Anglicans for Eco-Justice is a Ministry Unit group of the Diocese of New Westminster.

This newly formed Unit is an amalgamation of the Environmental Unit and the Justice and Peace Unit.

The Unit is co-chaired by Margaret Marquardt and Bob Worcester.

The Unit is currently undergoing a development process, please check back every now and then to monitor the progress of this ministry through this webpage.

We look forward to posting information about the minsitry and its programs and initiatives as they become available.

Greening Spirit is the website maintained by co-chair Bob Worcester as a place where Anglicans and Lutherans who are environmentally conscious can unite and find out ways of working together.

Margaret Marquardt, Co-Chair, Eco-Justice Unit

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This event was a great success with more than 80 people attending the all day workshop in the Parish Hall at Christ Church Cathedral.

Click to link to the May 9th feature story on-line in

THE TYEE

 

 

 

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In his opening sermon to Synod 2010 Bishop Michael said “Mission simply means ‘being sent.’

Put it another way - it’s where God already is and we are sent to help.”

God is out in our neighbourhoods where people live without adequate housing. It is a big issue that needs concerted, well organized effort from many sectors to provide not only housing for those without homes, but also adequate housing for those with special needs and affordable housing for the poor in our neighbourhoods.

Bishop Michael also said, “Wherever there is life, there is the Spirit of God. Wherever there are movements of change, of human dignity, of respect for Creation, of compassion for the weak and neglected, wherever there is healing for the broken-hearted or comfort for the lost – the life of God is being lived out there. We have to join it. We can never contain the Giver of Life. The Spirit is not our sole possession. We are sent to join in with the deep movements of the Spirit, both inside the Church and out, and to offer ourselves for the world’s transformation.”

The Spirit of God is out there in voices that are raised to proclaim the need for action on housing issues. For example, in recognition that Canada has ratified the United Nation’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which include the right to adequate housing. Bill C-304 has been introduced to mandate establishment of a national housing strategy. Full text of the bill can be found by clicking the link.
The Wellesley Institute (a Canadian non-profit and non-partisan research and policy institute) supports a National Housing Strategy saying:
“There are four main reasons why Canada needs a national housing strategy.
· First, the federal government has said it wants to work more closely with the provinces and territories on affordable housing.
· Second, provincial and territorial governments have said they want to work with the federal government to create a national housing framework.
· Third, the federal government is investing billions of dollars in affordable housing annually, but without a national housing framework, it is hard to determine the value of those investments.
· Fourth, without a national housing strategy, efforts to meet the needs of the one-in-four Canadian households who are precariously housed remain fragmented and uncoordinated.”
(To view the full document from the Wellesley Institute please click the link)

 

Petitioners supporting Bill C-340 called for an increased federal role in housing through investments in not-for-profit housing, housing for the homeless, access to housing for those with different needs, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and sustainable and environmentally sound design standards to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians.

The Wellesley Institute reports that even before the current recession hit, the housing numbers for Canada were grim... over one quarter of Canadians are without adequate and/or affordable housing:
· 150,000 to 300,000 Canadians are homeless;
· 450,000 to 900,000 Canadians are among the “hidden homeless”;
· 705,165 households are in over-crowded housing;
· 1.5 million households are in “core housing need”;
· 3 million households are in unaffordable housing;
· 3.3 million households living in substandard housing.

Yes, Federal, Provincial, local governments and private philanthropy have been and are already working for accessible, adequate and affordable housing, but these efforts would be more effective with a national strategy. Building affordable, adequate housing without a strategy is like trying to erect a housing complex without an architect and contractor overseeing that all the workers are fitting their efforts together in the most efficient way and for the needs of the community that the complex is intended for.

A National Housing Strategy can also set parameters for consultation with stakeholder groups such as First Nations peoples to ensure that the end product meets actual needs.
One of our Diocesan strategic priorities in Plan 2018 is to “Care for People Living in Poverty”. Working for a National Housing Strategy supports our care of others by addressing wider systemic issues to create better housing opportunities for all in need. The Wellesley Institute has reported that there are strong links between poor housing and poor health. Improved housing directly cares for people and reduces the burden on our health system.

'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'