The School of Intersection Ecotheology and Ecojustice Witness (SIEEW) programme concluded on 30 November in Johannesburg, South Africa with 20 graduates from four of the Council of World Mission’s (CWM) six regions including Africa, Europe, South Asia and the Pacific.
Organised by CWM’s Life-Flourishing Creation and Economy programme team, the three-week curriculum that started on 13 November reflects CWM’s commitment to foster a closer integration between theology and the social arena of ecojustice.
The SIEEW programme was established to provide a vital platform to cultivate a sense of transformative theological reflection, while supporting praxis-oriented training in developing intersectional approaches to addressing ecological and social injustices.
The programme also seeks to empower CWM member churches to critically engage with climate change, environmental degradation, and structural inequalities from a theological and missiological perspective.
“SIEEW is a radical movement for transformation. It confronts the entrenched systems of exploitation and oppression that devastate the earth and its most vulnerable inhabitants. By joining this prophetic community, participants commit to becoming unapologetic advocates for justice, an unrelenting voice for the silenced, and a courageous witness for the liberation of all creation,” described Rev. Daimon Mkandawire, CWM Mission Secretary for Ecology and Economy.
Five pillars of SIEEW
Five key touch-points form the bedrock of the programme that engages participants in theological reflections on ecojustice and the role that faith communities play in advocating for ecological restoration.
The collective reflections were applied during a a series of workshops designed to equip the participants with practical tools for ecojustice advocacy, including policy engagement, grassroots mobilization, and sustainable community practices.
To better involve younger participants, a Youth Panel was set up during the programme that created a space for sharing of innovative approaches to climate action and ecojustice from their local contexts.
A key focus of SIEEW was giving participants a realistic picture of various global ecological and economic challenges. This was accomplished by a series of curated site visits to major ecological restoration sites and diverse communities affected by environmental injustice, giving the visitors firsthand understanding of challenges and resilience.
Diverse cultural expressions of creation care were also celebrated, emphasising the interconnectedness and importance of faith traditions in the ministry of ecojustice advocacy.
“The climate crisis is not just an ecological issue but also one involving justice. This gathering has equipped us to call out oppressive systems and advocate for the structural changes needed to restore creation,” reflected Mposteng Thema, a participant from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA).
The role of faith communities also weighed on the mind of Manase Afutiti, a SIEEW participant from the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (CCCS), who highlighted the importance of rising to the challenge of the climate crisis by moving from words to action.
“We have the power to inspire systemic change and to live out the hope and justice we proclaim,” Afutiti said.
A commitment to collaborate
The 2024 SIEEW programme closed with an urgent call for transformative and systemic action and an urgent desire to empower participants not only with theological insights but also with practical strategies to challenge oppressive systems and foster ecojustice.
All 20 participants as well as ecumenical partners and leaders present also established an agreement to pursue collaborative ecojustice projects across the family of member churches, driving a deeper focus on advocacy, education, and resource mobilisation.
