Upload
trandieu
View
213
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
10 THINGS WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE:
Protect oceans and coasts: Oceans help reduce climate change by
storing large amounts of carbon dioxide, and coastal ecosystems can
help minimize the impacts of climate change. Protect healthy oceans
by keeping them clean, taking part in beach cleanups and supporting
sustainably sourced seafood.
Collaborate and share: There are many ways people collaborate that
create opportunities to meet basic needs, while being resource-efficient
and cutting down on GHG emissions. Some examples of the new col-
laborative or sharing economy include co-working, bike sharing, car-
pooling, crowd funding and garden sharing.
Support climate innovation: Innovative technologies that will help us
mitigate and adapt to climate change are becoming ever important in
helping to accelerate climate action. Give your support to climate en-
trepreneurs and inventors to develop innovative technologies and ideas
(www.greenafricadirectory.org)... By Mncedisi Masuku.
The Bishop on Climate Change... From page 7
Women are more dependent on natural resources for their
livelihoods, so the contribution of women is essential in deci-
sions around climate change. Our communities must be
equal as in the Eucharist.
Let us commit to work with the government in all her strate-
gies to mitigate and eradicate the effect of climate change.
Let’s take measures to, recycle and collect water around
church building and properties
Let’s support sustainable land use initiatives, including a halt
to the clearing of native forests. Do not buy firewood along
the roads.
We all can do something to mitigate the effects of climate change if
anything PRAY.
Stay Blessed, Bishop Ellinah.
dionet
ANGLICAN CHURCH DIOCESE OF SWAZILAND NEWS LETTER
“We aspire to be a caring church that empowers people for
ABUNDANT LIFE”
The Bishop on Climate Change
Continuation from our December issue.
Climate change and the church
Care of creation and justice should be at the centre of
work for the Church on climate change. The Bible
teaches the wholeness of creation and calls human
beings to take care of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15).
The God of the Bible is a God of Justice who pro-
tects, loves and cares for the most vulnerable among
his creatures.
The climatic developments taking place in the world
are threatening the lives and livelihood of many, especially amongst the
world’s poorest people, and destroying biodiversity. Let us as the
church, particularly in Swaziland at this time work towards overcoming
this model on among other things over-consumption and greed. When
creation is threatened we as churches and Christians are called to speak
out and act as an expression of our commitment to life, justice and love.
The fifth mark of mission for the Anglican
Communion which we are part of is
“To strive to safeguard the integrity of crea-
tion and sustain and renew the
life of the earth.”
The earth is a gift to us from God out of love
for us (Gen. 1:26, 2:15) and we therefore have
the responsibility for the well-being of crea-
tion in all its variety. Cont page 2
INSIDE
Keep the Bells ringing Pg 3
Laos Pg 8
Addressing Climate Change
Pg 10
The Rt. Rev. Ellinah
Wamukoya . Bishop of
Swaziland
Jan 2016
2
The Bishop on Climate Change... From page 1
Noting that the lives of future generations will depend on our action now, it is time we use our
power wisely so that future generations can flourish and the diversity of life on earth is pro-
tected. Many are looking to the church for a moral lead in terms of increasingly going green
which also in the long run also makes economic sense. Running most of our buildings on solar
energy will be in the long run cheaper and save on fossil fuel and the ozone layer.
Anglican Bishop from all six continents meeting in Cape Town in February 2015 declared:
“The World is our Host: A Call to urgent Action for Climate Justice.”
This statement sets a new agenda on climate change for the 85 million strong Anglican Com-
munion, Swaziland being a part of that communion. Before all other actions the Bishops called
for an urgent prayer on the unprecedented climate crisis. The Archbishop of Cape Town
and Primate of Southern Africa, the Most Revd. Dr. Thabo Makgoba who brought the group
together said;
“We accept the evidence of science; Human activity, especially in fossil- fuel based
economies,
is the main
cause of
climate
crisis. We
heard of
extreme
wealth and
changes to
seasons;
rising sea
levels,
acidifica-
tion of sea
water; de-
pleted fish-
ing
grounds,
and dis-
placed peo-
ple who are climate refugees.
The problem is spiritual as well as economic, scientific and political. We have been complicit
in a theology of domination. While God committed the care of creation to us, we have been
care-less - but not hopeless.
“In the words of St. Theresa of Avila, we are God’s hands and feet on earth, now is
the time for us, rooted in prayer, to step up and take action on climate crisis.”
Cont page….7
11
Water Crisis-Hope Africa and United Society in
Ireland to the rescue.
Following the current drought that has hit our country. The Diocese of Swaziland has
come with short term interventions to try and help some of the schools around Mbabane.
The water shortages situation in Mbabane and surroundings has seen some of the schools
sending kids home. Many thanks to our partners United Society in Ireland and Hope
Africa who has partnered with us in this project.
Diocesan Youth President Ms President Ms Nosipho
Dlamini is now engaged. The president was engaged by
Rev. Mthetheleli Simelane of Manzini Parish at St
George and James Anglican Church on February 14
2016 during Eucharist service. The Engagement of the
two came just after a month of another engagement at
the same church. This was the engagement of Mandla
Mdluli an employee of the
Diocese in the Social Devel-
opment department-
communications. Mandla got
engaged to Ms Gugu Ma-
gagula of the same Parish on
January 17. Gugu also serves
in the Diocesan youth com-
mittee as a secretary.
Diocesan Youth President is Engaged
Miss Nosipho Dlamini and
Rev. Mthetheleli Simelane
during their engagement at
St George and James.
Mandla down on his
knees as he proposes to
Gugu at St George and
James.
10
ENVIRONMENTAL AND
AGRIC-PAGE
10 THINGS WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS
CLIMATE CHANGE:
In last month’s issue I tried to explain what Climate Change is and how it is affecting Africa. I
promised to share ideas we can initiate to address the worldwide problem which I said is worse
than HIV/AIDS. In this issue I will address 10 things individuals can do to address Climate
Change and next issue I will address what households or communities can do:
Green your transport: Consider using the most sustainable forms of transport available, in-
cluding non-motorized transport such as walking or cycling; public transport such as trains and
buses; and carpooling, ride sharing or car share schemes.
Use sustainable energy: Using sustainable energy in your home helps prevents carbon emis-
sions and has various co-benefits, like saving money. Renewable, clean and efficient energy
sources for the home include solar cookers, solar water heaters, solar lights, biogas and clean
cook stoves. Be energy-efficient through your choice of home appliances and use of energy.
Support sustainable agriculture and diets: Sustainable agriculture can help mitigate climate
change and build food security. Support sustainably produced food (e.g., organic) and consider
growing your own food or joining a community food garden. A major contributor to climate
change is the meat industry - cut down on meat or eliminates it from your diet to help prevent
climate change.
Raise your voice and awareness: Get to know more about how climate change may affect you
(including your health, livelihood and children), and then start conversations with others about
climate change to help raise awareness and inspire action. Join local climate-change groups,
attend climate events and talks, and engage your local political leaders to take bold, ambitious
action on climate change.
Build green: There are many innovative, affordable and sustainable building techniques avail-
able across Africa. These include using sandbags, eco-bricks, hemp and straw bale. Retrofit
your home to be more sustainable — My Green Home in South Africa is a practical example of
how to do this on a household level.
Plant trees and protect biodiversity: Trees and forests provide carbon sinks and help mitigate
climate change, while protecting biodiversity helps sustain vital ecosystem services (which
include regulating climate). Plant trees, join or support tree-planting initiatives and events, do-
nate a tree and support local nature-conservation initiatives.
Save water: Help conserve water in your home through using low-flow shower heads and wa-
terless, low-flush or dual-flush toilets; have shorter showers; ensure your garden is water-wise
and indigenous; collect and use rainwater; consider grey water recycling; and repair leaky taps.
Continued on page 12
3
KEEP THE BELLS RINGING From The Dean...
I am writing to you at an exciting and yet challenging times when we
have bold Church leaders in the persons of His Holiness Pope Francis
(Roman Catholic) and The Most Reverend Justine Welby as defenders of
the Holy Writ that are sworn to. I last wrote about bells ringing and this
time around I am writing about using the Right Forms of Service as pro-
vided for by our Church (Anglican). What we are hearing to be taking
place in some parishes leaves some of us numb, to say the least. I have
just returned from the Diocese of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape attending a
service of the installation of the 16th Dean of the Cathedral of St. John. I
arrived with the Dean and Bishop elect of Zululand the Very Reverend
Monument Makhanya into a well run (sung Even Song) which included
licensing of Cathedral Canons in the Cathedral. This was Saturday by the
way where some of us never come near a Church door leave alone have a service. The beauty of lit-
urgy here was at its best led by the Bishop of the Diocese the Rt. Reverend Doctor Sithembele
Mzamane and the music was phenomenal. At this point I would like to come quickly to what I would
want to highlight here.
The people we lead have chosen to be members of the Anglican Church not to use/rent Anglican
churches to try all forms of different liturgies. I am saying here that none of our folk come to the An-
glican Church to experience anything different other than that which is prescribed/set form of service.
When some of us seem to have such hatred for the Anglican Liturgy to the point of lying to people that
it is useless thus confusing the masses, why are we here in the first place? The bedevilling of the
church’s traditions by some of us, and labelling the same as un-Christian, and in the process wanting to
benefit from the same institution will bring judgement on us. History is going to judge us. Going back
to the Mthatha experience it was like being at the mountain of the Transfiguration where leaving is like
departing from the Holy of Holies straight to hell. I therefore implore all licensed ministers of our
church to rise to the challenge of being faithful ministers found in their stations doing what God ex-
pects from them unless called otherwise. Keep the Bells Ringing to the delight of God’s people.
BIOLOGICAL TOILET TREATMENT
For pit toilets and septic tanks
Call. +268 7602 0690
4
The Us difference... Pupils from St Bernard's
Anglican Primary School
holding pencil cases given
to them by the United Soci-
ety. These pencil cases
were donated by pupils in
Ireland. More than 5000
pencil cases have been dis-
tributed to Anglican
schools up to this time.
Barefoot Holy week The Walkers youth group will walk bare-foot on holy week to try and get school
shoes for needy pupils walking barefoot to school. You can make a donation at your
local church and we will collect them or call the Diocesan Office@ 2404 3624 or call
Mandla @ 7665 4457 .All shoes will go to Anglican Schools to
help children walking barefoot
9
From The Arch Bishop.. From page 8
This has important implications in parishes where, for example, same-sex couples who are living
in civil unions under South African law bring their children for baptism and confirmation. No
child brought for baptism should be refused merely because of the sexual orientation of the par-
ents, and particular care should be taken against stigmatising not only parents but their children
too.
We also tried at the Synod of Bishops to draw up guidelines for clergy wanting to bless couples in
same-sex unions, or who want to enter same-sex unions themselves. We constituted a group of
bishops reflecting a cross-section of our views to discuss such guidelines. On this issue, I had to
report back to the Synod, the only agreement we reached is that we were not of one mind.
Our differences do not only revolve around the theology of marriage, but are also a result of differ-
ent pastoral realities in different dioceses. For example, most of our dioceses across Southern Af-
rica are predominantly rural, and for many the urgent priorities of food security, shelter, healthcare
and education crowd out debate on the issue of human sexuality. In some rural dioceses, respond-
ing to challenges to the Church's restrictions on polygamous marriages is a much higher pastoral
priority.
As a consequence, the Synod of Bishops has agreed that we will continue to regard ourselves
bound by the broad consensus in the Anglican Communion, expressed by the Lambeth Conference
in 1998, which is that we "cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same-sex unions nor or-
daining those involved in same gender unions". Having said that, we did address the questions of
whether that decision is immutable, whether it has replaced scripture, and when a Province of the
Communion, or a diocese within a Province may deviate from it.
Of one thing I am absolutely determined, and that is that the Church in Southern Africa should
build on our history of refusing to allow our differences to separate us, and that we should con-
tinue to work patiently through them together. We overcame deep differences over the imposition
of sanctions against apartheid and over the ordination of women, and we can do the same over
human sexuality. As the bishops say in the pastoral guidelines:
"Given that we share such broad and deep foundations of faith, when, as Bishops in Synod, we
consider questions of human sexuality, we feel sharp pain and great distress at our own differ-
ences and at the breaches and divisions within the wider Anglican Communion. Yet we strongly
affirm that we are united in this: that none of us feels called to turn to another and say ‘I no longer
consider you a Christian, a brother in Christ, a member of the body of Christ’. None of us says ‘I
am no longer in communion with you.’ We find that our differing views on human sexuality take
second place alongside the strength of our overpowering conviction of Christ among us. As long
as we, the Bishops of this Province, know unity in Christ in this way, human sexuality is not, and
cannot be allowed to be, for us a church-dividing issue."
So on a personal level I came home from the Synod tired but full of hope. I am encouraging our
Province in dealing not only with the issue of human sexuality, but also on those such as climate
justice and inequality, never to abandon the hope that comes from knowing the grace with which
we are held in the palm of God's hand.
God bless you,
8
From The Arch Bishop..
Dear People of God
I am writing to you just as we complete the February meeting of the
Synod of Bishops, where we continued to travel together as we wres-
tled with our episcopal leadership of the Church. When we meet, we
do so conscious that our vocation is not simply to serve you, the peo-
ple of our Church, but to serve God through you -- a tiny distinction
perhaps, but an important one.
We met in a spirit and rhythm of prayer, beginning with Eucharist
each day, followed by midday prayers and Evening Prayer together,
on the edge of the Wild Coast, north of East London, where we were
surrounded by the rhythm of God seen in the beauty of nature. The
matters we discussed were firmly rooted in mission, issues that affect how we serve God through and
with his people. So we heard reports on the COP21 climate talks and on the encouraging development
of our educational initiatives, which involve establishing new schools and strengthening existing ones.
We also reflected on theological education and on work to ensure that clergy and full-time lay workers
are adequately taken care of in retirement. In our most vivid act of solidarity and identification with a
God who knows pain and marginalisation, we undertook a walk of witness to the site of the 1992
Bhisho Massacre and then worshipped with the people of the dioceses of the Eastern Cape at Bhisho
Stadium.
We have issued a joint statement from the Synod, but I want to report to you in more detail to give you
the full context of one of the more challenging matters we discussed. One of the key tasks before us
was to fulfil the mandate given to us by Provincial Standing Committee and to finalise pastoral guide-
lines for couples in South Africa who are in same-sex civil unions. Against the backdrop of the inter-
national debate on this issue in the worldwide Anglican Communion, our discussions were frank, open
and robust. We sensitively considered our role as the Anglican Church in Southern Africa within the
broader family of the Communion, cognisant of the divergent strands of theological thinking within
the Province of Southern Africa and of the different pastoral challenges that the different dioceses and
the different countries of our Province are facing.
The document we have agreed upon will go to Provincial Synod for adoption in September, and will
be published a few months ahead of Synod in the First Agenda Book. I believe that its adoption by
Provincial Synod would be an important first step in signalling to the LGBT community that we in the
Anglican Church of Southern Africa, through our top deliberative and legislative body, see them as
welcome members of our body as sisters and brothers in Christ. In the words of the guidelines:
"We reaffirm our assurance to them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and
faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ. Many of
these are baptised and confirmed members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral
direction of the Church, and God’s transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of
relationships."
In another section, the bishops declared that: "We are of one mind that gay, lesbian and transgendered
members of our church share in full membership as baptised members of the Body of Christ..."
Cont page 9...
5
Diocesan Links
Diocese of Brechin-
Trinity Wall Street-BMusoke-
United [email protected]
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa-
Hope Africa
NOTICES
1. Bishop away up to 4th
of April
2. Diocesan Synod in
September
3. Vacancy Assistant So-
cial Development Co-
ordinator. See more
info with your Rectors
or church warderns.
Food Distribution to Neighbour-
hood Care points
Care Givers receiving food
from the office of the social
development. Mpaka has 15
children under its care
Children at Luve neighbourhood carepoint. Luve
Parish has 35 children under its care and that in-
cludes Kukhanyeni which is a branch for Luve.
The Anglican Diocese of Swaziland feeds more
than 450 Children in its care points everyday.
Women for the parishes volunteers to come and
cook for the children everyday and the kids would
also get basic education. The Diocese of Swazi-
land has 15 care points.
6
From the Oakland's. Partners and Companions of
the Diocese of Swaziland
It is a joy for us to be back in Swaziland. Dave first came as part of the St. Matthias
House Project in 1998 and has chaired the Commission in Iowa that oversees Companion
Relationships. Mary Jane first came in 2008 for the 40th Anniversary celebration—three
years after she was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Iowa. In 2011 while Dr. Shively
held two dental clinics in Swaziland, we visited several of the NCPs where Mary Jane
conducted nutrition workshops with the volunteers who feed the children and those in-
volved in Home Based Care. We were able to return in 2012 for Bishop Wamukoya’s
consecration.
When Bishop Wamukoya
visited the Diocese of
Iowa in 2013, we had the
opportunity to provide
transport around the Dio-
cese as well as to be in-
volved in several meet-
ings with her. When she
suggested that we should
come visit Swaziland for
an extended period we
responded that once we
were both retired that
might be possible. Mary
Jane retired from her con-
gregation last May, and
Bishop Ellinah asked us
to to assist the new Direc-
tor of the Department of Social Development to help with outlining goals and procedures.
Mary Jane will also serve as an Assisting Priest at All Saints Cathedral while we are.
Both of us are also retired educators—Dave taught mathematics and computer science to
college undergraduates and Mary Jane taught nutrition and medical nutrition therapy to
both graduate and undergraduate students. We will have the opportunity to visit several
of the Anglican schools with Archdeacon Bheki Magongo.
We give thanks to God and the Diocese of Swaziland to be with you during the months of
February and March. May God bless and guide this walk with you, our companions in
Swaziland.
Ms. Thandi Zulu with The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland working on goals and procedures for the Social Development Office.
7
The Bishop on Climate Change... From page 2
So we as the Anglican Church in Swaziland in agreement with the Bish-
ops and in view of the prevailing climatic conditions must commit to:
Energy conservation measures and endeavor to start using re-
newable energy
Nurture biodiversity on church land
Support sustainability in water
Fast for the climate change initiative where we join many others
in fasting and praying for the climate on the first of every
month. Our fast will continue as long as we prayerfully discern
that we stand in need of repentance as a church and nation
Commit to use liturgical material on care for creation for use in
parishes and other places of worship.
Cont… page 12