Meeting to Focus on Sabbath and Sustainability
The second meeting of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) will take place in Lima, Peru from Aug 4-10, 2011.
Hosted by Bishop Bill Godfrey of the Diocese of Peru, representatives from Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Fiji, Canada, Melanesia, Brazil, Madagascar, Tanzania and Mexico will report on environmental ministry in their respective jurisdictions. Together they will create an action plan which will become a template for provincial, diocesan and parish-based ministry. Such a plan will connect with environmental ministry at the United Nations and in relation to the forthcoming COP 17 meetings in Durban South Africa in December of 2011.
Participants will learn of climate-justice initiatives occurring between provinces and regions within the communion as well as being immersed in the life of the Peruvian Church. The Anglican Church of Peru is a missionary diocese with growing churches, forming part of the Body of Christ in South America's third largest country. Half of Peru’s population live in poverty, making it one of the poorest countries in Latin America. The Anglican Diocese of Peru is responding with initiatives that make a practical difference to people’s lives, reaching over 2,000 people each week.
Local guests will include Dr. Andrew Leake who works in the Argentine Chaco (in our link diocese) and has a programme related to deforestation and the protection of indigenous people's lands. The group will also meet with Roman Catholic and ecumenical partners who care for creation and seek justice in both industry and agriculture.
The ACEN last met in Canberra Australia in 2005 at which time it published a statement on climate change. Resources and documents may be viewed at
www.acen.anglicancommunion.org