The environmental debate is as much about religion and spirituality as it is about science.
But in the Philippines we generally hear only about the science.
The Justice and Peace Center of Silliman University, in collaboration with Foundation University, presented a symposium on June 28 to shed more light on that all-too-often neglected part of the discussion. More than 1,000 were in attendance, many of them university students.
Titled Religion and the Environment, the gathering brought together representatives from five different churches: The Roman Catholic Church, the Independent Church of the Philippines, the United Church of Christ, the Pentecostal Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Church.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo welcomed everyone, and expressed hope that the churches will play a more active role in helping everyone understand the importance of caring for the environment. The church, he said, is a very powerful force in the Philippines.
The symposium featured Dr. Lope Robin, dean of the SU Divinity School, as keynote speaker.
The various church representatives responded to Dr. Robin’s address, and explained how their faith informs them on environmental issues. All were in agreement that the earth is sacred, and that we are all called to be stewards of God’s Creation.
Stewardship means caring for and protecting our planet so that it can be passed on, intact, to future generations.
All the church representatives also acknowledged that we have done a poor job of following that commandment, and that we must all do more.
Several pointed to the role that churches can and should play in changing the mindset of people to accept that we must share the world with all of creation.
Human life is dependent on the well-being of all creatures. The way we have been living is not sustainable, they said.
“If ever there is a cause that can unite all people regardless of faith, persuasion, or political ideology, it is the environment. We must all work together,” Councilor Nilo Sayson said.
Governor Degamo and SU President Dr. Ben Malayang distributed tree seedlings to the church representatives to be planted on church property as a symbol of their commitment to environmental stewardship.
According to Dr. Perry Mequi of Foundation University, this is the first time that churches in the Province of Negros Oriental have spoken up on matters relating to the care for the environment. (David Dranchuk/Justice & Peace Center)
