Saturday, 17 May 2025, marked a powerful moment for youth in the Diocese of Christ the King as the Diocesan Youth Council (DYC) gathered at St. Luke Anglican Church in Evaton, Gauteng. This gathering wasn’t just about routine planning; it was about answering a growing call: caring for God’s creation in the face of the climate crisis.
Young people from across the diocese came together, deeply aware that climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is already making their lives harder through extreme weather, rising food prices, and damage to the places they call home. In response, the DYC spent time reflecting on how youth can take the lead in climate action and environmental ministry.
A key decision from the meeting was the need to empower and equip young people at the local level. The Council resolved that each parish in the diocese should identify and appoint a young eco-champion — a youth representative trained to run the environmental ministry in their own church and community. “Change begins where people live,” one member shared, “so this ministry must start at the parish level.”
To ensure that faith-based youth voices are heard in the spaces where the future is being shaped, the DYC committed to encouraging youth participation in workshops, consultations, and decision-making forums, such as the Presidential Climate Commission, LCOY, Y20, and many similar.
To lead these efforts, the DYC appointed Thabiso Tsubella and Manana Rooi as the Diocesan Youth Green Anglicans Coordinators. They will, together with the Provincial Green Anglicans team, will coordinate training for parish eco-champions and help connect young people to wider networks of faith-based climate action.
This is more than a plan; it’s a movement in the making. The Diocese of Christ the King’s youth are not waiting for change. They are becoming the change: rooted in faith, led by purpose, and committed to the care of creation.