CEVAA member churches in the southern Africa and Indian Ocean regions co-organised a seminar entitled “Inhabit Creation Differently” from 23-27 September in Madagascar. The seminar equipped CEVAA member churches with integral skills and abilities to respond to pressing issues concerning climate care and justice within their own contexts.
CEVAA is a community of Protestant churches in mission, created in 1971 in Paris. Currently, the organisation is a partnership of 35 member churches spread across 24 countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific.
The Council for World Mission (CWM) was also at the event as an ecumenical partner, a display of support for CEVAA’s goal to foster and cultivate a spirit of creation care that is biblically aligned.
The move to cultivate an awareness for and the urgency to galvanise church-based actions towards creation care is made in the face of an African continent that faces significant environmental challenges including deforestation, soil erosion, climate change, and the exploitation of natural resources. These crises, driven by global economic systems, cast a shadow of threat that stands to disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
The discussion on eco-theology thus becomes ever more pertinent as it provides a theological response to such environmental issues, focusing on the interconnectedness of creation and human responsibility toward nature.
CWM Mission Secretary for Ecology and Economy and the Africa Region, Rev. Daimon Mkandawire, was a speaker at the seminar.
In his presentation, “Moving Towards an Africa eco-theology,” Mkandawire reminded the 24 CEVAA member church representatives of the ingrained African Indigenous psyche that viewed the land as sacred, and its desecration was understood as a disruption of the cosmic order.
“The earth, water, animals, and plants were treated with reverence, with an emphasis on sustainability and balance. This ecological ethic, rooted in community life and spiritual responsibility, laid the foundation for a harmonious relationship between people and nature,” explained Mkandawire.
“Creation care, therefore, resonates with Indigenous beliefs about the sacredness of the land and the interconnectedness of all life. By integrating these beliefs with biblical theology, African eco-theology offers a framework for ecological justice that affirms the dignity of the earth and the responsibility of humanity to protect it,” he added.
Following his presentation, Mkandawire also presented a book on decolonizing eco-theology, published by CWM, to the General Secretary of CEVAA, Rev. Claudia Schulz, cementing CWM’s commitment in working alongside CEVAA in areas of creation care and eco-justice, opening the door to future collaborations between the two institutions.
“Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum’s leadership of CWM is inspiring and CEVAA is honoured and grateful for the presence of Rev. Daimon in the seminar. We look forward to working together in the future in delivering effective programmes to our communities and churches,” said Schulz.
