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Meeting at Benoni, the Provincial Synod of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia) passed the following resolution 15. Seventh Motion: TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF AN ECUMENICAL FEAST DAY OF CREATION IN OUR LITURGICAL CALENDAR Whereas: 1. The Feast of Creation of September 1, also known as Creation Day or World Day of Prayer for Creation, has gained vast ecumenical popularity and has given rise to a month-long Season of Creation. Inspired by a rich tradition of the Orthodox Church (where September 1 is the first day of their liturgical year), it was later embraced by the Council of European Churches in 1997, the World Council of Churches in 2008, the Anglican Consultative Council in 2012, and the Roman Catholic Church in 2015. 2. After decades of ecumenical celebrations of the Feast of Creation, a historic conference took place in Assisi in March 2024, co-sponsored by the Anglican  Communion, the World Council of Churches, and other worldwide communions, to explore a proposal to elevate the observance to become a liturgical festival in the calendar of Western Churches. A strong consensus emerged about the need to move ahead with this joint initiative, particularly as a gesture to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025. 3. Theological underpinnings 4. The feast has profound theological underpinnings derived from its ancient symbolism in the Orthodox Church as the day representing the divine “act” of Creation. Thus, it can enrich the liturgical calendar with a feast that is both Trinitarian and Christological, motivating stronger attention to the Triune God as Creator, the great mystery of Creation, and the sacredness of all creatures. Thus, it is not only a celebration of Creation as the created order, but most importantly it is a celebration of Creation as theological mystery and a proclamation of our Nicene belief in the Father as “maker of heaven and earth”, in Christ “through [whom] all things were made”, and in the Holy Spirit as “the giver of life”. 4. Environmental Crisis • The “signs of the times” of the Triple Planetary Crisis of Climate Change, Biodiversity loss and Pollution • Impact on the most vulnerable • Intergenerational injustice • The need for a spiritual response This Synod recognises: • The growing acceptance of the Feast of Creation and the accompanying Season of Creation globally and ecumenically • The critical moment and the need for the church to respond. • Many churches celebrate Environmental Days such as Earth Day , World Environment Day – where  the focus tends to be on the Created order rather less than the Mystery of God the Creator • The importance of the Revised Common Lectionary in our ecumenical church lives • The ecumenical significance of 2025 as a celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea that requires tangible acts of communion, not just statements. This Synod Resolves to: • Support the global ecumenical efforts to declare a Global Feast day for Creation in 2025. This support should include inter-alia participating in liturgical and theological conversations with Anglican and Ecumenical partners, to gain consensus on issues such as the name of the Feast Day, liturgical resources and 3 year lectionary readings. • Include the Feast in the Lectionary, once the global ecumenical process achieves consensus on the details and following consultation with the Provincial Liturgical Committee  • Recognise that it is on Provincial Youth Sunday on which we encourage the theme of creation as it is the start of the Season of Creation.  • Continue to promote and encourage the adoption of the Season of Creation with liturgical and other resources – with a particular focus on youth and Sunday school. Proposer: Rt Revd Edwin Pockpass  Seconder: The Ven Dr Meshack Mariri

There was an annual Diocesan Sunday School Celebration, from Friday 27th until Sunday 29th September 2024, hosted by St. Bernard, the Martyr Anglican Church, Far East Archdeaconry – Diocese of the Free State. The event was a huge success thanks to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ! On Friday, a multitude of Anglican children, Sunday School teachers and parents gathered at Charles Mopeli Stadium where they were all warmly accommodated amidst the water shortage and electricity shortages in the area. Saturday was big day for all Eco-champions and Climate Advocates! The day began with a Morning Prayer service administered by two lovely Lay Ministers from the hosting Archdeaconry. There was a short devotion where the Sunday School children and Teachers were encouraged to love one another. Then they went to debate, in a “fishbowl” format, on the topic Food Waste, as the following day would be the commemoration of International Day of Food Loss and Waste.  While the younger ones were playing outdoor games and Treasurer Hunts, children of the ages 12+ Years participated in the debate. They were shared into 4 groups, the Children Team, the Parents Team, the Farmer’s Team and the Religious Leaders Team.  Each team had children and teachers who were all given 10 minutes to discuss before coming to the bowl. The debate was robust, funny and very insightful as we got to hear from the children’s point of view as to why they waste food. These young ones taught us how to reason as parents to our children and teach them the appreciation of food. They also displayed a wide range of information on farming, and biblically substantiated the importance of food security in stewardship. The time came for us to hit the streets! President Eco-champion Tsholofelo Mona, of the Sunday School Diocesan Executive Committee made a few announcements and also highlighted the peculiarity of the event, asshe said, “This conference is the first of this nature”. It was an amazingexperience! Children and teachers had made garments from recyclable materials for this well-structured street show. President summoned Eco-champions to the van that had a microphone and speaker. The SAPS van led the way and the Eco-champs rotated the microphone around as they spread awareness throughout Namahadi. Eco-champ Morena Pule talked about Food Waste and Loss. Eco-champ Kebaabetswe Sepato shared insight about Arbor Month. Eco-champ Manibijara Pule spread word about Plastic-free lifestyle. Eco-champ Karabo Moeketsi highlighted the commemoration of Tourism Day which was onFriday and the importance of Tourism on the Economy. When they arrived back at the stadium, the children took part in a pageant and TikTok Amapiano Dance challenges. There was a guest speaker who educated children on Albinism. In the Evening there was a talent show celebrating Heritage Month. On Sunday, there was a mass Eucharist Service. The celebrant and Preacher was the Chaplain of Free State Diocesan Anglican Youth Ministries, Rev. Father Bassy Molefi. The Archdeacon of Far East also grace event with his presence and gave vote of thanks. By Morena O. K. Pule

The 30th MU Conference in the Diocese of Kimberly and Kuruman under the leadership of President M Dithejane was held at Diamond Field Archdeaconry on the 26th of September to 28th of September 2024 at CRC. Mothers Union members came in numbers from all five archdeaconries to celebrate the anniversary. The spirit was moving and there were many activities which were performed from Friday to Sunday, to mention but a few was: choral competition, traditional attire and rendering of traditional music, prayer and spirituality and others, not forgetting Environmental activities led by Environmental-Champ Mrs. V D Mosenthal. The organisers identified a primary school around Kimberley where trees will be planted. On Sunday morning before the service Bishop Brain of Kimberley and Kuruman blessed the trees in advance for plantation. Two trees were handed over to the Diamond Field Presiding member. By : Mrs. V D Mosenthal

The altar servers in the Anglican Church diocese of Lesotho have shown their dedication to both their faith and the environment by taking action to clean up the streets of Hlotse in Leribe. On the 4th of October, as part of their annual Thanksgiving celebrations, the servers spent one hour in the afternoon picking up rubbish and debris in the area. This act of service is not only a reflection of their gratitude for their blessings, but also a meaningful contribution to the Anglican Communion forest initiative. By cleaning up the streets, the servers are helping to protect and preserve the environment, making a positive impact on their community and the world around them. The timing of this cleanup was particularly significant, as it marked the end of the season of creation for the Anglican Church. This season, which runs from September 1st to October 4th, is a time for reflection and action on environmental issues, and the servers’ efforts are a fitting way to bring this period to a close. As Green Anglicans, a group dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship within the Anglican Church, are happy at the news of the cleanup. We commend the altar servers for their commitment to both their faith and the environment, and encourage others to follow their example. This act of service serves as a wonderful reminder of the importance of taking care of our planet and working together to create a more sustainable future. The alter servers in the Anglican Church diocese of Lesotho have set a powerful example with their actions, showing that a small group of dedicated individuals can make a big difference in their community. By Rapelang Korotjoe

Green Anglicans were invited by the Sunday School teachers of St. Mary and St. James Cathedral to join in a special event to mark the season of creation on Sunday the 29th of September 2024. It was a day filled with fun, learning, and caring for God’s creation. First, the Green Anglicans representative, Rapelang Korotjoe shared with the kids what their initiative is all about – taking care of the environment and being good stewards of the Earth. To wrap up the presentation, everyone sang a cheerful song called “Be Green In Your Corner”, which aligns with the work of green Anglicans. After the presentation, the Sunday scholars rolled up their sleeves and got to work cleaning the church premises and watering plants under the watchful eyes of their teachers. It was heartwarming to see the kids pitching in to help keep their surroundings clean and green. The fun didn’t stop there! The children had a blast getting their faces painted and expressing their creativity by drawing pictures related to God’s creation. They showed their drawings to everyone in the church, sharing their understanding of the beauty of the world around us. In a touching moment, one of the kids thanked Green Anglicans and prayed that everyone in the world appreciates and joins in the important work of caring for our planet. To end the day on a high note, everyone enjoyed a picnic together, celebrating the shared effort to protect and honor God’s creation. It was a memorable day of learning, playing, and coming together as a young community to show love for the Earth. Let’s all take inspiration from these wonderful kids and do our part to make the world a better place for everyone! By Rapelang Korotjoe

The Anglican Communion held its global conference of the Safe Church in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The Safe Church Conference delegates were  from 80 Countries across the globe. A total of 250 Delegates participated in the conference. The Conference major outcome was a road map to ensure that the Anglican communion facilitates a Safe Church. Guidelines to safeguarding policies were deliberated on. Since this took place during the Season of Creation , it was also an opportunity for some members of the Green Anglicans Movement of Africa to meet up and organise a tree planting. His Grace The Archbishop of Central Africa  Dr Albert Chama planted  a Mango Tree at Kings Kraal Conference Centre in Bulawayo. In His Speech The Archbishop gave highlights to the Season of Creation informing the gathering the importance of the period 1 September to 4 October annually. This tree forms part of the Communion Forest.  The Communion Forest was a product of the 2022 Lambeth conference  as a commitment towards human sustenance. The second Mango Tree was planted by The Rt Revd Dr Jo Bailey Wells The Bishop of Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion. The trees were planted as a symbol of the seed of safe church that had been planted at the conference and that now must be nurtured and grow. By Darlington Musekiwa