Different Gifts, Different Service | Dr Miriam Pepper

Ever wondered how your unique gifts could be a blessing to others in mission and ministry? In our new series we feature the many faces across our Church who are serving where they are, with what God has given them. We hope that it will be a blessing and an inspiration. 

Meet Dr Miriam Pepper 

I am involved in the Forest Advocacy Ministry and serve as secretary of the Forest Advocacy Ministry Committee, which is a committee of the Mid North Coast Presbytery.

What you love about being involved in this ministry?

The Forest Advocacy Ministry stands in solidarity with God’s forests and all who depend on them.

We:

• Work with others to achieve protection and connection of high-quality forest habitat, including but not limited to a rapid end to industrial native forest logging across NSW.
• Offer pastoral care and support to forest defenders.
• Acknowledge, encourage and support spiritual connection with the earth/Earth.
• Increase the involvement of Christians in efforts for forest protection.

I love that this ministry is grounded in love for the Earth and a desire to witness to the gospel/good news for Creation. It is a ministry beyond the walls of the church, out in the community and in the outdoors. We don’t control the space but rather receive hospitality from others – forests, Traditional Owners, forest defenders – and offer what we can into those places and spaces. Sometimes what we can bring is our portable toilet (yes, it’s true!). There is a vulnerability to the ministry and it also means that we are prompted to be very reflective in our practice. As one example, when our Forest Chaplain, the Rev. Dr Jason John, was inducted in the presence of and with input from people from a range of backgrounds and traditions, we modified the standard liturgy for the induction of a Deacon to take into account our community context – and then made it available as a resource for the church. 

The Forest Advocacy Ministry is diverse. It includes gatherings involving outdoor worship and reflection, chaplaincy to forest defenders, support for collaboration between groups, advocacy for the care of forests to reflect the unceded sovereignty of First Nations Peoples, preparation of resources on Earth care for the wider church, and more. We have just published a book called “Breaches: Profiling the recent history of logging breaches by Forestry Corporation of NSW”. I was glad to use my skills (I am a social researcher) to research and write this book. 

In summary, I find it absorbing and invigorating as a follower of Jesus to be a part of this grounded, varied and integrated ministry!  

What do you find most challenging?

Forests are crucial for maintaining Earth’s life support systems. Yet, Australia is a hotspot for deforestation and forest degradation, especially NSW and Queensland. It is distressing to see the continued destruction of habitat of threatened species such as koalas and gliders. As a new ministry on the margins of the life of the institutional church, it has also been challenging to access resources to support the ministry. Last year, after lots of hard work, we were successful in an application to the Jan de Voogd Peace Fund, a Quaker bequest, for our “Koala Chaplaincy” project supporting forest defenders. We also achieved some additional funds from the Synod Growth Fund focusing on missional gatherings and resourcing ecological discipleship. 

What you are looking forward to in your ministry ahead?

In the immediate term, I am looking forward to our “Blessing of the Forests” weekend coming up on October 5 and 6 near Bellingen on Gumbaynggirr Country. Beyond that, I pray, work and hope for the end of logging within the proposed Great Koala National Park as well as the ending of native forest logging across NSW. I look forward to continuing to minister, through service, witness and worship, in the Forest Advocacy Ministry over the next year. 

Those interested to find out more about the Forest Advocacy Ministry can do so here.

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If you are interested in telling us your story, simply send an email to contactus@nswact.uca.org.au.