Communion Forest takes root

Hiking solo in the Adirondacks, I hit a sweet, gentle downhill section of the trail as it curved to my right. I slowed my pace because I felt something in the air – a depth and stillness. It felt sacred, and I didn’t know why. Soon I came upon a grove of massive, old-growth white pine. As I craned my neck to look up, the still air was heavy with silence. The giants were hundreds of years old, having escaped the 19^th century clearcutting of the area. I estimate they were about 10 metres in circumference, but don’t hold me to it! There was a lot of trunk for tree-huggers to share. I lingered among the old ones, enjoying the sense of awe, and considered the years gone by. Truly, our forests are a gift.

Do you have a tree story? Perhaps a favourite tree from your childhood home or at the cottage? Maybe you’ve seen the mighty coastal redwoods of British Columbia or stood among the old-growth pines of Temagami and experienced awe. Something in us wants to preserve and protect these trees, to build and nourish our forests. Listening to this desire, the Anglican Communion is writing a new story in our relationship with trees.

Building on previous creation care work, the 2022 Lambeth Conference launched the Communion Forest. This is a worldwide initiative “to join together in tree growing and ecosystem conservation, protection and restoration throughout the world.” It is a thoughtful response to our Communion’s fifth mark of mission: “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the Earth.” When you think about it, isn’t this one of our deep desires? Don’t we want to pass on a beautiful planet to those who follow us, for generations to come?

This is the desire of the church in Uganda as it works on tree-planting and making churches plastic-free. It is the desire of the church in Ethiopia as it works on reforestation and soil conservation. It is the desire of the church in Kenya as it works with partners to sequester carbon through tree-planting. It is the desire of the Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Espiuca, an Anglican priest and environmental and human rights lawyer from Brazil who, with support from Alongside Hope (formerly PWRDF), has been appointed facilitator in the Americas for the Communion Forest initiative.

If you share the desire to safeguard the integrity of the Earth, the members of the Bishop’s Committee on Creation Care echo and amplify Bishop Andrew and Mary Asbil’s invitation to join in. We are launching the Communion Forest initiative in our diocese this September as part of the Season of Creation. We may not be able to grow a new forest, but there are so many ways to get involved:

• Grow a tree to mark an important occasion.
• Work with the cemetery committee to increase the tree canopy.
• Create a small pollinator garden at your church.
• Partner with others on a local conservation project.
• Increase awareness by holding hiking church.
• Advocate for habitat conservation in your area.

The Season of Creation will kick off on Sept. 1 with a new blessing: this year, General Synod adopted the Feast of the Creator as a major feast in our liturgical calendar. This celebration is in line with our call to be good stewards of what our Creator has provided.

To learn more about creation care and the Communion Forest, visit www.toronto.anglican.ca/creationcare. You’ll find a plethora of resources to support you and your community on the disciple’s path of creation care. The very trees themselves may “clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12) at our efforts.