Environmental Responsibility: Why the Church Must Share Big

This article discusses why the church should charge herself more for today’s environmental challenges. At different levels of the social structures, voices of concern about the deterioration of the ecosystem are audible, primarily due to the widely felt impacts of the environmental crisis. Many people wonder who is responsible. Some think of environmental responsibility as individual, while others as collective. Does the balance favour one, and if so, why? Where do we need more effort? By situating the church’s position in both contexts, this paper argues that the church should assume a leading role in the efforts towards environmental restoration. This paper offers a comprehensive understanding of theological foundations and practical reasons that position the church to promote the sustainability of the natural ecosystem effectively. In the process, the paper acknowledges that interference with nature’s ecosystem disproportionately affects the poor and proposes strategies for the church to enhance its role in promoting environmental justice.