The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) is committed to the course of climate justice, with three focuses; Climate Change education; Advocacy; and Environmental Care.
2018 Earth Day – the “End Plastic Pollution” action day, is well within our course to care for environment, and this day is actually an opportunity for Green ELCSA to join the international community to raise awareness and take action around the issue of plastic and waste pollution, from within the church. We fundamentally believe that care for creation is our moral responsibility. Genesis chapter one tells us that we are created and given responsibilities to fill and subdue the earth, to rule over the sea creatures and all other moving creatures on earth (Genesis 1:6). We believe that those responsibilities does not mean we should misuse the earth’s resources, we know very well that the earth is now presenting us with the bill because of such attitudes. It simply means we are responsible to regulate the earth for a positive cultural life in a manner that is sustainable, as well as ensuring cleanliness and order.
Practically speaking, as we focus on Environmental Care from today, we are encouraging all congregants to eliminate waste, and we are doing so by installing recycling bins. This is a matter of principle; we should Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Remove Plastics, and Recycle.
The issue of plastic pollution might sound as something abstract, but researches tells us that over 90% of plastics have not been recycled, and it poisons and injures marine life, which does not end there, but also disrupts human hormones. Littering in beaches and landscapes is another major factor that grows plastic waste, which is now threatening the survival of our ecology and planet.
The reason why we encourage our congregants to Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Remove Plastics, and Recycle, is that though the world is huge, we believe that through our individual efforts, the church can really make a change, we can be the change that we want to be in this world, through individual efforts. Throw-away plastic is everywhere and the common used are the shopping plastic bags, your take away coffee cups, and drinking straws. Committing ourselves to small things with great love, will surely make a great impact.
Green ELCSA is championed by young passionate people from the Youth League of Ntuzuma Parish and mentored by ELCSA Development Service, who won’t give up to fight for a fair and prosperous future, even in the face of climate change.