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From the 17th to the 19th of September 2026, members of the Mother’s Union from the diocese of Christ the King, participated in a three-day Farming God’s Way (FGW) Training, which took place at Meyerton Christian Centre. Farming God’s way is a farming resource designed to help individuals, churches, NGOs, missions and communities address challenges such as poverty and food insecurity. It brings together Biblical principles, good management and appropriate agricultural technology to encourage sustainable farming and the responsible use of the land. The approach is based on the understanding that God is the Creator and that people have been entrusted with the responsibility of caring for His creation. Genesis 2:8-9 is used to illustrate that God Himself established the garden and provided food from the land. Therefore, Farming God’s way seeks to learn from God’s design and apply principles to agriculture. The purpose of the training was to introduce participants to an approach to farming that combines faith, good management and practical agricultural methods. The training emphasised the importance of: Improving food security, Reducing poverty and dependency, Caring responsibly for the land, Producing food sustainably, Improving soil health and conserving moisture, Using resources wisely, Developing people’s God-given potential, Applying Biblical principles to everyday life and farming, and Encouraging self-reliance and responsible stewardship. Farming God’s way consists of three interconnected spheres of influence: Biblical Principles: teaches that farming and our everyday lives should be guided by God’s principles. Participants were encouraged to recognise God as the provider and to be faithful stewards of what has been entrusted to them. The training highlights Six Biblical keys: Acknowledge God and God alone, Consider your ways, for you are the temple of the Living God, Understand God’s all-sufficiency, What you sow, you will reap, Bring the tithes and offerings back to God, and Stake your claim.  These principles encourage participants to understand that their actions, decisions and attitude have consequences. Management Principles: Good farming requires good management. The training identifies four management keys: doing things on time, to high standards, with minimal wastage, and with the fruit of the Spirit. Good management is therefore not only about financial profit. It also involves discipline, responsibility, quality, planning and good character. Agricultural Technology and Practices: The technological component focuses on practical farming methods that support sustainable agriculture These include: Zero or minimum tillage, Permanent planting stations, Organic mulching, Soil and moisture conservation, Proper spacing and measurement, Reducing unnecessary waste, maintaining healthy soil, and Using available resources effectively. These practices are intended to improve productivity while protecting and restoring the land. A major principle discussed in the training was ‘what you sow, you will reap’. Participants were encouraged to understand that success requires faithful and consistent effort. This applies not only to farming but also to personal life, relationships and communities. The training encourages people to start small and be faithful with what they have. Farmers do not necessarily need to begin with large resources. Instead, they can use what is available to them and progressively develop their farming activities. Faithful stewardship of the land can help people develop in a manageable and sustainable way. The training highlighted that making a profit is not the only purpose of farming. There needs to be a healthy balance between increase and godliness. Sustainable profitability should be achieved through: Working on time, maintaining high standards, Minimising wastage, applying good agricultural practices, being responsible with resources, and demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit. The training has also addressed poverty and dependency. Farming God’s way seeks to encourage people to develop their own potential rather than remain dependent on handouts. The approach emphasises sowing the seeds of knowledge and understanding, enabling people to learn skills and progressively apply them. The goal is to empower people to become responsible stewards who can use the resources available to them and develop sustainable livelihoods. The wider vision is to see the “yoke of oppression” lifted from poor communities and for people to realise their God-given potential. Farming God’s way encourages people to sow faithfully, use what they have wisely, care for the land and develop their God-given potential. It presents farming as an opportunity not only to improve food security and livelihoods, but also to bring positive transformations to individuals, families and communities. We also extend our appreciation to the Provincial Green Anglicans’ office.   By: Tlotliso Mangoenyane

The Provincial Synod of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini meeting in Benoni under the leadership of Archbishop Thabo Makgoba passed a resolution calling for a Moratorium on Data Centres.    THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA CALLS FOR A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTRES The Archbishop called for “the championing of the integrity of God’s Creation … in an era characterized by “unbelievably radical technological change”. Whereas; We are entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution: artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing This Revolution is not free, it is  being powered by data centres: These  are enormous industrial facilities filled with thousands of powerful computers that generate intense heat and require continuous cooling. They consume vast quantities of electricity and, depending on their cooling systems, significant quantities of water. Water Impact: Huge data centres may be prioritised over domestic use once contracts are signed. We cannot justify allocating scarce potable water to cooling machines while communities struggle to secure reliable water for drinking, sanitation, food gardens and livelihoods Closed loop systems would increase electricity use significanctly Electricity is still unstable and we are moving slowly towards renewables. Data centres usage is enormous, for example currently  25 % of the electricity usage in Ireland. Singapore  20%, Germany 10% is now going to data centres. Noise pollution for the local community – and generators for back up -as data centres provide for 24 hour international customers. Many countries and States are now calling for moratoriums and restrictions on Data Centres  due to their impact on electricity prices, quality of water and noise pollution including 13 States in the USA , Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands. South Africa is being seen by tech companies and an open door for this ‘new era of technology” A moratorium does not mean rejecting technology or digital innovation. It means pausing the approval of new large-scale data centres until South Africa has the information, regulations and safeguards needed to make responsible decisions   This Synod Resolves : to Support a call for a Moratorium on new Data Centres in Southern Africa We call for a moratorium while government conducts a national assessment of the sector. This should establish transparent reporting of water and electricity consumption; assess cumulative impacts on stressed catchments and electricity networks; require meaningful community consultation; examine the climate and biodiversity impacts; establish minimum efficiency standards; and ensure that data centres do not compete with households and essential services for scarce water and electricity. South Africa should not become a place where global technology companies can secure our scarce resources while the environmental and social costs are carried by local communities.  Digital development must serve people and the planet, not place additional pressure on the very resources upon which life depends   Proposer: Canon Shaun Cozett Seconder: Ven. Mpho Mohale

The Parish of St John the Evangelist, Athlone hosted its 2026 Confirmation Group Camp from 18–20 September at Glencairn Youth Centre in Cape Town, bringing young people together for a weekend of faith formation, fellowship and learning. This year’s camp focused on creation and creation stewardship, with the Green Anglicans team invited to facilitate sessions on caring for God’s creation. The day began with fun ice-breakers led by Bino Makhalanyane, followed by a “Know Your Bible” session facilitated by Revd Canon Shaun Cozett. Working in groups, the young people explored biblical passages on creation and were introduced to the 2026 Season of Creation theme, “Living Waters.” Revd Canon Shaun also introduced the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, highlighting that caring for creation is not separate from Christian faith but forms an important part of the Anglican Church’s mission. As confirmation preparation includes learning from the Anglican Prayer Book Catechism, John-Paul Roberts connected it to creation care, helping young people reflect on how their faith calls them to live responsibly within God’s creation. The connection between creation care and human wellbeing was further explored by Dr Samantha Cozett, who spoke about the relationship between a healthy environment and healthy communities. She reminded the young people that protecting the environment can help reduce risks to human health and contribute to the well-being of friends, families and neighbours. Putting their learning into practice, the participants worked in groups to design posters that explore how people are harming the environment in the City of Cape Town, what the Bible teaches about creation, and what practical actions can be taken. The young people then committed themselves to three actions before the end of the year: a beach clean-up, an eco-restoration activity and a river clean-up in their community. Green Anglicans extend its sincere appreciation to the Parish of St John the Evangelist for the invitation to facilitate during the weekend. We also thank Revd Canon Shaun Cozett, Diocesan Canon Mission for the Diocese of Cape Town, and Dr Samantha Cozett for sharing their wisdom and helping to make the camp a meaningful experience for the young people.                                         

On Saturday, 5th of September, members of the Diocese of Christ the King Green Anglicans team, Mrs. Elsa Maphalla , Itumeleng Nkhi and Tlotliso Mangoenyane, gave a talk at the Girls and Boys Friendly Society (GBFS) diocesan conference, which was held at St Lawrence Anglican Church in Small Farm, Evaton, South of Johannesburg. The main aim of the visit was to introduce the GBFS Eco Champions initiative to the Diocesan GBFS.   The main purpose of the GBFS Eco Champion Initiative is to empower young people from the diocese to take responsibility for caring for God’s creation. The initiative encourages youth to move beyond awareness and become active environmental agents in their homes, churches, schools, and wider communities. GBFS members were encouraged to start with simple actions at home, such as saving water and electricity, reducing waste, recycling, and avoiding food waste. They are also encouraged to take part in community activities such as clean-up campaigns, tree planting, protecting green spaces, and raising environmental awareness. The initiative is supported by the GBFS Eco Pledge: STOP, START, TEACH and JOIN. GBFS members were also encouraged to Stop one harmful habit, Start a positive environmental action, Teach others what they have learned, and Join environmental preservation projects in their communities. Through these simple but meaningful actions, young people can become agents of change and help build cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable communities. By: Tlotliso Mangoenyane

2027 will be the year of the “Africa COP” to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia An interfaith campaign was launched on the sidelines of the 14th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa uniting faith communities across the continent behind one demand: that climate commitments finally become climate action, delivered fairly, and delivered where it’s needed most. The key Anglican representative  was Bishop Emily  Onyango – Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Bondo in the Anglican Church of Kenya The ask is simple. Implementation of climate finance, adaptation and just transition commitments must be: This campaign is being carried forward by a growing coalition of interfaith partners, including ACT Alliance, Norwegian Church Aid’s Advocacy Programme Africa, the All Africa Conference of Churches, GreenFaith Africa, the Laudato Si’ Movement, EOC-DICAC, among many others across Africa’s faith traditions, and we’re proud to be building this alongside such a wide network of colleagues working towards climate justice. You can read and sign the petition here: https://interfaithclimatecampaign.org/#

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) hosted a three-day conference from 27–29 August 2026 at UNISA in Pretoria under the theme “The Role of Faith Communities in Preventing Gender-Based Violence.” The conference brought together faith leaders, civil society organisations, academics and activists to address GBV and strengthen community-based responses. One of the significant presentations was delivered by Ms Boipelo Mojapelo, a member of Green Anglicans and the Climate YES movement, who examined the relationship between climate change and gender dynamics, showing how it can deepen existing inequalities. She illustrated that when water, food, land, and other essential resources become scarce, women and girls may shoulder greater responsibility for meeting household needs. Climate-related disasters can also lead to displacement, loss of livelihoods and disruption of social support networks. These pressures can increase vulnerability to violence and make it more difficult for survivors to access support. At the end of the presentation, the conference emphasised that climate change is not only an environmental concern but also a justice and gender issue. And that faith communities have an important role in responding by creating safe spaces, supporting survivors, challenging harmful social norms and promoting gender equality. The conference concluded on 29 August with a solidarity walk from UNISA to the Union Buildings, where delegates, church members, and community allies walked together to advocate for climate justice, policy enforcement and stronger judicial responses to violence against women and children.   Upon arrival at the Union Buildings, faith leaders, including Revd Rachel Mash from the Green Anglicans, formally handed over a detailed memorandum of demands to the Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who is a Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities of South Africa. By: Duduzile Koko Photo Credit: SACC