African Initiated Churches and ecological sustainability : an empirical exploration

Abstract

While African Initiated Churches are increasingly recognized as actors of social development, little research has thus far elucidated their role regarding ecological sustainability. Responding to this gap, we explore African Initiated Churches’ views on ecological sustainability and their reaction to environmental destruction and climate change. We analyse to what extent environmental concerns are considered relevant, explore emerging environmental concepts and theologies, and highlight environmental actions taken. The analysis is based on a diverse set of qualitative and quantitative data focusing on leaders of African Initiated Churches from across Sub-Saharan Africa: interviews and focus groups, public lectures, and online survey data. The findings show an ecological turn in African Initiated Christianity. Unlike in mainline Christianity, where ecological engagement is often embedded in elaborated eco-theologies, African Initiated Churches’ engagement with ecological sustainability seems to be primarily driven by the increasing adverse effects of environmental degradation and climate change in their communities.