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Matlosane Diocese goes green… It all began at a 5-days clergy Eco-Retreat held at Ramosa Nature Reserve in Zeerust. It was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Rachel Mash, ACSA Provincial Coordinator for Environmental Network and culminated at the well-attended Conference which  mapped a way forward for the Diocese. The Conference opened with a Eucharist using the materials from the Season of Creation. The sermon was on the topic “let there be no waste”. We were reminded that the Earth is the Lord’s and we sadden God’s heart when we fill the Earth with our litter and waste The presentation showed us the effects of climate change and global warming. Many of the people attending were shocked at the statistics and effects of our wasteful behaviour. Then the  members divided into their Archdeaconries to draft the 18-months action plans focussing on three areas : Worship, local action , and advocacy. The Archdeacons were all present and will report to Chapter at their quarterly meeting. In Central archdeaconry, we will start in September with Bible Studies and Green worship from  the Seasons of Creation publications. The Archdeaconry  EcoTeam will be launched in October and we will celebrate St. Francis Day focussing on Biodiversity. All churches in the archdeaconry  will plant trees on Abor Day, clean the environment and plant food gardens….. Go Matlosane Go Green… Rev Pule Lekoko

The Diocese of Swaziland in Pigs Peak Parish hosted a Sport bonanza that had  members from all the  churches of the Swaziland Council of Churches umbrella body . These denominations are the Roman Catholic, Methodist Church, Lutheran Church and the Anglican as the host.Before the games started there were  talks on different subject that affect youth in general and Environment issues. Mncedisi Masuku of the Green Anglicans Movement was given a slot to address the green movement. He addressed the importance of the church to be engaged on environmental issues as it is the first commandment. He then shared some of the activities done by the young green Anglicans movement and challenged the Catholic church to be  Green Catholic and the Methodist to be a Green Methodist. He has appreciated the partnership they have with the Lutheran church to fight Climate change and he invited the Methodists and Catholics to join the movement as this is not about the Anglican but about our call as the church to be earth keepers. The youth desk from Swaziland Council of Churches appreciated the subject presented by Masuku. They will have a youth convention in august and Masuku is invited to come and  unpack the subject where all member churches will be represented. The Green Movement is getting out of the Anglican boundaries and becoming  a movement by the body of Christ in Swaziland. At the end of the event the young green Anglicans presented a tree to be planted that seals the relationship between the four denominations in their commitment  to fight climate change. The tree was planted in the Catholic Church compounds and they have to be next in organising an event that covers all denominations in fighting Climate change.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Environmental Network (Green Anglicans) together with the Anglican Province of Central Africa, will hosted 75 young participants on a week-long conference in Zambia. Beginning the 4th of April to the 11th of April 2016, the conference was held at the Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. Participants were chosen by their diocese as movers and shakers on care for creation, to learn on how to grow environmental ministry further in their regions. Dioceses represented included: Angola, Free State, Highveld, Johannesburg, Lebombo, Lesotho, Namibia, Natal, Niassa, Pretoria, Saldanah Bay, Swaziland. The conference equipped young people across the Anglican Church in Southern Africa, with methods of advocacy, behavioural changes, research and design thinking. All of this will assist the young people in building a care for creation movement back in their dioceses.  Working with the Green Anglicans Provincial team and diocesan coordinators, they also created a plan that will work for their regions as they from different parts of the province which are affected differently by climate change. Among the people who attended the youth conference was the Archbishop of Central Africa Albert Chama, and the Bishop of Zambia William Mchombo. In one of the sessions the young people presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC) Justin Welby, and he later addressed them and encouraged them to be servants of God and serve the world.  Responding to questions by the youth the ABC said to the young people they are the church of today and leaders of tomorrow and tomorrow may not be far.  This motivated young  people as they were about to engage in their plan of action for their various parts of Southern Africa to remember that they will be in leadership and need to implement these actions, and so influence the rest of the community.    

ECO RETREAT – DIOCESE OF MATLOSANE Over forty clergy from the Diocese of Matlosane gathered for a retreat with a difference. This year Bishop Steve Diseko decided to hold an Eco-Retreat in the Ramosa Game Reserve in Zeerust. The Retreat had three themes, water, trees and land. The first day we looked at how often water is mentioned in the Bible , over 700 times! It has many meanings – the water of life, the water for cleansing and forgiveness, the water of the Spirit. In our small groups we discussed how water can be integrated into our liturgies. We were challenged to discover our own “Jordan river’ where does the water come from that was used at our baptism. We also looked at the importance of water in Eucharist – we often forget that there are three elements :wine, bread and water that we use. The day ended with a moving liturgy of forgiveness, where water helped us to release and forgive those who have hurt us in the past. On day two we considered land. This is mentioned over 2000 times in the Bible and yet we do not preach or teach about it. The People of Israel are Chosen people of the promised land. We are also chosen people put here on the Earth. We need to work for the renewal of the Earth, as God has called us to be Earth keepers (Gen 2:15) On this afternoon we went on a game drive which was beautiful but quite heart breaking too as we saw the corpse of a giraffe and felt the sadness of the loss of one of these beautiful creatures of God. On our final day we had our Eucharist service under a tree, and considered how our spirituality should be like a tree. In order to give good fruits we need to recognize that we are grafted in to someone else’s work, we need a stake when the winds get strong, and we need to be constantly watered and renewed. Our final evening song was a highlight as we held it around the fire, worshipping God under God’s beautiful stars reminds you of the wonders of our Creator. Let us be Keepers of God’s Earth and inspire our congregations to care for Creation

Four Dioceses gathered with the provincial structure at Glenrock Game and trout from Friday the 1st to 2nd     2016 for a workshop/strategic planning, even though it was freezing cold we managed to get the job done in a set up that had to be changed as it started snowing on Saturday.  Wood had to be used constantly “Green Anglicans we are”. The venue was beautifully laid back, full of nature from animals, to different plants and trees nestled on the mountainous dusty Mooi River (KZN) in the Diocese of Natal. Attending Diocese were: Diocese of Natal (the hosts), Diocese of Zululand, Diocese of Harare, Diocese of Umzimvubu (and lastly the Cape Town staff). Saturday morning, freezing as it was we began with a creation’s Eucharist service led by Rev Rachel Mash straight after we began the business of the day. Starting off by reporting what the attending dioceses are already doing, what their challenges were and what they would like to see in the next 5 years. What was pleasing to hear was that dioceses have begun on the journey of being Green some have been greening the church for more than 20 years (Diocese of Natal) but do acknowledge that a lot needs to be done to revitalise the program and to put in more young people on board, some have had events which 100% youth led (Diocese of Umzimvubu) however do need the buy in of everyone from young to old, clergy to be more involved. Also, noting the importance of introducing greening in our societies not only Anglicans so as not to seem like “we are pulling people away from their churches”.  Zululand had started 2 years ago and are still on their baby steps, but they brought along a beautiful banner which visualised 5 steps they are taking as the diocese.   Stopping littering getting rid of alien plants saving resources tree planting recycling They left us with a challenge to each own a banner for more visibility.  Diocese of Harare shared very inspiring stories of how they work as a diocese together with the government, it was pleasing to hear that their Bishop is on board which is very essential to keep the ball rolling. However biggest challenges have been getting more volunteers on board. What was one of each and every dioceses’ challenge was the issue around getting everyone involved without them thinking Green Anglicans is dissolving guilds and ministries. As it stands we have noted that the movement has been seen as one of the guilds, something addition to the already many guilds of our dioceses, after careful deliberation we all agreed that the onus lie solely on the green teams of each individual to involve all guild leaders from a diocesan level down to parish level so as to put in a clear message that Green Anglicans Movement is for everyone and it begins with each and everyone’s effort. We did agree however that this was not an overnight thing, which we all took as a challenge to learn more about each and every guild/ministry in our diocese, build relations with leaders then introduce Green Anglicans Movement. After a long session of discussion and group work, each diocese had to share their 5 year plan moving forward. The commonalities ranged from involving young people as there are the ones still with energy to move from point A to B. To have diocesan workers dealing with environmental issues faced by the communities in the dioceses, budgeting issues, what was most important to note was to get the buy in of the clergy sooner rather than later as they pose an important influence to their congregants. After being nestled around the fire all day we managed to revive dioceses that have been greening already. Also, to provide a platform where diocese can learn from each other and use what would be relevant to their areas. We ended the day by watching a creations video and a series of prayer. Then left the freezing Mooi River.  -Mandisa Darkie Gumada 100% Green Anglican