News

            On a very cold Saturday morning, on Madiba’s birthday (18 July 2015), Archbishop Thabo Makgoba partnering with Holy Cross Nyanga and Green Anglicans honoured the late President, Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Mandela Day 67 minutes, a symbolic act of public service, was combined with Archbishop Thabo’s campaign against inequality and to conserve the environment. This campaign was welcomed by the Archdeacon of Ibongoletu – the Ven Mzolisi Mpambani as well as Priest in Charge of Holy Cross Nyanga – the Revd Ernest Mototjane. They were accompanied by parishioners and the youth – AYF who were the driving force behind this campaign. The Holy Cross Nyanga AYF with the Motale Trust later distributed socks for homeless people and delivered soup and bread in celebration of Mandela Day. The cleaning – up started at Holy Cross Church, Nyanga with a prayer from the priest in charge. A welcome was followed by an address by the Archdeacon Mxolisi Mpambani and Mr Vuyo Zondani the Ward councillor applauding the church participation in uplifting the Nyanga community. Nyanga, well known as number one with its crime rate in Cape Town, was blessed with the presence of Archbishop Thabo. He walked the streets moving to the taxi rank focussing on cleaning the poverty stricken streets, accompanied by Bishopscourt staff, clergy, and fellow Anglicans. This 67 minutes clean-up campaign ended with a period of reflection from Archbishop Thabo, a moment of silence, and an address to the community to commit to act on daily cleaning, reduction of crime and inequality. A huge thanks to SAPS Nyanga for patrolling during the campaign and all stakeholders for the donations. Homemade jam jugs were given to the community by Greenways Hotel and Archbishop Thabo also donated socks in aid of the AYF campaign “Warm Feet.” A prayer and vote of thanks from Archdeacon Mpambani concluded the clean-up campaign. – Onica Louw-Msutu , Good Hope

Bishop Steve Moreo of the Diocese of Johannesburg hosted a clergy day on the 4th of August 2015. One of the main subjects for the day was to enlighten all the diocesan priests about the importance of environmental ministry in spiritual growth as well as the relationship between theology and creation.  Vincent Letale, Green Anglicans intern based in the diocese together with Noeleen Mullet from the Johannesburg Anglican Environmental Initiative (JAEI) presented on starting Eco-congregations.  Beginning with “Web of Life” an exciting game, the priests got to understand the eco-system and how each depends on the other. The clergy responded positively and were ready to take the care for creation concept back to their parishes.  With the help of youth who just had a full on environmental camp, the priest will have channel of bringing the environmental ministry.    

The Johannesburg Anglican Environmental Initiative (JAEI) with the Green Anglican’s are hosting an environmental camp for young Green Anglican leaders across the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. Working under the theme : “Let there be Stuff” the camp is aimed at equipping these environmental leaders with skills of communicating, advocating as well as spreading the care for creation ministry in and out of the Anglican Church. Fourteen representatives will be gathered at Pullen Farm, Mpumalanga from the 30th of July to the 2nd of August 2015. The outcome of the conference will be in the change we are to see in their diocese on running programs and activities that will educate people on care for creation, sustainability and environmental ministry.

The Diocese of Mbashe held their annual Girls Bafana Friends Society (G/BFS) conference at St Marks Collegiate, Cofimvaba. The weekend conference had a tight program which included greening the conference.  The uniform competition on Friday night resembled the cleanliness orated by Green Anglicans, young girls and boys displayed a Godliness image their fellow members.  St Marks was striking choice of venue to host a group of young people, the area was rich in biodiversity, we spoke of what we saw walking or splayed across the road, an eye opener to some. The Diocese of Mbashe is on in a few that can bring sustainability massage easier than others as it has show places where rolling mountains lie green and trees breeze fresh air , for a brief moment we could all appreciate good quality air.  Confirming it in an Anglicanism presentation Rev Songezile Gaya mentioned that people of God have a responsibility to care and respect the environment. Being away from urban lifestyle, brought realisation that we all need to affirm to care for creation as second nature, living sustainable lives.  

FROM MAINTENANCE TO MISSION   As the parish family of St. Augustine’s – Okiep, we are very grateful for the wonderful, inspired and creative workshop done by the Team of the Green Anglicans office. As a parish we informally became reactive in our community and parish concerning conservation and protection of Mother Earth. This workshop was an eye opener and a  wake up call, but moved us into more creative and positive responses as a parish and Archdeaconry.   Shocking information on status quo of our earth was a wake up call to each and everyone and challenged us to become active participants in being more and more conscious of how we also contribute towards global warming and destruction of Earth. Hence our renewed commitments through capacitating ourselves with information and skills to make an impact and difference towards caring for what God created.   As a parish we committed ourselves through an 18 month plan of action consisting of special days, activities like cleaning the town, tree planting, special creative and innovation and participative services, food security projects and mobilizing our youth, and to advocate and lobby for sustainable green development especially since the Northern Cape has sun most of the year – to advocate for solar energy instead of fossil energy from Eskom.   We will not only use our pulpit to raise awareness and educate our people but will move beyond the walls of our church through outreach, mobilization and the usage of all platforms of media.   Thank you again to Revd Dr Rachel Mash for a  well planned and informative workshop by yourself and the team and for the transferring of the creative skills and methodologies we can use at leadership, liturgical, youth and Sunday school level.   God bless,   Revd Earl Richards (with the Clergy, Leadership, Sunday School and Youth of Namaqualand North Archdeaconry)   and a message from the Sunday School teachers! “Ons het weer eens tot die  besef gekom dat ‘n mens is nooit te oud om te leer nie. Dit was absoluut wonderlik om deel van die sessie  waar ons kon spring, dans en sing,  te kon wees. Ons as opvoeders is nie net opgelei hoe om ons lesse aan te pas nie, maar ons as volwassenes het ook tot die besef gekom dat ons moet Moeder Aarde oppas en waardeer. Ons sal nou twee keer dink voor ons weer Rommel strooi of verby ‘n verdwaalde papier of blikkie loop. Die lesse in die boek is baie opwindend en die kinders kan aktief deelneem aan die lesse. Ons het dit geniet om van die nuwe koortjies aan te leer selfs in ‘n derde taal!  Ons glo ons tot die kinders sal deurdring deur middel van die lesaanbiedings en dat hul tot die besef sal kom hoe belangrik dit is om die Aarde   op te pas, want alles behoort aan GOD. Ns.  Sê asseblief vir Ryan die Renoster, ons het baie geleer en sal dit toepas.”