Contact/Resources

• The forest chaplain role is filled by Jason John, a Uniting Church minister with a long history of environmental ministry, who has lived near Bellingen for about 15 years.
• You can contact him on 0438 609 097, or [email protected], or come and say hi at the “under the tree” gatherings.

A Forest Chaplain

• Offering pastoral care to forest defenders  individually and through visiting stalls, rallies, vigils, camps and forest actions
• Provide or collaborate on ritual opportunities for grief and celebration in the forests, including the monthly “under the tree” gatherings
• Supporting collaboration among forest defenders
• Participating in the Forest Advocacy Ministry
• Support Gumbaynggirr leaders in their efforts to protect the forests and establish meaningful custodianship

Funding

Ths third and final year of this ministry is made possible by the NSWACT Uniting Church Growth Fund, and the National Council of Churches Glenburnie Fund. 

The first two years of this role were predominantly made possible by the generous support of the Jan de Voogd Peace Fund, which is a bequest administered by the Quakers. The NSWACT Uniting Church Growth Fund provided some extra resourcing,

Over the three years, donations by Uniting Church members and others have helped cover hospitality, advocacy, and administrative costs.

The Mid North Coast Presbytery of the Uniting Church provides the oversight and administration of the position, and the Forest Advocacy Ministry is the main body that collaborates with the chaplain.

Ten percent of donations recieved go directly to support Gumbaynggirr groups and leaders in the area, as well as payments for participation at events.