News

“Give a person a food parcel and you feed them for  a week. Teach them to grow their own food and you feed them for life”  Covid-19 has had a harsh impact  on communities with the cost of basic food on a rise , high unemployment rate and lack of possibilities. The Anglican Church of St Columba in Gugulethu opened their doors for a home food gardening course to be run by the Green Anglicans. The course ran over six-week period  and church and  community members learned skills on how to prepare seed boxes, trench beds, make  compost, planting, pest control, crop rotation , biodiversity , windbreaking , liquid fertilizer , succession planting and  propagation . Ms Gugu Mazibuko, a member at Christ Church Constantia,  who led the training said “not only was the training about learning gardening techniques but also the value of soil and it was now up to the graduates to use that which they have gained to better themselves and their  loved ones.”  On the 23rd of June, a wonderful  graduation ceremony was held  for the 12 gardening course graduates. Rev Mzamane thanked the Green Anglican for bring hope to the community of Gugulethu and encouraged the graduates not to sit  at home with their skills but feed their families and feed the nation by selling fresh produced to locals, and invited them to sell outside church after service on a Sunday. We would like to thank Ms Wendy Mhlaba and Mrs Nombeko Leputhing for having mobilised community members to attend the course and Ms Gugu Mazibuko for having shared her skill with great compassion with the community of Gugulethu.  We are grateful to Rotary Club for their supporting the training course and to the Dutch Reformed Church for sponsoring the graduation gifts of gardening starter packs Bino Makhalanyane Photo credit Wendy Mhlaba

In the latest publication of the International Anglican Women’s Network newsletter you can explore the link. There are three articles from ACSA, Rev Dr Rachel Mash explores the link between Gender Justice and Climate Justice,  Toby Koloti looks at gender issues in leadership and an article by the late Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya is shared https://iawn.anglicancommunion.org/media/457153/IAWN_newsletter_2106_en.pdf

World environment day 73 young people from the Anglican and Methodist church took part in a clean up and planted cashew trees at Maxixe, Mozambique

Eswatini (Former Swaziland) Environment Authority (EEA) initiated the campaign that customers bring their own shopping bags on selected days and not be given the single use plastics. As a promotion to the event they started a Social media campaign where you take a photo of yourself and your grocery  in front of the Shop and do the #PhatsaSakhoNawe. If one get more reactions then he is the winner. Today the first cycle of winners have been awarded their awards at Hilton Garden Inn Hotel by the PS of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment Affairs. I had the privilege of being one of the winners and a representative of the winners and made a short  address. In my adrress I advocated for inclusion of youth as environmental issues are their Generational story and also advocated for inclusion of Faith communities as they have the ability to speak to the heart of the people and can effectively influence behavioural change. I encourage youth in Eswatini to participate in the campaign as it is still running #PhatsaSakhoNaw#GreenAnglicans By Mncedisi Masuku

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Bishop Manuel Ernesto as the Liaison Bishop for the Environment for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa In Sept 2011 he was ordained to the diaconate at Messumba Cathedral. After studies at Ricatla seminary, Maputo, which included studies in Amsterdam and participation in BILC (Bible in the Life of the Communion) project headed up by Gerald West at UKZN, deacon Manuel began his ministry in Lichinga, alongside his wife, Laura. His ministry included serving two parishes, Bairro Popular and Sanjala, and  teaching at our local seminary in training laity and future clergy alongside the Director of Ministry, Helen Van Koevering, and as Diocesan Secretary. In 2014, Rev Manuel established a project with women, ‘Haggai & Ishmael’, supporting ABCD (called Umoja in Niassa) training with single mother’s, supported by MU and members of the Lichinga parishes. The outcome was backyard planting of fruit trees for family nutrition. Rev Manuel was known in his pastoral ministry for encouraging the planting of trees at baptisms – new life for people, the church and the land. June 16 2014,  Bishop Ernesto Manuel consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Niassa, responsible for the Diocese of Lurio (later renamed to Missionary Diocese of Nampula, when he became Missionary Bishop of Nampula in 2019). Bishop Manuel is from Nampula and Macua is his mother tongue. So, within the diocesan plan to multiply the Diocese of Niassa after a period of extensive church planting growth that doubled the Diocese of Niassa to 440 congregations and 68,000 members 2003-14 , He returned home to Nampula and re-established his family there. In 2019, the missionary diocese was renamed the Diocese of Nampula, and Bishop Manuel became Missionary Bishop. And just a few weeks later in March 2019, the rainy season flooding that named Beira the first city to be destroyed by climate change with Cyclone Idai. Cyclone Kenneth in April 2019 was to wreak further unprecedented havoc in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado (included in the Diocese of Nampula). Climate disturbances of such magnitude were bound to exacerbate economic and political tensions. Recent exploration of Mozambique’s natural resources has led to instability in local areas where the population has not benefitted and lost land to outsiders. The violence that broke out in Palma earlier in 2021 was a culmination of multiple environmental, social, economic vulnerability, and Bishop Manuel’s wisdom and voice at this time has been crucial in the absence of reporting ‘on the ground’. His compassionate heart has drawn attention to crisis and aligned his new ministry to supportive relief, education and development amongst vulnerable communities through the incarnational mission of Anglican congregation and teams of church members trained to respond to crisis in local communities. His steadfast goodness in such times as these is rooted in his vision of God’s love for all God’s people, his understanding drawn from Biblical studies, and his strong reliance on prayer. I am blessed to call Bishop Manuel a friend. Rev Helen Van Koevering, Diocese of Lexington Kentucky  5/15/21                   

Springs of living water On Saturday the 8th of May 2021, a group of 25 Water Disciples set out on a hiking trail from Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch led by Neil Adams. We had a squad song that went like this: “Together, Everyone Can do More ‘ (TEAM) ”. The hike was an educational hike in which we learned more about the water and dams found on Table Mountain. The indigenous name for Cape Town was ‘Camissa’ which means the place of the sweet waters. It was the springs of living water from the mountain that made this such as important place.  We have discovered that some of the rocks of the mountain are permeable, allowing water to pass through, so that it soaks down into the groundwater. When water hits a level of impermeable rock, a spring is formed.. During the 2017 drought there were long queues at Newlands springs, which never dried up even through the drought. While on the hike ,we participated in a variety of events. One of the activities was for us to go up and down a steep hill while running. We made it as a team, despite the difficulties of the challenge. Before beginning the walk, we were asked to choose a  hiking partner  (these would  be ones  partner throughout the hike). We had to discovered who the person is, what they enjoy, and what they hope to get from the hike. My companion expressed his desire to experience God’s grace and embrace God’s creation. When we reached a beautiful waterfall we took time to reflect on Isaiah 49:10- “They would not hunger or thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them as we neared the end of the trek. He who has mercy on them will take them to springs of water and direct them.” In terms of our spiritual life , we are often dependant on the rivers or lakes – such a large lively church services, conferences, praise and worship. But during COVID we cannot do these. So where does our spiritual living water come from? It must come from the groundwater of our faith – we must learn to drink from our own spiritual wells of prayer and Bible reading. Ultimately, the hike was a lot of fun, informative, and packed with the presence of God. We took a lot of photos and made a lot of memories. In between walks, we sang a team tune. We had snacks as well, and we finished with a prayer. By Ms Siyamthanda Mlobi We are appreciative of the support of WWF South Africa for this Groundwater Education Programme