Background
The mission statement of our Province outlines the mission of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, which includes five marks, with the Fifth Mark of Mission being: "To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the Earth," following the Five Marks of Mission emphasized by the worldwide Anglican Communion.
In order to promote the efforts of the various institutions and believers within the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui in upholding the dignity of all creation and sustaining the life of the Earth, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Synod authorized the establishment of the Task Force for the Ministry of Environmental Conservation in 2016. The Task Force comprises representatives from churches, schools, and social service units. The Standing Committee of the 9th Provincial Synod in 2024 has renewed the members of the working group, responsible for reviewing, planning, and implementing environmental policies and measures within the Province. They are also responsible for maintaining good communication with government environmental departments and other environmental organizations, and promoting tripartite collaboration among churches, schools, and social service units to advance and fulfill the Fifth Mark of Mission of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui.
Through the Task Force, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui supports and participates in various environmental initiatives, including signing the Charter on External Lighting launched by the Environmental Protection Bureau in early 2016 on behalf of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, calling the various institutions within the Province to implement it. The Environmental Protection Bureau held an award ceremony in 2018 and presented the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui with the Platinum Award to acknowledge its efforts. The Task Force also promotes the observance of the Season of Creation (launched by a collaboration among the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN), Global Catholic Climate Movement, World Council of Churches, and other organizations), and encourages believers to offer prayers for the environment and conservation of the Earth.
Latest Developments
The current Task Force has held meetings to review the previous working group's efforts and reached a consensus on renewing the work plan and future directions. This includes four perspectives:
- Voice: Theological reflection - Interpreting environmental issues from the perspective of the Church's faith, conveying and responding to the global consensus of the Anglican Communion on addressing climate disruption, and making practical recommendations from the Church's standpoint and its involvement in education and social service, including standpoints consideration, formulation of policies, and strategic actions. The Task Force will also utilize existing resources and mechanisms to disseminate information on environmental conservation by the Anglican Communion (and other churches) and other environmental messages through dioceses, schools, and social service units.
- Actions: Faithful praxis - Prioritizing environmental practices within the Province, including waste reduction at the source and promoting resource recycling, such as using reusable tableware for church gatherings, reducing the number of printed church bulletins and promoting the use of QR codes for smartphone browsing, and research in practices for implementing energy-saving arrangements for air conditioning, lighting, computers, and other electrical devices. The Task Force would encouraging parishioners to contribute specific suggestions and seeking consensus for joint implementation to realize the vision of "unity in diversity."
- Changes: Contextual collaboration – exploring channels for sharing successful examples of practices and collaborative efforts among churches, schools, and social service units to encourage, facilitate, and promote effective and sustainable practices that align with the context of Hong Kong society.
- Capacity: Mutual respect among churches, schools, and social service units to seek dialogue and promote policy implementation based on their existing resources and networks, exploring resources to provide practical training and support to enhance the understanding and capabilities for long-term collaboration.
The Task Force is currently considering ways to align with the government's ongoing environmental policies and actively respond, participate in, and promote related environmental measures. Additionally, the working group continues to actively participate in the activities related to the Season of Creation, building on the efforts of the previous term.
From time to time, the Task Force will share information and prayers on this webpage on how the Church responds to various environmental protection issues from a faith perspective and related response measures.