News

On Saturday, 20 September, the Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF) from the Diocese of Port Elizabeth launched an inspiring outreach program focused on environmental sustainability by adopting Cowan High School in New Brighton. The Fellowship partnered with Mrs Pumla Koltana, the Green Anglican Diocesan Coordinator, who played a key role in organising the initiative. Mrs Koltana brought in a team of two coordinators from the Hlumani Nande Organisation in Motherwell, namely Mr Melikhaya and Mr Azola, who guided the young people with practical lessons in gardening. The coordinators taught the AYF members about the importance of gardening for both food security and environmental care. With great enthusiasm, the young people rolled up their sleeves, prepared the soil, created garden beds and paths, and planted a variety of vegetables and trees. The seedlings, generously donated by Mrs Koltana, included peppers, parsley, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and several trees. Additionally, the AYF donated gardening tools to the school, allowing learners and staff to continue caring for the garden as part of their ongoing sustainability efforts. The project was more than just a day of planting; it was an opportunity for young people to learn valuable lessons about creation care and to experience the joy of giving back to their community. Some participants shared their reflections: This initiative not only provided immediate benefits to Cowan High School but also inspired a new generation of environmental stewards. The Diocese expressed gratitude to Mrs Koltana, the Hlumani Nande Organisation, and the AYF members for their dedication to living out the values of faith, service, and care for creation. By : Nwabisa Sizani (Doi : PE president)

On Thursday, 24 September, which is marked as Heritage Day in South Africa, the youth Eco-champs of the Diocese of Christ the King gathered at the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve for their heritage hike. For the eco-champs, the event was more than just an outdoor adventure; it was a spiritual journey that combined fellowship, prayer, and the celebration of God’s creation. One of the highlights of the day was the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in nature. Encountering the body and blood of Christ under open skies created a profound harmony between faith and the natural world. This moment echoed the many biblical journeys where God revealed Himself in the wilderness, like Moses meeting God on Mount Sinai, and Jesus retreating to the quiet hills to pray. Reflecting on this sacred experience, the young people were reminded of their calling not only to love one another but also to act as faithful stewards of the earth. Sharing the Eucharist outdoors became a powerful sign of the Church’s care for creation, echoing the spirit of the Season of Creation observed worldwide. There is something deeply meaningful about walking through the beauty of God’s world. Hiking not only provides physical exercise and excitement but also invites us to step away from the busyness of daily life and encounter God in the stillness of nature. The hike also offered a time for fellowship and community. Walking together through valleys and up mountain paths, the group shared stories, laughter, and prayer, strengthening their bonds as young eco-champs in Christ. Many returned home with hearts uplifted and spirits renewed, physically refreshed, spiritually grounded, and more deeply aware of God’s presence in all of creation. by Manana Rooi

The Diocese of Matlosane Guild of St Agnes and St Mary Magdalene held a successful and yet fruitful elective conference this past weekend, under the theme :Allow yourself to be the clay in the Potter’s hands . At St Augustine of Hippo—Potchefstroom, graced with the presence of The Rt. Rev. Bishop Steven Diseko and the guild’s chaplain, Canon N. Mogami, Dean Seupe, Servers Chaplain Rev Setlhafuno, Archdeacon Chaplain Sebowane, among all the other priests The event was a three-day event which commenced on Friday, where 12 parishes within the diocese were attending alongside members from sister dioceses like the Diocese of Botswana and a member from the Diocese of Highveld, with over 140 members of the guild attending the service along with invited guilds in the diocese, namely, MU, AMF & Evangelical , AWF, Bernard Mizeki ,Youth, and Servers. The guild celebrated the weekend with activities that are in line with the church’s season, which is the season of creation, by planting a tree and observing green Anglican. through a beauty contest with recycled material, where participating winners walked away with alter groceries for their churches that they entered the competitions for. We urge and encourage AYSA in the Diocese to share the church vision by taking care of nature (Green Anglican), planting trees, and recycling materials as a way to help reduce unemployment and take care of Mother Nature. The weekend’s teaching was to be selfless in the lord and allow him to work within us in the church of God and in our communities. Among the fun, exciting activities, we held a Bible study led by the chaplain of the guild, discussing what we all understand and how we reflect the theme in our daily lives. We had a successful election where we elected the committee that will run the guild from 2025 till 2028. The election committee was led by the chaplain of the servers guild, the MU president, and the AYSA coordinator, among others that were assisting At the end, we finished the conference with a beautiful banner procession where we sang and praised in the streets of Sarafina, declaring to the community that we are for Christ on Sunday morning, before planting the tree and attending the eucharistic service. By : Mmabatho Naseba      

On the weekend of 26–28 September 2025, the Diocese of Natal held its Clergy Spouse Conference at Mariannhill Retreat House in Pinetown, Durban. The Green Anglicans team was invited to give a presentation, which was led by Mrs. Pinkie Nkomonde, the Diocesan Mothers’ Union Eco-Champion. She spoke on the biblical foundations of caring for Creation, highlighting how the stewardship of the environment is a spiritual responsibility.Mrs. Pinke further emphasised that clergy spouses play a vital role in the life of the Church’s ministry, as many people look up to them as spiritual leaders and role models. This influence, she noted, can be a powerful force in mobilising others to take action in caring for our common home.The conference concluded with a collective pledge by participants to raise awareness and take practical steps in caring for God’s Creation.

The Diocese of Mpumalanga held its annual Mothers’ Union conference at Nelspruit Hoerskool, in Mpumalanga,  from 26 to 28 September, bringing together members for fellowship, learning, and action. A key highlight of the weekend was a joint presentation by the Diocesan Green Anglicans Coordinator, Revd Canon Velelo, and the Diocesan Mothers’ Union Eco-Champion, Mrs. Fikile Nkosi. Their session focused on the growing impact of plastic waste on the environment, communities, and future generations, urging participants to take practical steps towards reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics. To reinforce the message, the conference hosted a creative competition where participants collected plastic waste and repurposed it into a useful church door mat. This hands-on activity not only showcased innovation but also demonstrated how everyday waste can be transformed into something practical and meaningful. by: Eco-champ Fikile Nkosi

Namibia’s National Cleaning Day, observed annually on September 20th to coincide with World Cleanup Day, is a call to citizens to take responsibility for the environment and contribute to a cleaner, healthier nation. On Saturday, 20 September, members of the Anglican Student Society (ANSOC) from Windhoek, together with their regional chaplain, Ven. Joseph Hanghome responded to this call by actively participating in clean-up activities at Okuryangava Anglican Church, part of the mission station of St. Michael’s Anglican Parish, Katutura. While the ANSCO on campus in Ongwediva went to clean up the surrounding area of St. Patrick Anglican Parish in Ongwediva.  In Eenhana, the youth from St. Martin’s Parish joined hands with their wider community to clean up their town. The day was not only about collecting waste but also about sowing hope for the future. As part of their activities, the ANSOC members planted trees at Okuryangava Churches, with the vision of continuing this initiative to heal the land, provide shade, fruit and contribute to a cooler and healthier environment for the community. By Ven. Joseph Hanghome.