Background & history of the Environment Working Group
The Environment Working Group was set up in October 2001 by Standing Committee in response to General Synod Resolution 01/01:
"That affirming the integrity of creation, this General Synod calls on Standing Committee to establish a working party on the environment, including members of NATSIAC [National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council], to advise the Anglican Church of Australia on sustainable environmental practices."
In November 2002, Standing Committee also requested that the Environment Working Group provide, "advice to the Standing Committee and to the Primate on the matter of encouraging the Federal Government to sign the agreement to the Kyoto Protocol."
The Working Group reported to the General Synod in October 2004. In response, the Synod agreed to Resolution 50/14:
That this General Synod:
1. Welcomes the work of the Environment Working Group and receives its report.
2. Re-appoints the Environment Working Group for another 3 years.
3. Asks the Group to collate information on practical steps which individual Anglicans, parishes and church organisations can take towards sustainable environmental practices, and to make that information available on the General Synod website.
4. Asks the Group to maintain and foster links with world-wide Christian environmental networks.
Kay Goldsworthy moved, Ann Young seconding, 5 October 2004
Activities 2001-2004
In view of Resolution 01/01, the Group proposes to:
- develop a short (4 x A4 page) statement about the theological basis of a Christian approach to the environment, which specifically address the indigenous perspectives;
- establish a way of collating and making available information about environmental activities which dioceses, parishes and Anglican organisations are involved in. This will include liturgical resources (eg for Environment Day each year), practical advice (eg on recycling), activities (eg field days, conferences), and Anglican environmental groups (eg WA EcoCare, Canberra-Goulburn and Grafton's Environment Commissions).
The Group believes that a theological basis for environmental concern needs to be stated clearly so that its advice to the church on developing sustainable environmental practices might be received appropriately. At the very least, the Group believes that a debate on the theological issues about the environment needs to be stimulated.
The Group met for the first time in July 2002 where it:
- considered reports from diocesan groups in Canberra & Goulburn, Western Australia and Grafton;
- received a theological statement for environmental concern by Bishop George Browning (Canberra & Goulburn);
- welcomed the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island speakers who emphasised the necessity of taking into account the role of their spirituality and close affinity with the land.
The meeting highlighted the need for:
- developing a sound theological basis for environmental concern that can inform and encourage us, and to give a means of responding both to cynical and extreme non-Christian views;
- practical advice, concerning environmental management and inclusion in worship through liturgy;
- the church to speak out on environmental matters and to take action within its diocesan and school structures; and
- encouraging city people to identify with the issues of rural parishes.
The Working Group released its report "Green By Grace" to the General Synod in October 2004. The Group subsequently re-appointed for a further 3 years to collate information on practical steps on sustainable environmental practices for Anglicans (Resolution 50/04).
Download WG-Environment_Greenby Grace_.pdf
Issues
Climate Change
In March 2003, the Working Group prepared a response to Standing Committee outlining the issues and basic approach to the Kyoto Protocol. This paper may be downloaded below.
The Church of England has developed a website that looks at how Anglicans in the UK might address this issue by reducing their environmental 'footprint'. On the site, Archbishop Rowan Williams, osberved, "for the Church of the 21st Century, good ecology is not an optional extra but a matter of justice. It is therefore central to what it means to be a Christian."
Download Sign_the_Kyoto_Protocol.doc
Membership
Standing Committee has appointed the following members to the Environment Working Group:
Dr Ann Young - Chair (Sydney)
Dr Catherine Baudains (Perth)
Ms Rose Elu (Brisbane - NATSIAC)
Canon Kay Goldsworthy (Perth)
Dr David Mitchell (Wangaratta)
The Revd Janet Turpie-Johnstone (Melbourne - NATSIAC)
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