Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa

NECCSA Update: February 2003

A monthly newsletter on Church and Environment in South Africa

1. Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation & IRAQ

The 1983-Assembly of the World Council of Churches adopted the motto of "Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation" to articulate the social agenda of the church. This motto stimulated considerable debate and unleashed energy for change. The vision behind the motto clearly responds to the most pressing issues of our times: economic injustices within the context of globalisation and neo-liberal capitalism, violent conflict of various kinds (domestic, gangsterism, ethnic, inter-religious, etc) and environmental destruction.

Some have argued, at times, that one of these concerns should have priority over the others, e.g. justice over reconciliation. Some have prophesied that environmental destruction will be the dominant issue on the 21^st century's agenda while others have argued that this threat will be surpassed by violent conflict over scarce resources. However, it is now clear that these issues are closely related to one another. With the threat of war in Iraq on everyone's hearts and minds at the moment, we are reminded that these are the very issues at stake: conflict over the control of oil resources, the threat of weapons of mass destruction, the disastrous impact of war on the environment and on the global economy, basic human rights and other related issues. In time like these, Christians are called to pray "Come, Holy Spirit, renew your whole creation" (the theme of the 1991-Assembly of the World Council of Churches).

2. The N2 Toll Road

The proposed toll road to Port St Johns has elicited much debate. 50/50 recently provided excellent coverage of the environmental problems associated with the proposed toll road to Port St Johns. This included comments from Bishop Geoff Davies, the deputy chairperson of NECCSA. Details on this debate may be found at NECCSA's website and on HYPERLINK at http://www.5050.co.za

3. Environment Sunday: 8 June 2003

One of the main objectives of NECCSA is to encourage local Christian communities in South Africa to celebrate Environment Sunday on an annual basis. Members are asked to commit themselves to do so. Environment Sunday will be celebrated on 8 June this year (the Sunday closest to World Environment Day on 5 June). Please note that this coincides with Pentecost. The Common Lectionary reading for this Sunday is, very appropriately, Romans 8. Please mark this opportunity in your diary. NECCSA will distribute documentation with suggestions for preaching and the liturgy at a later stage.

4. World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

How do Christians all over the world assess the significance of the WSSD? Andrew Warmback compiled some references to articles and web-sites that you may find helpful for educational and other purposes. You will find details in this regard on the NECCSA website. See under Events: "For references to other reports on the WSSD, click here."

5. Employment opportunity: Christian Ecovillage Trust

The Christian Ecovillage Trust, a Christian, environmental non-profit organization is seeking a new Executive Director to begin May 15, 2003. The Christian Ecovillage Trust helps individuals and congregations connect Christian faith with care of the Earth. Our work has focused on the development of an ecovillage outside East London as "an enacted parable of earthkeeping" or, as a human settlement modeling sustainable land use practices. For more information, contact Alice Ford at khanyapg@global.co.za or visit the web site: www.sa-eastcape.co.za/cet.

Please send us your stories on earthkeeping so that others may learn from them too. We would like to use this space for such stories and for any earthkeeping tips and suggestions.

NECCSA website address: www.neccsa.org.za. You are invited to accept ownership of this website in order to use it to share information on Christianity and earthkeeping practices. Please send any information to the email address below.

You are welcome to distribute this NECCSA Update electronically to any other interested person. You are also welcome to send news to be included in the next NECCSA update to emcemp@iafrica.com by 28 February 2003. You may send such contributions in the language of your choice.

Distributed by EM Conradie 4/2/2003