Anglican enviro work in the spotlight

ARCHBISHOP Justin Welby of Canterbury launched the Communion Forest idea last year, born from scientific evidence of global environmental degradation.

The Anglican Diocese of Ballarat is part of this two-year initiative, aiming to proactively care for the environment through faith communities and spirituality.

Ballarat Grammar and the Diocese are hosting a public talk by project founder, Reverend Dr Rachel Mash, at Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts at 7pm on Monday 23 October.

Dr Mash will discuss the forest protection and restoration work being done by diocese, provinces, and churches worldwide.

“This powerful initiative is being led by people in the global south, proving you don’t need high tech, or masses of money, but an attitude of taking responsibility, and the values of love and care,” said Ballarat Grammar religion, philosophy and ethics chair Keith Romanis.

“As Rachel says, an environmental scientist can’t go up and speak to someone in a secluded tribe in Africa, but church leaders can.

“We’ve taken this on in Ballarat, doing small initiatives in our community which respond to our desire to look after the world that we believe God made.

“Christians haven’t always taken a responsible approach to the environment… but we want to step in and lead with our Christian values, and our school’s Round Square values, around care for the environment and internationalism.

“We have a commitment to solar panels… and at our Stephen and Sue Higgs farm campus, we teach care for the natural environment alongside our agriculture program, and so our links with the Communion Forest and what Rachel has to bring, are really clear.”

Dr Mash is in Australia with relief and development agency, Anglican Overseas Aid, and all Christian church communities throughout Ballarat have been invited. Visit bit.ly/3PXwNoo for tickets.