Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa

NECCSA Update: May 2002

1. NECCSA formally established!

The Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa was formally established on 20 May 2002. This followed months of extensive consultations leading to provincial launches in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. Other provinces will hopefully follow soon. The following persons were elected to serve on the Governing Board of NECCSA:

Rev Keith Benjamin (Chairperson)

Bishop Geoff Davies (Deputy Chairperson & representative for Eastern Cape)

Prof Ernst M Conradie (Executive Secretary)

Rev Andrew Warmback  (treasurer)

Rev Roger Hudson (representative for Eastern Cape)

Mr Frank Kantor (representative for KwaZulu Natal)

Ms Zanele Mngoma (representative for KwaZulu Natal)

Rev Sipho Mtetwa (co-opted member)

Ms Leanne Seeliger (representative for Western Cape)

Rev Tommy Solomons (representative for Western Cape)

In addition, the following persons have been invited to act as patrons for NECCSA: Prof Denise Ackermann, Bishop Mvume Dandala, Prof Inus Daneel, Father Richard Menatsi, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Dr Molefe Tsele.

A constitution for NECCSA was formally accepted at the first meeting of the Governing Board. This constitution will be available on the NECCSA website in due time.

2. The vision and aims of NECCSA

The vision and aims of NECCSA may be captured in the following way:

·          The main purpose of this network is to stimulate a concern for the environment and, more specifically, environmental justice amongst Christian churches in South Africa.

·          It provides a communication network to share information, concerns, visions, stories, resources and creative suggestions with one another in order to support, encourage and inspire others to address environmental concerns effectively and from within a Christian orientation.

·          The focus of the network on "earthkeeping" suggests that Christian ministry includes the responsibility to attend to (to "keep") the well-being of the whole earth community (which includes but also transcends human well-being).

·          The struggle for environmental justice seeks to challenge the abuse of power that results in the situation that marginalised people have to suffer the effects of environmental damage caused by the greed of others.

Read more about NECCSA and its organisational structures in the attached Information brochure (NECCSA-Info brochure.rtf). You are welcome to distribute this brochure electronically to any other interested person.

3. NECCSA Membership

There are three categories of membership for NECCSA:

·          The category of group membership is aimed at local Christian congregations, dioceses, Christian communities, Christian organisations, women's groups, youth groups and school groups. This category includes regional (or even national) denomina­tional structures that were specifically established to address environmental concerns.

·          The category of individual membership is aimed at individuals who wish to promote the vision and aims of NECCSA in their own local Christian congregations, communities, dioceses and organisations.

·          Associate membership status is aimed at people or groups who do not qualify for membership, e.g. because they are living outside South Africa or because they do not necessarily share a Christian orientation. Such associate members will be informed of developments in the network and may wish to support the network in various ways.

A nominal membership fee of R20 is charged. This applies to all three categories of membership and will be valid for two calendar years. The benefits that members will receive will include a monthly NECCSA Update and a copy of the biannual newsletter (a hard or an electronic copy).

You will find a Membership Application form attached (NECCSA Apply.rtf).

4. Environment Sunday 9 June 2002

One of the aims of NECCSA is to encourage all local Christian communities in South Africa to celebrate Environment Sunday on an annual basis (the Sunday closest to 5 June).

The Scripture Reading for 9 June according to the Revised Common Lectionary is Genesis 6:5-13. This is indeed a highly appropriate text since it reflects on the impact of human sin for the whole animal world.

You will find a detailed discussion of this text with guidelines for the liturgy and preaching attached. This document is available in Afrikaans only (Genesis6.doc)

5. World Summit on Sustainable Development

There have been several Christian initiatives to make an input to this important event (the "Earth Summit") that will be held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002. NECCSA will formally register to participate in this event as part of the so-called Global Forum. More news about this process will follow in later editions of NECCSA Update.

Several important documents have already been produced to stimulate reflection on environmental concerns and to offer a Christian witness regarding the issues that will be discussed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development:

·          The Land is Crying for Justice

This South African document was finalised at a workshop that was held on 29 April 2002 in Johannesburg, following several months of preparation. The workshop was attended by church leaders, representatives from ecumenical organisations and other consultants.

This document will be available by early June in the form of a booklet. It may be ordered through the Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa (efsa@iafrica.com). It will also be posted on the NECCSA website in due time.

·          The earth belongs to God

This African document was produced at a consultation in Machakos, Kenya, 6-10 May 2002. This consultation was hosted by the World Council of Churches, the South African Council of Churches and the Centre for Inter­cultural and Contemporary Studies, Carlisle College, Kenya. The document is available from Prof Jesse Mugambi (jmugambi@iconnect.co.ke), one of the organisers of the consultation. It will also be posted on the NECCSA website in due time.

You are welcome to distribute this NECCSA Update electronically to any other interested person.

Distributed by EM Conradie 28/5/2002.