Queensland Churches Together - Queensland Churches Environmental Network

Rationale

Given the current environmental crisis and a broad ecumenical consensus surrounding it, there is an urgent need for the churches to address publicly the ethical, social and spiritual questions posed by the crisis. There is also a growing awareness that the church has a mission to love and care for creation as a vital expression of its faith. It was therefore timely to establish a group that might facilitate this mission – the Queensland Churches Environmental Network (QCEN), which is a commission of Queensland’s ecumenical churches council – Queensland Churches Together (QCT).

Terms of Reference

To be a resource and advisory group for the QCT in matters relating to environmental care.
To provide a forum for dialogue and the sharing of information and resources for the care of creation.
To promote eco-mission as an integral part of the church’s mission.
To encourage and enable ecumenical action for Earthcare.
To promote appropriate study material and educational models
To have an advocacy role in encouraging church bodies and congregations to participate in a public stand against practices that pollute, degrade or destroy God’s creation.
To explore interfaith possibilities in Earthcare.
To relate to the NCCA Eco-Mission Project Group.

Our objectives are

To network with member churches of QCT, with the NCCA through its Eco-Mission group, and with groups with an environmental focus.
To facilitate dialogue, sharing of resources, advocacy and action
To plan and conduct interfaith activities related to earthcare.

Membership

The membership of QCEN is drawn from the member Churches of QCT. The current members represent the following denominations:
Anglican, Lutheran, Quakers, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, Uniting

The committee is keen to extend the diversity of its membership in terms of gender, age, and cultural background.

Currently QCEN meets monthly for 90 minutes (currently 1pm-2.30pm, 4^th Thursdays, February to November).

There are also one or two visits to denominational groups each year (maybe 2 hours)

The main roles of members are:

To act as a conduit to provide information from their network of church and broader community contacts to QCEN and its members, and to pass on information from QCEN back to their contacts.
If available, to assist with occasional QCEN activities such as movie screenings, lectures and photo displays (usually 2 or 3 such activities each year)

Information and Events

Season of Creation

Season of Creation is a global movement where Christians are invited to celebrate, pray and act to protect creation. It runs each year from 1st September (the day of prayer for creation) to 4th October (feast day of St Francis).

The theme for Season of Creation 2023 is Let Justice and Peace Flow. The symbol is A Mighty River.

More information on Season of Creation is available through the World council of churches website here

WCC Message to the Care of Creation Press Conference on 25 May 2023 here

2023 marks the 7th QCEN Season of Creation display. Once again we are seeking creative works to display at St John's Cathedral. We would love to have any creative output you are keen to share! This can include prayers, videos, poems, short stories, photos, drawings, paintings, art, music - anything creative! We would also particularly welcome contributions from children.

For more details on how to submit your creative work, go to the QCEN Facebook page

Click on the link to download a printable Flyer for Season of Creation display

In 2023 we hope once again to have a display and Season of Creation Ecumenical service in Toowoomba.

Follow the link to view Season of Creation submissions from 2022

Click here to see Season of Creation pictures for 2020

Click here to see Season of Creation pictures from 2019.

Click here for more information on Season of Creation.

Invitation to celebrate Season of Creation from Church Leaders.