How to be a Young Green Anglican
In the Anglican Church a young person is treasured as the light and future of the church today. As we think of the future , young people have to be aware of all the social issues that will impact their lives either directly or indirectly, including the state of the environment. Climate Change has seen the Anglican Church taking a stand against destruction of God’s creation, calling young people to become custodians, to care for Creation and to become ‘Young Green Anglicans’.
A young Green Anglican would work towards change starting with their personal lifestyle, as well as in their church and the broader community. This would also include action and advocacy by praying and preaching about the environment and mobilising their peers to be involved in sustainable programs, activities and campaigns.
Youth structures should adjust to environmentally friendly ways of living, celebrating all environmental days and reduce their carbon footprint with actions such as:
Transport –cycling or walking, lift sharing, or using public transport.
Water-be committed to mending leaks, showering rather than taking a bath, not wasting water
Electricity-switching off lights and heaters using appliances for short periods of time.
Litter-they would not litter and would try to implement recycling at home, school or work.
Simple lifestyle-they would remember that Jesus lived a simple lifestyle and realize that a person’s value is in the quality of his or her relationships with people, not in the car they drive or the clothes they wear. Umntu ngumntu ngabantu.
Action and Advocacy- A Green Anglican would inform themselves about issues such a green energy, fracking, nuclear power, they would get involved in local actions such as clean up days, alien plant removal, river clean ups.
A young Green Anglican takes responsibility of keeping the environment sustained, clean and in harmony as God intended “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” Romans: 1-20.
Ncumisa Magadla
Anglican Environmental Network
Please contact us on 021 7631300 or [email protected] if you would like to find out more about the Green Anglican movement. Join us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkdIn at Green Anglicans
Dear Anglicans I would like to know that does the Anglican Church provide bursaries to its members who are studying environmental studies, I am one of the young lay ministers, I am doing Geography and Environmental management and I am self funded
Hi Sabelo, please, at the moment we are not giving away with bursaries, however I would advise you to contact environmental organisations