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GREEN ANGLICANS MOVEMENT TAKING ROOT IN RWANDA At is  81st meeting , held in Kigali from the 28-30th of June, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Rwanda welcomed the Green Anglicans movement and requested Eco-bishop  Jean Pierre Methode to plan for practical actions to be taken. Green Anglicans ACSA Provincial youth Coordinator, Bino Makhalanyane was attending the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting in Kigali and was able to spend   time  with young people from the Rwanda Anglican Students Association (RASA)  at the St Etienne  Cathedral, with the Diocesan youth leader, Ntahobari Celestin. During their time together they  took a look at addressing three themes as part of making care for creation part of our daily lives,. The first was that of : have we been good stewards of what God gave us dominion over? ( Gen 1:26-28 ),  The second theme was “ Taking accountability for our actions”  ( Gen 3) and lastly we addressed environmental hazards in our local communities. During our discussions the following was picked up Being good stewards: we have failed to take care of that of which God said, “It was good” and we can still do better to try and restore that which we have abused as human beings. Taking accountability: Gen 3 teaches us that we need to be people who take accountability of our action and not stop shifting the blame for the choices we continue to make which are harmful for the environment. Environmental Hazards: three main issues were identified. Deforestation mainly for making charcoal to sell, cook with and keeping warm. Air pollution from vehicles, burning of wood for coal and factories. Water pollution from household waste and factory waste making it hazards to drink the water straight from the rivers. The exercises showed that we have common issues as Africans and hold possible simple solutions which we can easily implement at our local communities including education and awareness which the church has an audience for. It was interesting to note that several of the participants are involved with environmental organizations but this was the first time they had made the link with their faith and Biblical teachings. In establishing the Green Anglicans Movement in the church of Rwanda members need to each do their little bit within the context they’re in. It is these small actions which will see us reconcile as one with all of creation.     The theme for the CommonHealth Youth Forum which sat from the 19-21 June 2022 was “Taking Charge of our Future “ and the future we are talking about starts now. A big thank you to Mr Celestin the Youth leader in Kigali Diocese for organising this session with the young.    Photo credit: Celestin Story Bino Makhalanyane

Five Church of England Dioceses have announced their divestment from fossil fuels.  The Dioceses of Leicester, Worcester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Durham bring the total number of Dioceses that have divested to eleven! The Diocese of Lincoln has also announced that it is divesting Organised by the World Council of Churches, Operation Noah, Laudato Si’ Movement, Green Anglicans and GreenFaith, this latest divestment announcement comes from faith institutions in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, the UK and the US. Faith institutions joining the global divestment announcement confirm the following: (i) that they have divested from fossil fuel investments; or (ii) that they will divest from any investments in fossil fuels as soon as possible, and within five years at the latest; or (iii) that they do not hold any fossil fuel investments and will not invest in fossil fuels in the future. Institutions divesting from fossil fuels include five Church of England dioceses (the Diocese of Birmingham, the Diocese of Durham, the Diocese of Leicester, the Diocese of Newcastle and the Diocese of Worcester); two Catholic dioceses (the Archdiocese of Armagh and the Diocese of Leeds); the Methodist Church in Ireland; a Church of England cathedral (Leicester Cathedral); Friends Provident Foundation; 11 Catholic religious orders; two Jesuit universities in the US; and several CofE and Methodist local churches in the UK. Both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the UN have warned against new fossil fuel projects anywhere in the world, as scientists say we cannot safely burn the vast majority of fossil fuels still in the ground. Yet just nine months after world leaders pledged to ‘keep 1.5 alive’ at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, 20 fossil fuel companies – including Shell, Total, BP and ExxonMobil – are moving ahead with fossil fuel expansion plans totalling $932 billion that would push the world past 1.5°C of heating. Meanwhile, governments including the US, Canada, the UK, Norway and Australia continue to approve new fossil fuel developments that will put 1.5°C out of reach.  Faith leaders are calling for action: last year, more than 20 Anglican bishops in Southern Africa, including the Archbishop of Cape Town, the three bishops of Mozambique and the Bishop of Namibia called for an immediate halt to oil and gas exploration in Africa, while earlier this year, more than 500 UK Church leaders, including 68 Anglican and Catholic bishops and some of the UK’s largest Christian NGOs, called on the UK Government to stop all new fossil fuel developments. The Methodist Church of Britain recently endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, while the Church of Scotland has called for no new fossil fuel extraction.  In the last 15 months (since spring 2021, 11 CofE dioceses have divested from fossil fuels. Faith institutions represent more than 35% of all divestment commitments globally – more than any other single sector. More than 1,500 institutions from all sectors, with combined assets of over $40 trillion, have now made some form of divestment commitment worldwide, up from a starting point of $50 billion in 2014. Revd Dr Rachel Mash, environmental coordinator of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, plans to attend this month’s Lambeth Conference in Canterbury. She says the ‘oil curse’ is real – promises of fossil-fuelled prosperity for African communities that instead lead to impoverishment, ecological damage, war and human rights violations. ‘Oil companies promise vast profits and prosperity, but the reality is that they leave pollution and political upheaval,’ she said. James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Director at Operation Noah, said: ‘Today, faith institutions around the world are making a bold and powerful statement that it is unethical to invest in an industry that is fuelling the climate, conflict and the cost-of-living crises. As 20 fossil fuel companies including BP, Shell, Exxon and Total plan to spend nearly $1 trillion on new fossil fuel developments which the UN Secretary General has described as ‘delusional’, we call on the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales to choose life, divest from fossil fuel companies and invest in clean energy that will address the multiple crises we face.’ A full list of the institutions divesting from fossil fuels and quotes from leaders can be found here. Statements from leaders: Most Revd William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow and Lead Bishop on the Environment for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, which divested from fossil fuel companies in October 2021, said: ‘I think it’s going to get to the stage, it will be an embarrassment for any Catholic institution that hasn’t divested. This has gone from a purely symbolic gesture to something much, much more than that. Because we’re now advocating, and Pope Francis is advocating as well, (for) a complete change of lifestyle. We have to change our lifestyle.’ Rt Revd Martin Gorick, Bishop of Dudley in the Diocese of Worcester, said: ‘We are facing a climate emergency and it’s up to all of us, as churches and as individuals, to do what we can to protect this planet for future generations. As well as how we heat our homes and churches, how we travel and live, this stewardship responsibility extends to where we invest our money.’ Fr Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, Coordinator of the Ecology Sector in the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development, which assists Pope Francis’ work on the environment, said: ‘In 2020, the Vatican called on Catholic institutions to divest from fossil fuel companies given their harm to the environment. I applaud these prophetic institutions divesting today and encourage every institution in the world to reduce our dependence on such harmful energy sources by divesting from fossil fuels. This is how prophetic institutions can live out our values and help the most vulnerable among us. If we want to achieve peace, and ensure a liveable planet for all, including the future generations, we need to end our dependence on fossil fuels that fuel the current climate crisis.’ Most Revd Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, said: ‘It is clear that many members of our congregations, especially our young people, feel we have a responsibility to take action with regard to

LAUNCH OF MBHASHE YOUTH AND GREEN ANGLICANS The Diocese of Mbhashe launched Anglican Youth of Southern Africa (AYSA) on a two day consultation that took place on the 3-4th of June. The Event was officially blessed by the Rt Rev Mluleki the Bishop of Mbhashe with the Easter Cape Cluster Council and the Cluster Chaplain, Ven Mlunguza. Rev Thyali did a presentation on behalf of the Green Anglicans. He taught the youth how to take care of the environment as a way of praise and further encouraged them to take part in Climate Change activism. The second day looked at Mental illness, GBV, Faith v Health and Christ centred Church. The highlight of the day was the planting of trees by the newly installed Youth President and Deputy President –  Miss Sibabalwe Mihle Qongqo and Mr Mhlanganisi Fetman. The President explained to the Youth of the Diocese the liturgy of the Palm Trees and emboldened them to nurture the organization in the same way they will be nurturing the trees. By Anesipho Balekile, Diocesan Youth Secretary    

Pentecost Environmental Meditative Walk   On Pentecost and world Environment Day; St Paul’s gathered at the Medwood gardens a park behind the church which used to belong  to the church before the  city council opened it up to the public. Twenty minutes before the service  we started the meditative prayer and walk while enjoying the beautiful garden. As people were silently praying some had posters which shared information about environmental issues and ways of reducing pollution, these were later hung inside the church for people to reflect on as they walked towards the altar to receive communion. The three Priests present all robed in red and white led the procession that walked around the park and later into the church as the organ played. Congregants were encouraged to walk in pairs silently admiring the wind hitting their skin, sky above their heads, soil beneath their feet and many beautiful sceneries. The preacher for the day Revd. Bruce Woolley shared how we are to take care of God’s creation as part of our stewardship, He furthered shared his belief that the air God breath us into existence with was he Holy Spirit. As we continued to celebration the Holy Spirit one could not help but be mindful of what was shared and how we each depend on the environment. Story and pictures Mandisa Gumada  

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY : EDUCATION, CLEAN UPS AND VOLLEYBALL ON THE BEACH!CELEBRATING WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY IN MOZAMBIQUEToday the Green Anglican-Anglican Diocese of Inhambane, held at 06:30 a march with the students of Josina Machel-Maxixe Primary School to the crater that is in front of the same School, where we had a lecture on Environmental Care. We included 200 children in this activity, the director of the local school and the president of the municipal council. At 08:30 together with Chambone Secondary School we made a march to Prainha (Mission Chambone). In this activity we had 85 students, Director of the local school, President of the Municipal Council and Administrator. Here we held Cleanup Days at the end there was Volleyball match between Green Anglican and Chambone High School.City Council President and Administrator participated in the game.A very competitive activity! Hoje a Green Anglican-Diocese Anglicana de Inhambane, realizou as 06:30 uma marcha com os alunos da Escola Primária Josina Machel -Maxixe até á cratera que está em frente da mesma Escola, onde tivemos uma palestra sobre os Cuidados do Meio-Ambiente. Contamos nesta actividade com 200 crianças, o Director da Escola local e o Presidente do Conselho Municipal.As 08:30 juntos com a Escola Secundária de Chambone realizamos uma marcha até a Prainha ( Missão Chambone). Contamos nesta actividade com 85 alunos, Director da Escola local, Presidente do Conselho Municipal e Administradora. Aqui realizamos Jornadas de Limpezas no final houve jogo de Voleibol entre a Green Anglican e a Escola Secundária de Chambone.O Presidente do Conselho Municipal e a Administradora participaram no jogo.Actividade muito concorrida! Rev Aurelio Uqueio Diocese of Inhambane  

A Green Anglican-Diocese Anglicana de Inhambane, juntou-se hoje no Mercado Grossista de Maxixe para uma Jornada de Limpeza em colaboração com o Conselho Municipal. A Jornada é alusiva ao Dia Mundial da Biodiversidade celebrado no passado dia 22 de Maio. Agradecemos ao Governo local e aos vendedores pela colaboração. VAMOS CRIAR EQUILÍBRIO NO MEIO AMBIENTE.   The Green Anglican-Anglican Diocese of Inhambane, today joined Maxixe Wholesale Market for a Clean-up Day in collaboration with the City Council. The Journey for  World Biodiversity Day celebrated last May 22. We thank the local government and the vendors for the cooperation. LET’S CREATE BALANCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT  Rev Aurelio Uqueio     ·   ·