Network of
Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa
NECCSA Update:
July 2004
A
monthly newsletter on Church and Environment in South Africa
1.
Can the road nearby become a visible witness to the power of the gospel?
We all assume the need for roads – for vehicles,
bicycles and pedestrians. A network of roads is necessary for communication.
Roads create possibilities for human interaction and welfare. The construction
of roads bear witness to human ingenuity and, in this way, they can be part of
God’s good creation. However, roads also destroy natural habitat – as the
debate on the N2 toll road reminded us. They contribute to the extinction of
indigenous species. They evoke numerous negative associations: accidents, death,
air pollution, noise pollution, visual pollution, traffic jams, garbage, road
rage and so forth. Clearly, roads do not escape the destructive impact of human
sin in the world. The question is whether our roads may also become a visible
sign of the salvation that Christians proclaim to be possible through the God of
Jesus Christ?
Some of us may be familiar with the “Adopt a
highway” initiative that has been introduced in countries such as the United
States. Here is a question that calls for further debate among Christian
earthkeepers in South Africa: Would it be possible and appropriate to encourage
something similar in our context? Should NECCSA perhaps play a role to initiate
this?
The following vision may be discussed in this regard:
That various Christian communities in South Africa will adopt a (small) section
of the road nearby, especially a highly polluted road, a road which no one seems
to be looking after. The community may then do regular clean-ups of the section
of the road, plant indigenous vegetation there, create something attractive in
the eyes of the local community and erect a sign indicating the involvement of
the particular community there a witness to the power of the gospel to transform
structures infected by evil. This may be a feasible project for a group of
youth, pensioners, a Bible study group, or a women’s group. Once such a
project is in place one may then encourage the local congregation to do an
environmental audit of the church building and church land.
There may well be local Christians who are already
involved in something similar. There may be others who would not consider this a
priority. The crucial question is whether Christian communities in both poor and
affluent areas could become involved in such an initiative. If we can find 20
Christian communities who could start with such a project, this may grow into
something significant. Please let us know what your opinion on this matter is.
2.
Annual NECCSA newsletter
The
NECCSA newsletter was distributed to NECCSA members and various ecumenical
centres earlier this month. To obtain a copy of the newsletter, please contact
your regional representative or the editor, Leanne Seeliger at seeliger@sun.ac.za
3.
Meetings and conferences
a)
Prof Marthinus Daneel: "The Shona High God and Earth Care."
Date:
Tuesday 24 August, 13h00-14h30
Venue:
Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape
Inus
Daneel is one of NECCSA’s patrons. He is a founding member of the Zimbabwean
Institute of Religious Research and Ecological Conservation (ZIRRCON) and the
Association of African Earthkeeping Churches in Zimbabwe. He will be visiting
the Western Cape in late August with his wife Prof Dana Lee Robert and has
agreed to speak at this departmental seminar on his work in this regard.
After
this seminar (15h00-16h00) there will also be a discussion with people involved
in NECCSA. This meeting will be exploratory, also to discuss the feasibility of
an Africa-wide network of Christian earthkeeping groups. Any interested person
will be welcome!
b)
A
ROCHA CONFERENCE: 10 - 12 SEPTEMBER 2004
AIM:
To take time out together as Christians committed to caring for Creation, to
meet others in the field, to reflect on the meaning of the Sabbath for our
relationship with Jesus Christ, and for our life-calling, and to discover some
of KZN's Midlands natural splendour. Children of all ages are welcome and a
children's programme will be integrated into the Conference.
SPEAKER:
Philip Le Feuvre is an evangelist and Church planter, whose ministry resulted in
the founding of the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist in Limpopo. He is the
first bishop of that Diocese and chairs the Blue Swallows Working Group in
Limpopo.
PLACE:
Kenosis Retreat, a small retreat centre 10 km from Pietermartizburg, and 4 km
from the Cumberland Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site.
PRICES:
Adults: R240 for the weekend Children: R120 for the weekend
BOOKING:
Spaces are limited to 40 adults. For further enquiries or to book please contact
Allen Goddard of A Rocha South Africa at halleljoy@sco.za.org or
033 3458540.
4.
Environment Sunday
We
invited you to share what you have done to celebrate Environment Sunday 2004.
Here is story from the Dutch Reformed Church in Groblersdal in this regard:
Omgewingsondag 6 Junie
2004: Dag vir Evangelie vir Ekologie
Op 6 Junie 2004 vier ons wêreldwyd hierdie dag. In
Groblersdal gemeente het ons ‘n Avontuurgroep wat hom besig hou met Art 2 van
die NGB nl. Om God te leer ken uit die skepping naas die Woord van God. Op
hierdie dag het ons die kerk versier met plante en was die boodskap tydens die
erediens uit Ps 19 met die gedagte
van: “Wat maak ons met dit wat die Here vir ons gee?” Uitheemse bome is vroeër
vervang met inheemse bome en op hierdie naweek “gedoop” met naamplaatjies
van die Dendrologiese vereniging. Uitstallings is op die terrein gehou om die
wonder van God se skepping onder die gemeentelede se aandag te bring sowel as
hoe om kennis op te bou en die natuur te geniet. Videos is vertoon,
kampeertoerusting, fotos en plakate is uitgestal om die bewusmaking en
waardering verder te bevorder. Die reuk van moerkoffie en braaivleis het die
gemeente verder uitgelok na die buitelewe. Die uitstalling is afgesluit met ‘n
heerlike braai saam met gesinne oor die middagete.
Die gemeente is al vir ongeveer 5 jaar besig met uitstappies
en kampe vir bejaardes, pa en seun en gesinne in die natuur; na ons Nasionale
parke, natuurreservate, wildreservate, botaniese tuine en ander plekke van
belang om sodoende ons mense meer omgewingsbewus te maak. Die natuur bied ‘n
legio geleenthede wat net ontgin moet word.
Hierbenewens is daar herwinningsprojekte ook deur die
Avontuurgroep aan die gang. Papier, plastiek, karton, ou motorolie en batterye
word tans verkoop aan herwinningsinstansies. Die geld word weer aangewend vir
die uitstappies en verdere onderlinge sorg. Die gedagte is om later self
herwinning te doen.
Bewusmaking van besparing en minimum besoedeling van water,
lug en grond is ook op die lys van projekte.
Groete,
Jannie va Eeden
5.
Church views on GMO’s
Here
is a report on the African Council of churches (SACC) consultation on Genetic
Engineering which took place in Midrand at the end of May this year. The report
also appeared in the annual NECCSA newsletter:
PARTICIPANTS
at the consultation on Genetic Engineering have called on the government to
impose a moratorium on any further permits for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
in South Africa. A genetically modified organism is an organism
whose genetic
material has been deliberately altered for a specific purpose. An example would
be wheat
seeds that are manipulated to ensure better crop yields for farmers. The consultation, which took place in May in Midrand this year, believes
the moral complexity surrounding GMOs is not being taken seriously enough by
proponents of GMOs or South African legislation. The issues were being treated
in a “purely technical” manner. Proponents of this gene transfer
technology are “delinking science from ethics and political ideology and our
African communal spirituality about life and food,” said a statement issued.
The elevation of natural scientists and civil servants to adjudicators on these
issues was concerning. The meeting called on the SACC and its members to urge
the government to affirm that GM is a high risk technology and that it should
take all the measures necessary to make South Africa compliant with the
Cartegena protocol. The Cartegena protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential
risks posed by GMOs. It does this by establishing a procedure whereby countries
are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before
agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory.
Churches
are also particularly concerned that farmers who buy GMO seed become locked in
an economic relationship with suppliers of the seed. In a situation of food
insecurity this is most unwise. Recently the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town,
Njongonkulu Ndungane, added his concern about GM crops.
He was quoted as saying that genetic
engineering tinkered with the essence of life. “Species that would not
naturally reproduce are mixed together. Through
patenting seeds and genes, life forms can now be owned by corporations. Through contamination of natural wildlife and plants, genetic
engineering forever compromises the rights of future generations to a safe,
healthy and diverse environment.” The archbishop added that genetic
engineering threatened rural livelihoods, food security and local control over
genetic resources. “Patent laws
undermine the right of farmers to save seed, and one of the touted advantages of
the patented seed, a reduction in the need for labour, is in fact
disadvantageous when applied in Africa.”
In considering our context Ndungane questioned: “Do Africans need
genetically engineered food? I
would argue, no. At least, not
until we are certain of the consequences of our actions.
Not until we know it is safe, that we can afford it and contain it, that
it is suitable for our farmers and farming systems, that it will not lead to a
reduction in jobs, that it will not destroy biodiversity and that it will not
increase our dependence on rich nations.”
The full SACC statement on GMO foods as well as a
statement from Archbishop Ndungane in this regard is available at the NECCSA
website.
6.
Indigenous Christian nursery to fund food gardens near George
Here
is another story on Christian earthkeeping practices that appeared in the recent
NECCSA Newsletter.
GOD’S word started with a relationship with people in a
garden and to this day he is still using gardens to demonstrate his healing love
for us, says Ds Michiel Burger, CEO of Church House Community Nursery near
George. It is here, near Thembalethu township, in an HIV Aids hotspot, where an
indigenous nursery of George lily flowers and vegetable gardens are flourishing.
The community nursery was started with vegetable gardens about three years ago
that now feeds about 370 people.
“The
desolate townships need to be greened to create areas of beauty and nourishment
for the underprivileged and for future generations,” says Ds Burger whose
project is part of Christian Medical Service and Relief vision to provide
comprehensive medical care, social work services, relief and pastoral care to
destitute communities. There aim is to develop sustainable programmes that are
capable of overtaking the socio-economic impact of HIV//Aids and poverty crises.
“I have personally witnessed many so-called down and outs starting to blossom
with joy and new hope as they work in their gardens.”
The
indigenous nursery that grows the official flowers of George among other tree
and plant species was a plan to bring in foreign capital to subsidise the
growing demand for food gardens in the Thembalethu township and Southern Cape.
It has the support of 4 fraternals in George as well as 32 NGK communities
throughout the Southern Cape. The
lily project was started by two congregations in Groot Brak river and Rheebok
who within two weeks collected 6 000 bulbs of the George Lily from their
gardens. Research is underway to determine to determine growth pattern and bulb
production; minimum bulb size required for flowering and possible flower
manipulation.
It
is a long-term project that is hoped will eventually provide seasonal employment
for a number of individuals in planting, harvesting, grading, packaging and
export of the George lily bulbs. The plantings at Church House contribute to the
conservation and development and provide a unique opportunity for visitors and
residents alike to observe the official flower of the City of George.
Ds
Burger believes that when a church begins to really care then we are coming
close to its real nature and purpose. Commenting on the spiritual significance
of the project, he says: “We believe the whole setting was by God’s design
because the first sermon in George was preached here by Rev T.J Herald in
1813.” But the project has had its challenges. One occurred when a number of
squatter homes arose overnight. Fortunately, Church House could draw on the
relationship with the community street committees and church leaders to order
their removal. As little as 24 hours after the incident all the squatters were
removed with no ill feeling. “We serve a Majestic Lord,” says Ds Burger.
Part
of the vision of CMSR, which has 8 different churches represented ecumenically
on its board, is to help churches and pastors to expand their vision. They
believe that many pastors plan in the paradigm of their own local organisation.
Instead of keeping believers inside the church members should be empowered and
mobilised to “live out there”. In order to achieve this, churches need to
form partnerships with the community, other churches and other role-players. In
this way, transformation will happen on many levels. “It is indeed the case
that we produce much fruit if we abide in Christ but ‘live out there’,”
says Ds Burger.
NECCSA website address: HYPERLINK
"http:www.neccsa.org.za
where membership details could also be found. 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
HYPERLINK "mailto:%20andrew.war emcemp@iafrica.com
by 16 August. You may send such contributions in the language of your choice.
Distributed by EM Conradie 26/07/2004