clean-up events, Support the Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) campaign, pledging to stop using single-use plastic bags and encouraging parish sewing groups to make material bags as both an income generating and environmental project.

Matthew 6:2 “So when you give to the needy do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward fully”. On the 15th of September 2018, under the heading: #SeasonOfCreation, the Anglican Students Federation, Free State region had a community outreach on National Clean-up Day. As one of the missions of ASF to taking care of the ones who are in need [having an outreach], is a priority. On that day service was provided, seeds were planted and indeed we created new life. ASF Free State region touched a life and transformed it. Hope and love was given, also a new atmosphere was created. Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Gold and silver we did not have, but with the hands GOD blessed us with, we did our part and touched weary heart. #greenanglicans #seasonofcreation

ECOBISHOPS OF AFRICA Bishops from 14 different African counties gathered to discuss the role of the Church in Mitigation, Adaptation and Witness under the auspices of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network It was an inspiring time of hearing from God and learning from each other. Three challenging Biblical reflections were given – by Bishop Zac Niringiye of Uganda on the Old Testament and Eco Justice, Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya of Swaziland on The Eucharist and the Environment, and Bishop Chad Gandiya of Harare on the New Testament and Reconciliation with all of Creation Rev Dr Rachel Mash shared and overview of the threat of Climate Change to Africa and we discussed the challenges faced by each Diocese.  We were inspired to hear of the work which is already happening in so many places. We heard the voices and shared the stories of young people from Central Africa (Green Church Movement) Norah Magaya  and Green Anglicans (Southern Africa) Boipelo Tau and Bino Makalanyane. We heard of the particular impact of climate change on women and the crucial role they play in adaptation from Canon Terrie Robinson.  The International Anglican Womens Network (Pumla Titus) and the Girls Friendly society (Thembeka Pama) shared some of the actions that women are already taking. And then – before we made our action plans we had the great privilege to hear from Dr Koshy, head of Ecological Ministry for the Church of South India. He shared the inspiring and practical ways that a fellow church in the Southern hemisphere is responding and gave us hope and inspiration We also heard of the work of the Council of Anglican Provinces from June Nderitu (Also anglican Alliance) The workshop was soaked in prayer and reflection. Canon Ken Gray from Canada led us in Creation based morning prayers. We had a reflective walk based on the Laudato Si Prayer of Pope Francis . Our daily lunch time Eucharists  using the Eucharistic Prayer for the Season of Creation were held out side in God’s beautiful sanctuary the Earth.  Our presiders were Bishop Ellinah (Swaziland) , Bishop Bertin (DRC), and Bishop Beleme (Botswana) And when all the hard work was done, we visited the Harteebees Cable Car and went up on the mountain and then were treated to a wonderful gala dinner by St Judes Church The Bishops attending were from Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa , Swaziland and Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia Botswana and Malawi, DRC, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania #greenanglicans #seasonofcreation #ecobishops  

Free State goes Green On Friday the 24 of August 2018 Bino Makhalanyane ( our Provincial Green Anglicans Youth Co-ordinator) took a trip back home to his mother Diocese the Anglican Diocese of Free State , where he met up with Diocesan Guilds/Organization leaders, to have a conversation on how best to make the Diocese Green as part of “Being a dynamic Christ community, Demonstrating love to the broken world”(Diocesan Vision Statement calls on all Anglicans in the Free State ). The theme of the day was from  Psalm 23 :1-2 “” under the question Because to are called to Demonstrate God’s love to the world , how can we heal the world/creation which God has given to us out of love. The diocese has agreed that we need to get the conversation going and would like to hold a full day training course for all diocesan guild/organisation executive members which could see the executive members leading by example not only during guild gatherings but also at their homes, making Green Anglican a Lifestyle . #greenanglicans #seasonofcreation

RENEWING THE ELSIES RIVER During Water Week, the congregation of St Stephens Anglican Church in Pinelands reflected on water.  Rev Rachel Mash preached on the theme of the  “River of Life:” “The water of life, clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, producing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree and for the healing of the nations” Rev 22”2 How can the church be part of protecting and renewing living waters? In the discussion afterwards we discussed the Elsies Kraal river which was canalized many years ago. The concrete canal sends water rushing out to the sea, full of plastic and litter. And so a vision was born   – to renew the Elsies Kraal and re-created a living eco-system with plants and life. The dream is that is could become a green belt through Pinelands , restoring the bike lane and becoming a place for people to rest and be restored. Dr Kevin Winter – who is becoming known as Dr Water! Shared the story of the Friends of the Liesbeek and how they had worked over many years to renew the Liesbeek River . The idea was shared with the local councillor and the ratepayers association. Regular clean ups will be held – twice monthly. The Project was launched on the 8th of Sep with a blessing of the river, and a planting of succulen