Mennonite Church Canada is committing to improve the sustainability of its programs and ministries.
“Leadership and commitment are some of the most critical pieces in helping an organization become more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable in all that it does,” says Tim Wiebe-Neufeld, executive minister of MC Alberta and chair of MC Canada’s Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG).
After being approved by Joint Council in January 2020, the group has met six times since its inception in February 2020. Its members focus on the environmental and social impacts of MC Canada activities. It identifies ways the regional churches and the nationwide church can improve in these areas while remaining economically sustainable.
“The term ‘sustainability’ links economic, social and environmental effects,” says Wiebe-Neufeld. “It intends to find that place where we meet current needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
The group is also committed to supporting congregations in assessing their own sustainability by providing resources and networking with other agencies, like Mennonite Creation Care Network.
In preparation for Earth Day on April 22, the Sustainability Leadership Group encourages congregations to study the network’s curriculum “Every Creature Singing.” The group is also developing an online tool based on work by students from the King’s University in Edmonton, to help congregations prioritize actions and identify resources on sustainable practice. It will be released this summer.
“A sustainable church community understands that creation care is foundationally linked to our beliefs and practice of faith, as a grateful response to God the Creator and as an integral component of justice and peacemaking with our neighbours (human and otherwise),” says group member Joanne Moyer.
The group currently includes representatives from three of the five regional churches, people who work or volunteer for organizations that prioritize creation care and sustainability.
For more information, visit mennonitechurch.ca/sustainability.
Related stories:
Avoiding an environmental shipwreck
Greening the church
MC Canada’s Sustainability Leadership Group, pictured clockwise from top left are: Joanne Moyer, Tim Wiebe-Neufeld, Henry Krause, Jess Klassen and Allan Hiebert. (MC Canada collage)
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