We had a Diocesan Sunday School Teacher’s Conference from the 14th to the 16th of February 2025. It was held at St. Mary the Virgin, Botshabelo – Mangaung Archdeaconry.
It was a prestigious event which included a Leadership Training session from the Anglican Youth Ministries Diocesan Dep. President, Eco-champ Ikaelelo Madikgetla and Diocesan Secretary, Mr. Samkele Mtshatsheni. We were honored by the presence of a visitor from the Anglican church in Canada, Eco-champ Dr. Ryan Weston, from the Anglican Church of Canada who was accompanied by the Diocesan Green Anglicans Coordinator, Eco-champ Mogorosi Molisapoli.
On Saturday, Green Anglicans Eco-champions took the center stage. The presentation was composed of World Hippo Day and World Pangolin Day. Sunday School teachers learned what a Pangolin is and the eight types of these anteater species. They also got informed about what a Hippopotamus is. One of the crucial takeaways was the similarity of both animals, being the fact that they are both mammals. Eco-champs clarified how the Hippo contributes to the Eco-system and why Pangolins are important to the life of our biodiversity.
We are grateful to the Provincial Green Anglicans for our lovely visitor from the Anglican Church in Canada. Dr. Ryan Weston presented after the Sunday School teachers had presented. He informed attendees that he left North America where it was -15°C and was still trying to adjust to the scorching African heat.
He expressed his concern with the number and size of wildfires due to global warming, in California, which keeps increasing year after year. Amongst other things, it was alarming and saddening that Polar Bears can’t survive as the ice melts due to climate change. More than anything, what scared me personally was when Eco-champ Ryan mentioned that the ice melting poses a danger of unknown viruses and diseases which might been frozen for millions of years.
During lunch, Eco-champ Ryan Weston interviewed Eco-champ Motsei Hlalethwa and Eco-champ Morena Pule. He asked three critical questions we should wrestle with as Eco-champions:
- What is the spiritual foundation for your commitment to care for creation?
- What gives you hope in the face of ecological crisis?
- How are you and your community making a difference in combatting climate change?
It was an amazing event which had a beautiful Gala Dinner. On Sunday, Eco-champs did beautiful red and white ribbons from plastic to exemplify the recycling of plastic and dangers of single use plastic.
I’m would love to thank everyone that made this day possible. I’m really grateful to be part of this movement, which is led by the Holy Spirit. I hope this inspires everyone to do interactive presentations, raise awareness on the dangers of climate change and effects ice melting, and the constant danger of single-use plastic.
by Morena Pule
