The Most Revd Marinez Rosa dos Santos Bassotto, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of the Amazon, has been announced as the Chair of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN).
The purpose of ACEN is to connect Anglicans working for creation care, climate justice and environmental action across the Communion, encouraging dialogue and action in support of the Fifth Mark of Mission: To ‘strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth’. The Network convenes members from around the Communion to share stories of hope and discuss ways that Anglicans can care for the gift God gave us to tend and safeguard: the Earth.
Later in June, Archbishop Marinez will attend the 19th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-19) as both an ACC Member and as Chair of ACEN. The ACEN are due to bring a joint resolution with the Anglican Communion Peace and Justice Network on matters of environmental justice and reconciliation work.
About Archbishop Marinez
Well-known for her advocacy for the natural world, in November 2025, Archbishop Marinez hosted many faith and indigenous groups for a ‘Tapiri’ (gathering) during ‘the People’s COP’ alongside COP30 in Belém. Throughout this time, the diocese hosted a prayer vigil and joined with others for a people’s march and boat parade in support of restoring and protecting the rainforests and all the lungs of the earth.
She has also been an active supporter for the global Anglican campaign to restore and protect the vital ecosystems of ice, oceans and forests as ‘lungs of the earth’.
Archbishop Marinez reflected on her appointment to this role, saying, ‘I feel deeply honoured and happy to assume the role of Chair of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN), a mission I accept as an expression of my faith and my commitment to socio-environmental justice, especially in the defence of the indigenous peoples and traditional communities of the Amazon.
‘As Primate of the IEAB and Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Amazon—a region so crucial to the planet’s balance—I understand that our faith calls us to be a prophetic and active voice in defence of Creation. Churches cannot be mere observers of the climate crisis; we must be bridges of dialogue and agents of change who denounce injustices and protect the rights of vulnerable peoples and communities, integrating socio-environmental justice into our discipleship and our mission.
‘I believe that ACEN, by integrating theology, mission and care for creation, is essential in mobilising the entire Anglican Communion to carry out concrete actions, such as awareness campaigns, reforestation projects, the promotion of sustainable practices, and pastoral support for affected communities, and has enormous potential to act as a bridge between governments, civil society and local communities.
‘ACEN’s work inspires our dioceses and local communities, in our diverse contexts, to turn faith into action, promoting resilience, the restoration of biodiversity and environmental justice, making care for our Common Home a daily reality, rooted in hope and love. I am grateful to God for the opportunity to be part of ACEN, and my hope is that together we will continue to be effective agents of change in the protection of God’s Creation.’
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, shared, ‘I am delighted to see Archbishop Marinez assume the role of Chair of the Anglican Communion Environment Network. This is a crucial network for our time. Environmental breakdown most affects those with the least materially. Archbishop Marinez has shown over many years, as Bishop of the Amazon and Primate of IEAB, that this is an issue of discipleship - demonstrating 'our conversion to the way of Jesus' through care and justice.
‘I know she will inspire the Network in new ways and deepen a Communion-wide priority of listening to indigenous Anglican wisdom as we restore and protect the 'lungs of the earth'. I take this opportunity also to thank the outgoing Chair, Bishop Julio Murray, for his service, international leadership and passionate commitment to environmental restoration.’
Archbishop Marinez’s comment in Portuguese
Sinto-me profundamente honrada e alegre por assumir o papel de Chair da Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN), uma missão que recebo como expressão da minha fé e do meu compromisso com a justiça socioambiental, especialmente na defesa dos povos originários e das comunidades tradicionais na Amazônia. Como Bispa Primaz da IEAB e Diocesana da Diocese Anglicana da Amazônia, região tão crucial para o equilíbrio do planeta, entendo que nossa fé nos convoca a ser voz profética e atuante em defesa da Criação. As igrejas não podem ser meras observadoras da crise climática; devemos ser pontes de diálogo e agentes de mudança que denunciam as injustiças e protegem os direitos dos povos e comunidades vulneráveis, integrando a justiça socioambiental ao nosso discipulado e à nossa missão.
Acredito que a ACEN, ao articular teologia, missão e cuidado da criação, é essencial na mobilização de toda a Comunhão Anglicana para a realização de ações concretas, tais como, campanhas de conscientização, projetos de reflorestamento, promoção de práticas sustentáveis e apoio pastoral às comunidades afetadas, e tem um enorme potencial de atuar como ponte entre governos, sociedade civil e comunidades locais.
O trabalho da ACEN inspira nossas dioceses e comunidades locais, em nossos diferentes contextos, a transformar fé em ação, promovendo resiliência, restauração da biodiversidade e justiça ambiental, transformando o cuidado com a nossa Casa Comum em uma vivência cotidiana, enraizada na esperança e no amor. Sou grata a Deus pela oportunidade de fazer parte da ACEN e minha esperança é que juntos continuemos a ser agentes efetivos de mudança na proteção da Criação de Deus.
Find out more about the Anglican Communion Environmental Network.
Read about the Anglican Five Marks of Mission.
Learn more about the Lungs of the Earth call to action and advocacy.
Leanr more about Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil