PATRONS
GOVERNING BOARD
NECCSA Documents
Several important documents have been produced to stimulate reflection on environmental concerns and to offer a Christian witness regarding the many challenges that the global community has to address.
Climate Change – A Challenge to the Church in South Africa
A conference on climate change held in November 2007 at UWC identified the need for a document which would frame and inform a church response to the challenges posed by climate change in the South African context. Initially, this was taken up by a sub-committee of the South African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI). In April 2008 it requested the South African Council of Churches (SACC) to accept ownership of the drafting process. In March 2009 a Climate Change Committee of the SACC (WC) was formed to develop resources for the church in South African to respond appropriately with regard to issues of climate change. The committee was located in the Western Cape only for administrative purposes since it liased from the beginning with ecumenical structures elsewhere in the country. The committee decided that one such resource would be this document. It also recognised the need for a range of other resources (including liturgical material, Bible study material, hymns, material for discussion, suggestions for a practical response, a short summary etc) - for which this document would serve as a theological basis.
"Celebrating God's Creation: Ukuvuyisana Ngendalo kaThixo"
This document articulates the vision, aims and objectives of the Church Environmental Network of the CPSA.
Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth
Read this statement from the 24th General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches held in Accra, Ghana, 30 July - 13 August 2004.
"How Beautiful is God's Creation"
Pastoral Letter of the KwaZulu-Natal Church Leaders’ Group for World Environment Day, 5 June 2004. Read this letter here.
The earth belongs to God
This African document was produced at a consultation in Machakos, Kenya, 6th - 10th May 2002. Read this important and thought-provoking document here ...
This is God's earth
This document was adopted by SACC & Church Representatives on 19 June 2002 in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). It is available from Dr Steve de Gruchy (DegruchyS@nu.ac.za) and others. You may also read this document here.
Choose Life!
This discussion paper on the World Summit on Sustainable Development was produced by the Alliance for Justice & Peace in Southern Africa a Southern African regional forum of the Catholic Justice & Peace Commissions. Contact Efrem Tresoldi's office in this regard (etresold@sacbc.org.za). Read this document here ...
Steve de Gruchy, the Director of the Programme in Theology and Development in the School of Theology at the University of Natal, writes:
It is important that the issue of Environmental Justice is shared with the worshipping community through the preaching ministry of the Church. While it is true to say that it has not received the same kind of attention as other themes, the essays in this issue of the BCT attest, however, that it is a crucial for the people of faith to reflect upon it. Here I share ideas for ten themes that relate to the issue of Environmental Justice. For more information, click here
The Earth Charter
The Earth Charter is a remarkable document that articulates a new moral vision for the earth community. It is the product of the most consultative process ever undertaken. people from numerous organisations, regions, cultures and religious traditions contributed to the discussion on the document. A final text was made available in March. To read the text of the Earth Charter click here or visit the Earth Charter website at www.earthcharter.org.
Inter-faith statement on Sustainable Development
Before and after the World Summit on Sustainable Development, a group of South African people worked on an inter-faith statement on sustainable development. Read the latest available draft of this document here.
Genetically Modified Foods
The South African Catholic Bishops' Conference produced and Occassional Paper (No. 7) on Genetically Modified Food, entitled The Impending Disaster. This document is posted here with the permission of the The Justice & Peace Environment Desk. Read this important document here ...