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Faith Based Environmental Initiatives in Canada

Joanne Moyer: The King's University 

Anglican Church of Canada

About: The Anglican Church of Canada, in affiliation with the Church of England, has existed in the region that is now Canada since 1578. The Anglican Church of Canada seeks to “know, love, and follow Jesus in Serving God’s mission” through action and worship.

 

Environmental Activities:

  • The Creation Matters Working Group: a volunteer body that sets the agenda for the environmental work of the Anglican Church of Canada. 
  • The Joint Assembly Declaration (2013) with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) committed the churches to working together on issues of responsible resource extraction, homelessness, and affordable housing.
  • Anglicans have a strong focus on education and worship, providing various worship and educational resources. As well, in 2015 the baptismal covenant in the Book of Alternative Service was changed to include: “Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of earth.” Furthermore, the fifth of the Five Marks of Missions, states “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life on earth.”
  • Various advocacy activities at the national level include letters to the government about climate change by the Council of General Synod, an Earth Day statement by the Bishop, and providing election resources related to creation care and resource extraction. The church also promotes the Carbon Fast for Lent.
  • The Anglican Church has signed several interfaith statements, including:
    • “The Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change” (2011)
    • “On Promoting Climate Justice and Ending Poverty in Canada Faith Communities in Canada Speak Out” (2015)
    • “Common Declaration of Canadian Churches on Climate Change “‘Creating a Climate of Hope’” (Green Churches Network, 2015), signed by the Bishop of Quebec
    • “The Appeal to the Leaders and Representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Faith Communities” (Storforsen, Sweden, 2015)
    • “The United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties 22 Interfaith Statement” (2016)
  • Through their membership in KAIROS, the Anglican Church of Canada has also signed on to the Leap Manifesto
  • Money is raised for energy audits and repurposing worship spaces through Gifts for Mission
  • The Anglican Church supports Faith and the Common Good/Greening Sacred Spaces’s Faith Commuter Challenge.

 

Staff:

  • The Anglican Church has had paid positions dedicated to environmental issues since the 1980s. Currently, the Lead Animator for Public Witness for Social and Ecological Justice is the primary environmental position.

 

Partnerships:

 

 

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Anglican Church of Canada