News

  Anglican Alliance and the Anglican Board of Mission Australia held a Young Anglican Forum which form part of ‘Life in Abundance” – An Anglican Conference on Mission & Evangelism in Melbourne on the 8th -13th of February 2016.  Joining a global movement, I was invited to the conference to present at the Ash Wednesday Climate Justice Forum on how the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has responded to climate change. A round table setting with representatives from different dioceses of Australia and guests from other provinces graced the day, beginning with an overall statement from Andy Bowerman from Anglican Alliance. He talked about the importance of working together in the Anglican Communion to curb climate change.  People from different parts of the country stated their experiences and how they are finding solutions to their challenges. The youth also expressed their concerns about their future, concluding on a few actions plans that will grow their youth ministry and care for creation. I presented what Green Anglicans in Southern Africa has done and our plan of action for the future, especially for young people. The attendees had were given time to discuss in a World Café style on what they have learned and draw up a plan of action for their province and different ministries within the Anglican Church of Australia and they presented in groups. I also had an opportunity to present in one of the sessions during the wider conference alongside Andy Bowerman and Tagolyn Kabakabe from Anglican Alliance. Brad Chapman, the education manager for Anglican Board of Mission Australia and his team invited a number of people who are working tirelessly in the Anglican Church to develop ways of cutting down our carbon foot print, to share ideas and strategies  as well as discuss how the Anglican Church should respond to the challenges posed by climate change, unanimously agreeing that it should be a key priority of the church in our time.   They put together a short clip highlighting what transpired at the Ash Wednesday Climate Justice forum   -Ncumisa Magadla

Green Anglicans has been quite busy in the Eastern Cape, making presentations to youth conferences in most of the Eastern Cape Dioceses. Now it is time to look at how to strategize together. So a cluster gathering was organized for key Diocesan Environmental Coordinators and key youth reps. Mthatha, Mbashe, Port Elizabeth and Khahlamba members attended. It was wonderful to meet up an share ideas and resources! This is a cluster with very resourcefulpeople!. The workshop was joined by two reps from Mothers Union. They discussed important issues and strategies 1. HOW TO MOBILISE AND MAINTAIN INTEREST Often people start with lots of enthusiasm but then the energy is lost. How can we maintain the movement? The following strategies were felt to be important. Formation of Diocesan Environmental Desk consisting of Diocesan Coordinator, chaplain and archdeaconry reps. Reports and feedback by reps convene enviro awareness campaign practical action is required so that youth can develop interest, testify and be able to demonstrate back to their parishes. sell the enviro idea and make the young people own it use social media to grow the Green Anglican movement engage on activities that are relevant to the youth and the environment site visits 2. WASTE AND RECYCLING: Our contexts are so different, what can we do practically around this issue? Clean up campaigns in rural, suburban and town churches Waste and recycling project that will create jobs/income for unemployed youth Educate everyone (mothers and grandmothers) about disposal of nappies. 3. HOW TO MOBILIZE CLERGY Clergy are so busy with many hats – how do we get them involved? Environmental Issues to be included in the modules of Theology – specially around God’s Creation. (Theological College – COTT and St Bedes) Get the Diocesan Bishop involved– so then it will be his for his clergy to be committed Fellowship of Vocation sessions to be based on environmental awareness. Have the environmental awareness and God’s creation as a theme for a clergy retreat An environmental desk should be established in each parish and come up with local action plans. The priests spouse fellowship can be mobilized to support these environmental issues Ensure that all guilds are represented at the Diocesan Environmental Desk Each guild should come up with its own action plan also REDUCE WOOD BURNING/TREE PLANTING This is a huge issue , how do we work in this area? Start with environmental education on a local basis to find out the situation : cause and effect. Why are people cutting trees Promote wonder bags (home made ones can be made using polystyrene cups) Make dibolobolo using old newspapers. They are soaked, made into balls and then doused with paraffin (home made charcoal) Promote and train on solar cookers made from old satellite dishes Promote rocket stoves. Cut alien trees not indigenous ones. Tree planting: emphasize that we must plant indigenous trees. Education is needed regarding trees that have a harmful effect e.g poisonous.. WATER We are in a drought situation – how can the church respond?  Awareness and education  Cut alien invasives  Do water audits at church and home  Rain water harvesting and gray water systems  Water quality testing  Mulching of food gardens  Fill a two litre bottle and put it in the cistern of the toilet  Protect springs from animals by building a wall around. Action plans were developed to be discussed with the Bishop and leadership of their respective Dioceses. Action plans were developed to be discussed with the Bishop and leadership of their respective Dioceses.

The Anglican youth of Hlathikhulu Parish in the Diocese of Swaziland had a Green Valentine weekend. They arrived Friday 12, 2016 at St Mary’s where they held a sleep over conference. Friday they only had an evening song and went to bed in preparation for the next day. Saturday was the busiest day as they firstly had Morning Prayer in the church’s backyard vegetable garden. “It was a refreshing experience to enjoy the presence of God outdoor in the beauty of nature looking on the planted vegetables. For most of us was the first time experience and we wished we could do it more frequently.” Mcedisi Masuku Moving with the programme we the first session facilitated by Mcedisi. Masuku which was, Climate Change and Eco-Justice. He made a simple explanation of how green house gases emitted by human activities have lead to climate change and how it has affected world temperatures and rainfall distribution. He then gave some effects of Climate Change in food production in Africa and how the future is projected to be if no actions are taken. This presentation was an eye opening as it has provoked questions and discussions that even tried to address the role the youth and the church at large can play in influencing the justice system of the country especially on the subject matter. Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA) delegates were part of the discussion and gave the youth an assurance that they are ready to listen to their issues on environmental affairs. Thereafter, SEA took the stage and made a presentation on their role as an organisation on environmental issues in the country. Areas of interest for the youth were the education and project implementation part. The organisation also promotes Eco-clubs in schools and the Anglican Church has numerous Schools in the country and the youth made it to be next action after the Conference to implement Eco-Clubs in Anglican Schools. The Parish sealed its relationship with SEA as a symbol that they will work or journey together on environmental issues by planting an Avocado tree which will be a permanent symbol and reminder for their commitment to be Earth Keepers. This tree will also be a source of shade for the church and shelter for other animals, food and plays a role in reducing Carbon foot print in the environment. After Lunch, the discussions and presentations were sealed by Rev. M. Simelane who made a presentation, “The theological aspect of the Environment” A lot was discussed but to mention a few he stated that the church or people have developed at a very fast rate such that they are far ahead of God whereas God is still in the beginning where he said it is good. If the church is to deal with environmental issues, it has to go back to the beginning where God is. It was said that God loves nature in a way that where he ever revealed himself it was through nature (Moses and burning bush, the dove when Christ was baptised e.t.c) and even God the Son is at times described through nature (root of David, rock of ages, Lion of Judah e.t.c). In discussion it was stated that God is not happy if nature is not taken care of and is a sin in his sight. It is the duty of the church to take care of nature and to question the state when it is not doing well as much as the state has the duty to question the church. After this presentation the youth went for shopping in town and informally were picking up litter along the streets making awareness that Hlathikhulu should be kept clean. Coming back from Shopping on the programme was land scapping. The youth felt the need to keep their church looking good thus they planted flowers around the church.  In moving forward on their review for the conference, they stated that they need another workshop that will involve different stakeholders including government representatives. Sunday was declared as the day of Love for Creation where the whole church was involved in the service. Swaziland is currently faced with drought which has lead to serious water shortages. The focus of the service was on water as the readings of the day, sermon and prayers focused on water. Season of Creation was used to get readings and prayers. The readings were: Genesis21:8-19 (dependency on water) Psalms 104:10-17 (recognition of the relationship between water and life and God as the provider) Revelation22:1-7 (water as a metaphor for the life that flows from God) John 4.1-15 (the spiritual meaning of water) After service the non-youth and Sunday school church members were given an avocado tree to plant as a way of committing themselves to journey with the youth in being Earth Keepers. The youth also planted their own avocado tree, committing themselves to the Young Green Anglicans Ministry. St. Michaels and UNISWA Anglican Chapels held the same on Sunday and had their own trees to plant. Manzini Parish is yet to plant their own tree. We are grateful to the Wilson Family of St. Antony’s, Anglican Youth Guild and Diocesan office for assisting the Parish with resources to run this conference and SEA for availing themselves in our conference. A special thank you to Rt. Rev. E.N Wamukoya who sponsored the trees and flowers, what a green Bishop. We are looking forward in our next workshop and activities to implement as we are a green Parish. -Mncedisi Masuku, Diocese of Swaziland