Message from our Eco-Minister

A farewell from your Eco-Minister,

Last month, MCEC shared the news MCEC is restructuring as part of its strategic plan to be a more sustainable organization. As a result, this will be my last note to you as MCEC Eco-Minister. It has been a joy and a privilege to interact with many of our congregations and individuals over the past three years.

Though my role is ending, our common purpose continues to include a call to “embody God’s reconciling ministry for all creation.” (See our Identity Statement) This was never my work to do alone – it is our shared work! I hope that what I have done here has helped to inspire this calling in an ongoing way in your congregation.

I want to leave you with some resources, links, and contacts to help you continue to embody God’s reconciling ministry for all creation.

1. Reach out to MCEC’s Creation Care Working Group. They are a group of volunteers working on a few different projects, and would love engagement (and more volunteers!) You can reach them at CreationCare@mcec.ca
2. Connect with Mennonite Church Canada’s Climate Action work. You can reach out to Sandy Plett, their Climate Action Coordinator. splett@mennonitechurch.ca
3. Engage with Mennonite Central Committee’s Climate Action for Peace initiative. Consider inviting Ken Ogasawara to speak at your church. kenogasawara@mcco.ca
4. Check out the resources at Anabaptist Climate Collaborative. They are based in the USA, but they do have some programs and resources available to Canadians.
5. Learn about A Rocha’s work and resources, including some in French and other languages. (Our incoming Executive Minister, Anthony Siegrist, has been working at A Rocha Ontario.)
6. Host a Faithful Climate Conversation using For the Love of Creation’s online resources.
7. Remember all of the resources at CommonWord Resource Centre! You can find several collections there including:

• Together In Hope, a curated collection of climate resources for all ages.
• Forest Church worship outlines, a series of twelve outlines written by me.
• Creation Care, hundreds of resources for worship, preaching, Bible study, caring for your church building…

And please be sure to include announcements in your bulletins about these two upcoming opportunities:

MCEC Creation Care Working Group Winter Book Study on Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World led by Sara DeWeerd of Stirling Ave Mennonite Church. Details about how to register will be coming soon!

Faithful Leadership in the Climate Crisis: Responding in Hope. This is a 6 month experience for pastors and congregational leaders to connect with theological and scientific resources, formational insights and practical guidance related to the climate crisis. It will be book-ended by in-person retreats in February and July, with monthly zoom calls between. It is being offered by Mennonite Church Canada and Anabaptist Climate Collaborative, and you can find information here. Past MCEC participants include Yoel Masyawong (Grace Lao), Sara DeWeerd (Stirling Ave), and Daniel Tela (Shalom Worship and Healing). Ask them about their experience.

What’s next for me? I will continue as pastor of Burning Bush Forest Church, and do some freelance preaching, speaking, spiritual direction, and consulting work. I will also be starting a Doctor of Ministry program in January. You can reach me at burningbushfc@gmail.com

Blessings to each of you this Advent season and beyond as you continue to embody God’s reconciling ministry for all creation in your own ways and your particular locations.

Peace,

Wendy