Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa

                   NECCSA Update: July 2006

A monthly newsletter on Church and Environment in South Africa

1. “A season of creation”

Since its inception in 2002 NECCSA has encouraged its members and other churches to celebrate Environment Sunday on an annual basis on the Sunday closest to World Environ­ment Day (5 June). If local Christian communities can address environmental concerns at least once a year, this may have a profound long term impact on Christian discourse, thinking and practices.

Christian groups in Australia have in recent years introduced the notion of a “Season of Creation”. This should complement other liturgical seasons such as Advent, Lent, and Pentecost by focusing on God the Creator during the liturgical period after Trinity Sunday. They have developed liturgies, Bible studies, earth care activities, children’s addresses, sermon topics and visuals to promote such a Season of Creation. For 2006 in Australia the programme includes the following calendar features:

The Season of Creation calendar has been revised to make it more international and ecumenical in character and more adaptable to the calendar expectations of different countries and traditions. It has been adapted for use in New Zealand, the Philippines, the USA and Europe (see <www.ecen.org>) Each community and country is, of course, free to modify this calendar so that it fits the dates, days and themes of the local situation. For more information visit the website <www.seasonofcreation.com> for free online resources.

Moreover, in its recommendation on the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches has also urged churches to “set apart September 1 each year as a day of prayer for creation and its sustainability”.

At the next meeting of the NECCSA Governing Board we will consider this initiative in order to suggest an appropriate strategy for the South African context. If you have any suggestions in this regard, please contact the secretary at the address below.

2. West-Lunga Trust

The West-Lunga Trust, a Community Based Natural Resource Management in the Chibwika-Ntambu Game Management Area in North-West Zambia, has recently become a group member of NECCSA. Here is an extract from its recent annual report on its goals and activities. For more information, contact Charles Rea bex1@zamtel.zm

West Lunga Trust captures the ideal of community empowerment, sustainable resource use and economic prosperity. This demonstrates that resource conservation in sub-Saharan Africa is not a luxury for the affluent, but a necessity for the economic viability of each and every community.  With sound guidance and proper funding, communities neighboring the West Lunga Game Park and surrounding Game Management Areas stand to break new ground in successful community resource management. In this strategic approach WLT will coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders, assist communities in navigating official channels, organize crucial workshops to build knowledge and expand community capacity for resource management. Together we will attempt to realize confident, capable community leaders and institutions.

The 10 year goals of WLT are to realize robust governance structures, healthy resources and prosperous communities in all three Game Managements Areas surrounding West Lunga National Park. However, rather than stretch limited capacity, efforts will be focused on one Game Managements Area for an initial three year period.  This initiative will allow for more time and attention from Community Coordinators and strengthen personal relationships within target communities.  This first project step will help create the prototype model for replication in the other Game Managements Areas.

3. Church of England launches “Shrinking the Footprint” campaign

News from Church and Ecology Link: All parish churches in the Church of England are being invited to carry out an audit of current energy uses so that a benchmark can be established. Once the size of the current "carbon footprint" of the Church has been assessed, the campaign will roll out initiatives to shrink that footprint. For more information visit http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr5606.html. One way of attending to this is for church treasurers to do an environmental audit by establishing the energy expenses of the local parish in terms of electricity costs and transport costs (for official purposes).

4. Waar op dees aarde vind mens God: Op soek na ’n aardse spiritualiteit

Hierdie nuwe boek van Ernst Conradie is uitgegee deur Lux Verbi.Bm en is nou in die handel beskikbaar.

Die soeke na ’n aardse spiritualiteit spruit uit veral drie oorwegings: 1) Ons pogings om met die newe-effekte van industrialisering in die reine kom (met spesifieke verwysing na ekologiese verwoesting), 2) Die soeke na ’n intellektueel geloof­waardige vorm van godsdiens (die uitdagings van eietydse wetenskap aan die Christelike geloof) en 3) Die soeke na ’n vorm van geloof waarin ’n mens met jou eie gewete kan saamleef (in die lig van die aanklag teen die Christendom op baie terreine). Die boek is gebou op die intuïsie dat betrokkenheid by omgewingsorg ten diepste ook ’n soeke na ’n bepaalde vorm van spiritualiteit meebring – ’n spiritualiteit wat begryp dat ons God alleen kan leer ken in en deur dit wat aards, liggaamlik en natuurlik is. Terselfdertyd kan ons die aarde pas na waarde skat wanneer ons op die spoor kom van dit wat die aarde te bowe gaan; ons kan die skepping ten beste leer verstaan vanuit ’n ontmoeting met die Skepper.

5. Position of Administrator/assistant for SAFCEI advertised 

The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) is entering into a partnership with “Kerkinactie” of the Protestant Church in Holland and Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) to develop a model of interaction and awareness raising on Climate Change, with the Faith Communities of the Western Cape, expanding it to a national level subsequently.

Bishop Geoff Davies, co-ordinator of SAFCEI, is looking for an administrator for this programme.  It would probably be mornings only, with an office based with SEA in the “Green Building” in Westlake, Cape Town. Bishop Geoff says that this person needs to be – preferably – “a committed environmentalist, a member of a faith community (to understand where we come from), computer literate and able to write letters.” Any person who is “enthusiastic” about such work may contact him at geoff.davies@safcei.org.za or (021) 788 6591.