Church/Theological Statements
The Five Marks of Mission http://www.anglican.ca/ask/faq/marks-of-mission/
Safeguarding God’s Creation – the Baptismal promise http://www.anglican.ca/news/covenant-and-care-a-baptismal-promise-to-safeguard-creation/3006799/
Motion to Diocese of Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island Synod 2019
Resolved that this Synod of the Diocese of NS and PEI:
- recognises that there is a global climate and ecological emergency,
2. encourages churches and parishes of the diocese to make the Fifth Mark of Mission (‘To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth’) a living testament to our faith, and calls upon churches and parishes of the diocese to:
a. observe the Season of Creation (Sept. 1st to Oct. 4th), setting aside a day in that season as a day of public repentance,
b. plan and gather resources that would promote ecological action, including minimizing water-use, setting aside available land for natural growth of plants and trees, transition to renewable energy sources and incorporating creation care into liturgical practice,
c. prepare or use an existing Lenten practice focused on Creation
d. form small groups to take leadership on environmental issues within each parish and to connect with the Diocesan Environment Network,
e. identify environmental and climate-related threats in their context and to develop or adapt existing tools on disaster preparedness and mitigation.
3. encourages the organisers of both Diocesan and General Synod to make each session of synod as environmentally sustainable as possible.
Commentary: A climate emergency has been declared by many cities, including Charlottetown and Halifax. The church needs "the courage and love of Jesus" (Eucharistic Prayer 5) in order to make significant, life-giving changes in how we relate to all God's creation. This resolution is adapted from the Anglican Consultative Council's environmental resolution, passed in early May 2019. It can be seen as a response to that resolution. This resolution goes a small step further than the ACC resolution by including the extinction of species as a crisis of urgency equal to the climate crisis (this in light of the May 6th UN report).
Exploring the Feast of Creation March 2024 https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2024/03/exploring-the-feast-of-creation-a-high-level-ecumenical-seminar-in-assisi.aspx
Climate Change and the Gospel – Bishop David Atkinson, Church of England http://operationnoah.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Climate-and-Gospel-David-Atkinson-30-01-2015.pdf
Laudato Si – A Papal Encyclical, May 2015 Laudato Si
Laudato Si, A Canadian Response https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bti86O_Tw5A
The World is our Host – Bishops urge action on climate justice https://issuu.com/anglicancommunion/docs/the_world_is_our_host
UN Environment Programme https://www.unenvironment.org/about-un-environment/faith-earth-initiative/why-faith-and-environment-matters