Photo above – A resident uses a garden hose to wet down the house earlier this month as high winds push smoke and ash from the Currowan Fire towards Nowra, New South Wales.
The Anglican Church of Australia is responding to the bushfire crisis with words and actions as they seek to bring relief to the country. At least 25 people have died since September due to the fires and more than 63,000 square kilometres of bush, forest and parks have been burned.
Almost 2000 homes have been destroyed, and countless wildlife killed. The fires have been worsened by 40 degree Celsius temperatures and strong winds, creating difficult conditions for firefighters. Analysts predict the crisis could cost the Australian economy $20 billion AUD (approximately £10.5 billion GBP) in lost output.
The Melbourne Anglican Foundation Trust opened a bushfire emergency relief fund on 7 January as a practical way for communities to respond to the disaster which has spread across Australia over the past few months.
Donations made to the trust will be directed to those in need, in consultation with the bishops of the Victorian dioceses effected.
The Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn has released a pastoral letter in which he praised the Anglicare disaster response teams for their work in evacuation centres, and churches for opening their doors to provide spaces for reflection and refuge.
The Bishop of Gippsland also released a Pastoral Letter in which he said: “we commit ourselves to a sustained relief effort, working within and beyond our churches with people of good will to support those most affected by the fires and their aftermath, and to rebuild where hope has been lost”.
The global response has focused on conversations around climate change. Last year was the hottest and driest year on record in Australia.
Green Anglicans, the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, have been very vocal in calling for action against climate change, particularly in relation to the fires in Australia.
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