Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa

This Update provides a forum to share stories about earthkeeping, particularly from a faith perspective, and with a focus on environmental justice. These stories serve the purpose of informing one another about what is happening in other areas as well as encouraging us to action in our own area.

We therefore always welcome contributions in which you share your experiences, point us to an important resource or document or review a book. On the NECCSA website we keep a record of these Updates for later reference.

Recently we have celebrated World Environment Day (5 June). Where there any interesting activities you were involved in about this theme? Would you like to share them? Arbo(u)r Week is coming up in the first week of September. Any interesting liturgies around tree planning planned that you would like to share with others?

Bishop Geoff Davies, the co-ordinator of the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, and his wife Kate, have joined the Christian Aid 1000 mile walk to highlight the effects of global warming. They will be walking about 500 miles. For more details of the event and to follow the progress see the Christian Aid website.

This `twin pack' is a valuable resource containing amongst other things photographs, power point presentations, songs, theological resources, and short presentations.

Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering ourselves in nature by Ian McCullum; Published by National Geographic; ISBN 0620336501; paperback, 243 pages

The subtitle of ecological intelligence – rediscovering ourselves in nature – is what we need to take with us from this book. Ian McCallum, psychiatrist, naturalist, Jungian and poet, reminds us that we all have the elephant hyena and fruit-fly in our blood! We are "the keepers of our zoo" and it is when we put ourselves at the apex of creation wherein lies the problem. We need to come down from there and heal ourselves. Because we have lost our sense of union with our wild side we suffer from "homesickness" and a loss of soul.

Having lost the ability to heed the warning calls of distress we cannot react to our planet unlike the Andaman islanders who heeded the behaviour of the animals during the tsunami disaster. Their oral culture is so alive that they recognized what was happening and paid attention.

Animals are an extension of our eyes, ears and nose when we allow them and if we see the world as a mirror and our sense of freedom and authenticity being linked to that of other beings which includes animals, land and trees then how can we chose to be indifferent to our planet? Technology is here to stay but living mindfully we can choose when to say yes and no to it.

The admonitions of Apollo, "know thyself," "do no thing in excess" and "honour the gods" are all strong reminders of how to live our lives. It is a hard path and one that calls for accountability. Ecological intelligence is a "personal discovery that you and I are deeply rooted in the history of our planet and that we have a debt to repay for what we have done to it" and I highly recommend it. Reviewed by Bodil Davidson

Caring for God's Creation – a Challenge for the Church's Mission (Report of a consultation at the John Knox Centre, Geneva, from 17 to 21 September, 2006)

The text of a letter to churches arising from this consultation has been finalized and needs to be distributed. Below are words from the opening section. The full text can be seen on the NECCSA website.

The threats to the future of our planet are evident. What are their implications for the mission of the Christian Churches today? God is the author of all life. Made in God's image human beings are to care for people and all creation as God cares for us. Clearly, the care for God's Creation has a central place in the Church's witness.

But we have to recognize that the respect for God's creation has often remained a secondary theme in Christian mission. It is strangely absent, or only incidentally touched upon, in most recent mission statements emanating from either confessional or ecumenical bodies. As a rule the emphasis is almost exclusively on the salvation offered to humankind and on the new inter-human relationships made possible by Jesus Christ. There can be no doubt that the lack of concern for the whole of the created world in the missionary discourse and praxis has contributed to the ecological crisis. The churches have remained silent for too long in face of the destruction of the environment.

The ecological crisis poses therefore a grave challenge to the credibility of Christian witness today. If we do not want God's name to be `blasphemed among the nations because of us', it is high time to think deeply but also creatively about the implications of this challenge. How do we speak, act and worship so as to testify convincingly in today's world to God the Creator whose loving care embraces all that he has made?

From September 17 to 21, 2006 thirty representatives from many Christian traditions and all continents gathered at the John Knox International Reformed Centre in Geneva to share their experiences and to reflect on the response which is today required from the Churches. We all share the conviction that the advocacy for God's Creation be at the forefront of our understanding of Christian mission. At this time of environmental crisis we need to be attentive in new ways to the mission of the Trinity in Creation, and we invite therefore churches, mission agencies, faith-based organizations and all Christian people to place the care for the earth, as an integral aspect of Christian witness, at the heart of our thinking, our life and common worship, and of our service.

Much has changed in recent decades. More and more, Churches are becoming aware of the need for a renewed understanding of Creation and the role of humans in Creation. Christian leaders and individual Christians are increasingly consider environmental responsibility as part of their faith commitment, and in many parts of the world new models of mission are developed. We believe that this movement needs to be strengthened and accelerated. Our exchange has shown that the Christian response to the ecological crisis must and can be carried out ecumenically. The challenge is new for all Christians, and we can therefore all learn from the rich variety of our traditions.

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 econradie@uwc.ac.za by 15 September 2007. You may send such contributions in the language of your choice.

NECCSA's website address is www.neccsa.org.za where membership details can 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 above.

NECCSA's banking details are: First National Bank, Musgrave Rd Branch, Branch code: 221126, Cheque account number: 62035719064.

If you prefer not to receive the NECCSA Update in future, please send a message in this regard to the email address mentioned above.