Online Consultative Workshop: Introducing the Green ELCSA Climate Justice Charter
Date: 24 February 2026
Duration1 Hour (Online)
Platform: Zoom (link tbc)
Convened by Green ELCSA Coordination Team
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) recognises climate change as a profound theological, moral and justice concern that threatens human dignity, biodiversity, and the integrity of God’s creation. Across Southern Africa, communities, especially the poor, women, youth and future generations, are already experiencing the disproportionate impacts of climate change.
In response, ELCSA, through Green ELCSA, has developed a draft Climate Justice Charter. The Charter provides a faith-rooted framework to guide the Church’s climate action, grounded in principles of climate justice, intergenerational equity, gender justice, human rights, decoloniality, prophetic diakonia, solidarity and just relationships.
This online consultative workshop marks the official launch of a two-month participatory process (February - April 2026) to introduce the Charter, invite reflection, and gather inputs from church leaders, members and partners ahead of its formal launch in May 2026.
Purpose of the Workshop
To introduce the draft Green ELCSA Climate Justice Charter and initiate a structured, inclusive consultation process that will strengthen its theological grounding, contextual relevance and practical application across all ELCSA structures.
Objectives
To present the vision, scope and principles of the draft Climate Justice Charter
To frame climate justice as a core faith and diaconal responsibility of ELCSA
To invite initial reflections and priority inputs from participants
To outline the two-month consultation process and how participants can contribute
To build collective ownership towards the Charter’s launch in May 2026
Expected Outcomes
Participants understand the purpose and content of the Climate Justice Charter
Initial feedback and priority areas for refinement are identified
Clear understanding of how to participate in the 2-month consultation process
Momentum and shared commitment towards implementation and launch
Agenda/program:
00:00 - 00:05 | Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening prayer and Scripture reading (Creation care focus)
Welcome and housekeeping
Objectives of the session
00:05 - 00:15 | Climate Justice and the Church’s Calling
Input: Why Climate Justice Matters for ELCSA Today
Climate change as a faith, justice and human rights issue
The church’s prophetic and diaconal responsibility
Setting the tone for the Charter
00:15 00:30 | Introducing the Draft Green ELCSA Climate Justice Charter
Presentation:
Purpose and scope of the Charter
Key principles (brief overview)
Strategic focus areas
Role of Green ELCSA in coordination and accompaniment
00:30 - 00:45 | Guided Reflections and Initial Inputs
Plenary engagement (chat + verbal):
Which principle resonates most with your context?
What feels missing or needs strengthening?
What should ELCSA prioritise in implementation?
(Facilitator will capture key themes for consolidation)
00:45 - 00:55 | The 2-Month Consultation Roadmap (Feb-April 2026)
How the Charter will be refined
Opportunities for written inputs, diocesan engagements and thematic consultations
Roles of participants, youth, women and dioceses
Key milestones leading to May 2026 launch
00:55 - 01:00 | Closing Reflections and Prayer
Summary of key messages and next steps
Call to action and commitment
Closing prayer
Post-Workshop Follow-Up
Circulation of the draft Charter
Summary of inputs from the session
Consultation timeline and submission guidelines