Erasmus+ – project
ANYONE WISHING TO JOIN MUST CONTACT ELIZABETH BUSSMANN (Environment Officer for Diocese in Europe) FOR THE JOINING DETAILS: bemdeo@gmail.com.
“Caring for Creation – Living out our faith – bringing Hope to others….”
Saturday 17th April 2021 10 – 12am CET Revd. Dr Dave Bookless
Dave will lead us in reflecting on:
‘Christianity & the Environment: The Mission of God and the Mission of God’s People’
Dave Bookless is Director of Theology for A Rocha International
(www.arocha.org), an international Christian nature conservation organisation and a Mission Partner with CMS.
He is also part-time Vicar of St. Mary’s Norwood Green, in Southall, London and a member of the Church of England’s Environment Working Group. In addition, Dave is Global Catalyst for Creation Care with the Lausanne Movement, and recently completed a PhD in Theology and Biodiversity Conservation at Cambridge University. Born in India, Dave and his wife Anne have lived in multifaith Southall since 1991, and their four daughters have all grown up there. He has spoken and lectured on environmental issues across six continents and has contributed to over 20 books including Planetwise (translated into Chinese, Dutch, French, German and Spanish) and God Doesn’t do Waste. To relax, he enjoys wildlife, running, mountain walking and Indian food.
Monday 19th April 2021 – 18.30-20.30 CET Catherine Ross & Jo Chamberlain
This zoom meeting will focus on the Church of England’s goal to become net zero carbon by 2030 and what that means practically for us in Europe. It is recommended that participants have a look here in advance…
Catherine Ross is the Open and Sustainable Churches Officer in the central buildings team at the Church of England. She leads on environmental issues for them; anything from low carbon heating to biodiversity in the churchyard. Since February’s synod, Catherine has been the officer working on the definition of net zero carbon for the Church, and Catherine and Jo jointly run the net zero webinar programme.
Jo Chamberlain is the National Environment Officer in Mission and Public Affairs team at the Church of
England. She leads on issues of policy and engagement on environmental issues. This includes the Church’s engagement with national and international policymaking such as at the UN COP26 climate conference and encouraging churches and church members to engage with environmental issues in practical ways and as part of their spiritual life.
Wednesday 21st April 2021 – 18.30 – 20.30 CET Dr Ruth Valerio
Living out the biblical mandate to care for the whole creation isn’t just about duty – it’s an integral part of how we worship the Lord of all creation. So what does that look like in practice? This seminar will look at how we can live this out together in our churches and in our own lives.
Dr Ruth Valerio is Global Advocacy and Influencing Director at Tearfund. An environmentalist, theologian and social activist. Ruth holds a doctorate from King’s College London, and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Winchester and Chichester. She is Canon Theologian at Rochester Cathedral and her home church is part of the 24/7 Prayer Network.
She enjoys living sustainably – practising what she preaches and inspiring others as she does so – in the South of England with her family. She is the author of L is for Lifestyle:Christian Living that doesn’t cost the earth and Just Living:Faith and Community in an age of Consumerism, and has written the Archbishop of Canterbury’s 2020 Lent book, entitled Saying Yes to Life. Ruth is a regular contributor on Radio 4 and the BBC World Service
Saturday 24th April 2021 – 10-12am CET Revd. Dennis Nthenge on
“Intentional Discipleship”
Revd. Dennis will talk of how he has weaved his love for the environment and discipleship in the church.
For him, discipleship is intentional. Discipleship is the process whereby people are converted and transformed into the image and fullness of Jesus Christ in character, wisdom and power. Biblical discipleship is that development process centered in the local church to bring believers from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity known as Christlikeness. Consequently, it is not enough for you just to know Christ, we are called to grow in Him,
serve, Him and share about him. The Green Anglican Movement in Kenya provides a platform for Christians to exercise and display their maturity by the way they interact with the environment and strive to protect the dignity of God’s creation.
Rev. Dennis Nthenge is a Minister at All Saints Cathedral Nairobi Kenya, a member of the Green Anglican Secretariat, a theologian and a student of law. Minister to the Teens
Monday 26th April – 18.30-20.00 CET Revd. Canon Dr. Rachel Mash
Revd. Rachel will talk about her experience with the “Green Anglicans movement” and in particular about the ‘lessons learned’ for our context, too.
Revd. Rachel Mash is Canon for the Environment in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The Green Anglicans movement, which she founded, has grown to the Provinces of Central Africa, Kenya and DRC. She is secretary of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network and also a member of the steering committee of the Season of Creation ecumenical group.
As a Climate Reality Leader trained by US Vice President Al Gore in 2014 in Johannesburg, Revd. Mash is making the Anglican Church of South Africa an example for religions across the world to follow. She is part of a dynamic group of world-changers shaping the conversation on climate in forums ranging from family dinners to international summits. Together they are building a 21st-century movement for solutions to tackle climate change and foster environmental sustainability in Africa and world-wide.
On 7th April 2021, Rachel was awarded ‘The Cross of St Augustine for services to the Anglican Communion’ by Archbishop Justin Welby. For raising awareness of and the urgent need to implement the 5th Mark of Mission in the Anglican Communion.