Care for Creation

In the Lord's prayer, we pray "may your kingdom come on earth as in heaven" - and through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to restore and redeem our neighbourhoods, towns, cities and beyond. We want New Zealand to be the best place for young people to live, and in doing so, we are committed to being good stewards of our corner of the Pacific, and that living well here in Aotearoa doesn't come at a cost for the rest of the planet. 

#5 Mark of Mission
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation,
and sustain and renew
​the life of the earth’.

Global Climate Strike

What is the Global Climate Strike?
On Friday, September 2019, 170,000 New Zealand students lead public demonstrations in over 30 locations to highlight the urgency of climate change and show decision-makers the extent of public support for bold action. This was part of a global movement in 169 countries.

Rangatahi/Youth in Aotearoa NZ and the Anglican Church are once again putting the pressure on Government, industries, companies, and individuals, to take notice of how today’s climate is affecting their rights to enjoy tomorrows future. Round two of the School Strike 4 Climate is planned and our rangatahi/youth are calling on us to stand with them by getting involved.

​Why strike for climate?
One of the Anglican church’s five marks of mission is ‘To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth’.

The school strikers' demands centre on governments doing everything in their power to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. They are calling on the government to declare a climate emergency, and asking for cross-party support for a Zero Carbon Act. They are also demanding the Government ceases all new exploration and extraction of fossil fuels and invests in building a renewable and regenerative economy.

Climate Change is well embedded on the radar of the Anglican Church here in Aotearoa, NZ, & the Pacific. We are responsible to act on our promise ‘to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.’

For those joining in with the protests, they may be there to protest against new pipelines, against the oil companies and the politicians that put profit before protecting the planet,. We hope others will spend time putting insulation in the walls of their neighbour’s homes, planting native trees, or building bike paths. We hope everyone will take at least a few moments in a city park or a farm field, or in the bush, to simply soak in the beauty of the world it’s our privilege to protect.

We have to believe that we can make a difference and not leave Climate Change on the shoulders of our rangatahi/youth alone. We have a shared responsibility for others and the world. It is an opportunity for all generations to stand together to limit the impact of how high the seas will rise, how far the deserts will spread, how fast the forests will burn.
​
"For a time such as this", our choices today will determine the future for tens of thousands of years: The IPCC state that we only have a small remaining carbon budget for limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and we need to take action now.. 

Top tips for a good strike

  • Pray! Ask God to show you how the church can be a better global neighbour
  • Have an intergenerational art party, for all ages to make banners and posters. ​
  • Allow children, youth, and adults an opportunity to share their stories of the day at Church on Sunday, to help them connect their faith to their actions. ​We can all learn from each other's stories and experiences.
  • Arrange clear meeting points at the start and end of the strike, so kids know where to go if they get separated.
What if I can’t join the strike?
  • Pray for the young people and those taking part in the climate strikes
  • Join an art party to create some banners
  • Write a letter to your local councillor and the government to ask them to consider how New Zealand is contributing to global climate change
  • Pray for those affected by rising sea levels in Tikanga Pasifika (Tonga, Fiji and Samoa)
  • ​Consider how your church can reduce their carbon footprint, and reduce their plastic use. ​
Thanks to the Advocacy team at Wellington Diocese, Global Climate Strike, the Anglican Social Justice Commission and Anglican Missions Board. 

Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July is a campaign to encourage us to make some small changes to our plastic consumption. We'd love our churches to sign up for the challenge too, and think about how our care for creation is reflected in the items we purchase and throwaway. Some ideas include:
  • Get your children and young people to design some posters to encourage the whole church to reduce their plastic consumption. Download this printable template
    (This could be a great school holiday activity.)
  • Set your church a challenge to refuse single use plastic straws, cups and cutlery - here's a challenge sheet to print out
  • Organise a beach or river clean up
  • Share stories in your Sunday services about the ways you are trying to reduce your plastic consumption

Resources

There are a few different resources out there to help children and families engage with this fifth mark of mission
 ©2020  Strandz | All rights reserved