Pentecostalism, theology and creation care might be a surprising combination to some. Not any more! Last September a conference in Quito Ecuador brought together more than 500 Pentecostals to “to promote theological and ecclesial action in the Latin American context around the central theme of commitment to the care, preservation and social relation with nature at a time when there are growing risks of the destruction of our ‘great home’, the Earth”.
Richard (Ricardo) Waldrop reports:
A wide spectrum of related topics were explored through the use of various methods
such as panel discussions, Bible studies, lectures, liturgy, media presentations, case
studies, and a keynote addresses given by Brazilian author and theologian,
Leonardo Boff, perhaps the leading contemporary Christian voice on the chosen
subject. Wide cooperation was also given by representatives of other churches and
service agencies who participated in the conference program.Specific topics in the conference program included “Contributions from the Worldview of
the Original Andean Peoples”, “Re-reading the Biblical Text with an Ecological
Conscience”, “Ecology, Church, Public Advocacy and Political Action”, “The Ethic of
Love and Health from an Ecological Perspective in Contemporary Preaching”,
“Pentecostalisms, Spirituality and Creation”, and “Toward a Spirituality of Creation
Care”.
Against a backdrop of general lack of interest in the topic of creation care among Latin American evangelicals, Waldrop tells us that this conference was a resounding success:
Not only was a Pentecostal seminary (related to the U.S.-based Church of God—Cleveland,
Tennessee) able to organize a major conference on Ecotheology attracting a wide
audience of both speakers and participants. It also dealt with all the related issues from
a critical and reflective perspective and did not avoid prophetically engaging the difficult
structural issues of global Neoliberal economics and current transnational problems
such as the burning of the Amazon forest.All of this was accomplished from the perspective of wholistic mission, including issues
Read the full conference report here.
of spirituality, discipleship, worship, social and political action and more. We believe that
a great step forward was taken although we understand that much work remains to be
done.
The Jamaica Call to Action recognized that top priority would need to be given to developing “new and robust theological work” that would serve as a foundation for a vibrant and growing creation care movement. Our congratulations to our Pentecostal sisters and brothers in Latin America for showing the way!
