We continue to be impressed by what we hear from the continent of Africa and from our Green Anglican friends in particular. Green Anglicans has just launched in the country of Kenya with plans to plant 15 million trees this year according to this report from The County website:

The Anglican Church of Kenya is set to plant and grow 15 million trees by end of 2026 as their contribution towards conserving the environment.

Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said it is time the church also contributes to taking care of mother nature by planting at least two million trees every year.

Speaking on Sunday at St Joseph ACK church in Kabireng, Nandi County during the official launch of Green Anglicans Movement (GAM), Sapit said the church is passionate about collecting waste products and educating people on the importance of preserving the environment by planting trees.

“The earth belongs to God and today we gather here to surrender our service to him by taking good care of the environment. Let us make green our various institutions including schools, churches, colleges among others,” he said

GAM of Kenya has three Thematic areas which include Climate Justice Advocacy, Theology of Creation and Communication as the cross-cutting themes.

The vibrant movement encourages members to take up their roles in being good stewards of God’s creation and ensure that the future generation will have a better place to live in.

The Anglican Archbishop further called for adoption of clean and efficient energy to reduce carbon emission of Anglican households and institutions through adoption of 100,000 energy efficient cook stoves and 50,000 solar energy solutions by 2026.

He said the use of wood energy for cooking has led to increased cutting down of trees hence threatening conservation efforts calling on Kenyans to use a cook stove that uses less charcoal and emits less smoke.

” First majority of women in rural areas are greatly affected by smoke produced when cooking and this puts them at great risk of getting respiratory diseases. This intervention will help reduce their vulnerability to health conditions and safeguard their dignity,” he pointed out.

Sapit called on Kenyans to develop a culture of proper waste management systems in institutions in order to keep the environment clean and healthy.

After the disappointing postponement of COP26 last year, the eyes of the environmental and creation care movements are on Glasgow and the rescheduled COP26 meeting to be held in November. You can expect a lot of COP news here as this important meeting draws closer – but we have to begin with a commendation for our Anglican sisters and brothers who appear to be on their way to mobilizing their entire worldwide family:

The current decade – 2021 to 2030 – is the most critical the world has ever known for action to be taken to address the triple environmental crises. Without it, life on earth will be impacted and degraded in ways that will make the COVID-19 pandemic look minor in comparison.

The world is hurting. The Anglican Communion is a body, and the body is hurting. People and planet are denied the fullness of life Jesus came to bring (John 10:10). Caring for creation is about loving our neighbour, loving ourselves and loving our God.

And because we are a global body of many parts, the Anglican Communion can play a meaningful and significant role in being part of the solution: inspiring new ways of seeing, advocating for change, encouraging one another to prayer and action.

If you are a part of the Anglican family (whatever part of the world you might be in), we encourage you to reach out to your Vicar or Bishop to ensure that this effort is part of your own local congregation’s priorities this year and into the future. And if you’re not an Anglican? Take this to your own Pastor, Bishop, District Superintendent and say, “Look what the Anglicans are doing! What are we doing?” (If you need help or suggestions for resources for your church leaders, ask us. We can help!)

Some holy competition could be good for the church and the planet!

One of the heroes of the creation care movement in southern Africa, Fr. Sam Sifelani died a few days ago in a freak auto accident. He was considered a giant among Green Anglicans, an energetic and effective outreach effort in the region. One of his friends wrote this on Facebook:

Today my heart is broken. We have lost a giant of the Green Anglicans Movement. Fr Sam you inspired so many. You had the biggest heart of anyone I know. A huge heart for God, for young people and for the Earth. Our prayers go out to Mai and your beautiful munchkins and to the baby twins.

May you rest in peace and your spirit live on in those you have inspired. We will honour you with our actions to make Mama Africa green as you dreamed.

Here is a memorial page with comments from those close to him.

Rest in peace, brother. Your work was not in vain.

Clean up and tree planting in Kenya: The Anglican Church in Kenya posted this report of activities taking place in Machakos district a few hours drive southeast of Nairobi:

The Green Anglicans Movement in Machakos Diocese has upscaled its reach to the villages all in the spirit of inspiring care for creation. Over the weekend, the movement cleaned ikalaasa town area and planted trees. They also made use of the opportunity to evangelize the town.
They were led by the Diocesan Mission Coordinator, the Administrative Secretary clergy and Christians around the diocese for the full day of clean up. The event was organized by the Diocesean Youth Organizer, Rev. Simon Kavita.

https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanChurchofKenya/posts/508800309699430

Taking on Single Use Plastic: The Anglican Church of Southern Africa recently passed a resolution regarding single-use plastic. Here is the last section of the resolution:

[The Anglican Church of Southern Africa] Resolves to:
Call on ACSA to become a #zerowaste Church and call on Parishes and Dioceses to commit to becoming Zerowaste by;
1. Not using plastic bottled water;
2. Not using Styrofoam;
3. Reducing paper as much as possible;
4. Setting up compost heaps and food gardens where possible;
5. Installing recycling bins for church and, if possible, for community;
6. Not using plastic cutlery, cups, water bottles and straws;
7. Displaying a #zerowaste signs at the church;
8. Calls on the governments of South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and St Helena to ban single use plastic as a matter of urgency.

https://www.facebook.com/GreenAnglicans/posts/2384874014941334

Thank you, sisters and brothers in Africa, for being an example and a light to the rest of us. Now, where are the Green Baptists, Green Presbyterians, Green Charismatics? Now it’s your turn!