Natal Anglican News
Home | Archives | Editor Profile |  Editor's Email:news@anglican.co.za  | Fax: 0866144189
A NEWSPAPER FOR THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH AFRICA December 2008 Anglican Crest

Advertise Here!

Rates:
+ - R 4.00 per cm
Circulation:
14 000

DownloadDOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE HEREDownload VOL 18 NO 6
RSSSubscribe to the RSS News Feed  

Diocesan Environment Committee

Looking back over the year: As 2008 draws to a close I mention some of the activities that the Diocesan Environment Committee has been engaged in.

Parish Environment Handbook

The Parish Environment Handbook which was first produced for the Diocesan Environment Conference held at Koinonia in 2006, and made available to synod delegates, has been out of print for some time now. As we have regular requests for it we have decided to reproduce it. Mike and Stella Cottrell have worked on updating this booklet which will soon be completed and made available to parishes. It provides resources in areas such as the biblical basis for creation care, liturgy, ideas for starting parish environment groups and suggestions of where further material may be accessed.

Season of Creation

There has been a growing worldwide practice of marking the period from 1 September (the beginning of Spring for us) to 4 October (St Francis Day) as a special focus on creation, known as the Season of Creation. Within the Anglican Church of Southern Africa this year we were able to make use of the excellent Season of Creation material authorized for use by the Provincial Liturgical Committee and the Synod of Bishops. If your parish did not make use the material during this period this year it can be fruitfully used at another time of the year.

Environmental Impact Assessments

On going opportunities are provided for the public to comment on proposed developments through the Environmental Impact Assessment processes. Recently public comment has been invited on national projects like the proposed Pebble Bed Modular Nuclear Reactor of ESKOM. There is still opportunity to attend public meetings and to comment on the proposed Wild Coast Toll Road. We encourage parishes to make their voice heard on issues that impact on our environment, especially locally but also nationally. Eco congregations We continue to encourage the formation of archdeaconry environment committees as the best vehicle for ensuring local action. The Pinetown archdeaconry arranged an Eco congregation workshop which was held from 23-24 May this year at St Agnes, Kloof. It was facilitated by Kate and Bishop Geoff Davies of the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI). The Eco congregation concept can be used as a tool to assist a church to use what it has including land, buildings and other resources, as well as its educational programmes in an environmentally responsible way.

Committee meetings

The committee continues to strive to be representative of the diocese; ideally we would like to comprise members who represent archdeaconries. We hold our meetings in different parts of the diocese so as to give people better access to them. We were recently hosted by Revd Bellina Mangena at the church in Camperdown. Our next meeting will be held on Saturday 28 February 2009 at Good Shepherd, Mpophomeni, where we will be hosted by Revd Christopher Ngcobo. This parish has worked hard at establishing food gardens. We are exploring holding in that region a workshop focusing on this important area of food and food security. We recognize that not everyone with an interest in the environment is able to be part of the committee. We also recognize that many parishes and individuals are engaged in on going action that seeks to give expression to our Christian responsibility for creation care. We wish to support you in that and would like to know how things are going.

Revd Andrew Warmback
Chairperson: Diocesan Environment Committee

Other Stories in this edition:

Growing the Church
Provincial and Diocesan Launch Conferences. An exciting new initiative was formally launched provincially in Johannesburg, and in each Diocese in September.

Churches call for political maturity
The Diakonia Council of Churches and its member churches have expressed deep concern over the increasing levels of intolerance displayed by supporters of various political parties and by the leadership of some political organisations.

The Zimbabwe Political Deal
Extracts from a commentary on progress presented by Bishop Rubin, Co Chairperson Solidarity Peace Trust, at the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal in October

Farewell to Methodist Bishop Malinga of Central City Methodist Mission
Hundreds of Methodists gathered at the Central City Methodist Mission to bid farewell in November to their only female bishop, Purity Malinga.

2009 Vestry Meetings
Bishop Rubin has urged parishes to begin preparing immediately for their next Annual Vestry Meeting which according to the Canons of the Diocese must be held not later in the year than the 15th March. They have been asked to take note of Canon 27 (of Vestries) and Act 23 of the Acts of the Diocese of Natal, and the functions of Parish Councils etc which are laid out in Canons 28, 29 and 30 and Act 24.

Overseas Comment
"Anglicans against Apartheid" by Canon Bob Clarke

Maintenance Tips from the Property Man for home and parish
Smaller Tips for the Year end

God in Distant Land
A Visit to the Diocese of Niassa By Vincent Dippenaar

Royal School of Church Music
International Summer School - Canterbury

AWF Provincial Council Meeting
The Diocese of Mthatha hosted the 21st Provincial Council Meeting of the AWF in at Trinset College Mthatha.

New Year appointments
New Rectors, Diocesan Ordination, Other Clergy Moves

Slow pace of land reform
A review of Dr Philip du Toit's book "The Great South African Land Scandal"

Climate Change
Readable new book on environment

1 Big Favour - 34 Very Happy Ladies
East Coast Radio is celebrating the Christmas Season by granting 12 Big Favours. The radio station has always taken their social responsibility seriously and this year Emma Barter Home, situated in Pietermaritzburg, was one of their very lucky recipients.

Diocesan Environment Committee
Looking back over the year: As 2008 draws to a close I mention some of the activities that the Diocesan Environment Committee has been engaged in.

Anglican News is a free online newspaper. Donations from our advertisers do help a little, but do you or your parish make a periodic donation to help towards the costs? To find out how to make a donation, email the editor

Home | Archives | Editor Profile |  Editor's Email:news@anglican.co.za  | Fax: 0866144189