Church remain one of most
respected institutions and plays significant role in influencing quality of
life through offering spiritual nourishment and material support to its
congregants. Anchored in the Bible, Church grew from tiny village of Judea. The
faith has grown over the entire world to claim loyalty of about a third of
world population by today. According to the scripture, upon creation, Adam and
Eve where given solemn duty to take care of the Garden of Eden, an indication
of the significance of environmental conservation to mankind.
In Kenya, Church has held
grip on many decisions of its members and its word is taken with respect and honor
by congregants. Church is the only institution where goers don’t expect meals
facilitation and transport refund, instead, they are the ones ready to give to
support clergy and Church development. Kenya being a strictly religious
country, one wonders why there is so much environmental degradation yet
environmental conservation has its origin in the Bible. Generosity, loyalty and
respect accorded to Church by its followers offers opportunity for
Environmental conservation.
Church institutions
remain vibrant most of the time as congregants assemble to worship or seek
spiritual and material support. In rural setting and some urban areas, Churches
own land where their structures have been put up, however, such institution at
times remain epitome of environmental unconsciousness. With relevant
mobilization, Church can take leading role in mobilizing its members to
actively participate in environmental conservation. Within the institution, the
congregants can plant trees, establish water harvesting structures to cater for
Church water requirement.
National Council of
Churches of Kenya (NCCK), a oriented organization in Kenya has taken bold steps
to ensure its members conserve their environment at both Church compounds,
households and other affiliated institutions. NCCK did launch ambition 1.5
billion tree planting initiatives for the next 8 years targeting to contribute
10% of President target of 15 billion trees. The Church organization has
mobilized its members and offered much anticipated support including provision
of planting materials, water tanks and trainings on relevant environmental conservation
skills to its member Churches.
Church has always and
timely offered direction to its members during time of crisis to cushion its
members from potential risks. With the changing climate which remains most
eminent global threat, its time Church voice is heard loud and clear when it
comes to environmental degradation, emission of greenhouse gases, destruction
of water catchments, charcoal burning, illegal logging among other
environmental vices.
Church is the conscious
of the society and fulfils its divine mandate to save the world. One
step in demonstrating its consciousness is to condemn environmental
destruction. Church leaders need to preach green gospel to ensure amidst focus
to eternal life, the life on the earth of livable for both human and non-human
population. Providing instruction on environmental issues is another role of
the Church in the conservation efforts. The Church teaches that the entire
universe belongs to God. Mankind must protect the earth.
Article
by
Andrew
Muendo Nyamu
Young Africa Leadership
Initiative (YALI) fellow 2018
Project Coordinator –
Nature Positive food systems project
National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK)
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