The Church in Defense of Creation
Dr. Michel E. Abs
Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches
This speech was delivered at the opening of the conference
‘Respect for Creation is the Glorification of the Creator’
Organized by the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME).
Peace in the name of the Lord Jesus, triumphant over nothingness and in whose name we gather.
It gives me great pleasure to address you through Rev. Rifaat Fikri, Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, who gave me the honor of reading my address to you at the opening of your conference ‘Respect for Creation is Glorification of the Creator’ that you are holding at the Faculty of Humanities and Theology in Maadi, Cairo.
I would like to share with you some of the concerns and aspirations related to the theme of the conference, as well as the organizer of this conference, i.e. the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), because of the strategic importance of these two dimensions for ecumenical action and its future in the Middle East.
The Association, which includes the seminaries and institutes of theology of the MECC member churches, is an exemplary work to be followed in the ecumenical field and embodies the thought and objectives of the MECC since its inception. It was founded by predecessors and followed for decades, then stopped its activity for various reasons. Its activity was revived a few years ago and continues at an escalating pace.
What is important about the phenomenon of ATIME is that it embodies Christian unity at its optimum. The fact that the churches meet, establish an association of their theological institutes, and meet and study various topics related to the teaching of theology reflects the conscious will of those in charge of these institutions to deepen and consolidate joint work between the churches at the level of the source, that is, at the level of Christian education and service. The very fact of the existence of joint programs or joint courses, as well as an exchange of students between institutes, and experiences, information, knowledge, indicates an awareness of the need for unity and a will to move towards it. Unity is not the dissolution of institutions in one institution, but having the same direction in diversity, in the unity of spirit, vision, and goals. Every exchange and interaction are absolutely a generalization of interest, so how about if this exchange and interaction take place in an organized, systematic, and purposeful framework?
ATIME is the framework that will embrace, for many years to come, all forms of interaction between those who have taken upon themselves to build tomorrow’s ministers or ecumenical workers. How much do we need them today in this world that is moving towards loss and in which the chaos of faith, culture, and values has prevailed! What also concerns us in the “phenomenon” of ATIME, and i deliberately quoted the word phenomenon, is that it is the pattern that we are promoting in our ecumenical work at the Middle East Council of Churches. Since assuming my duties in the MECC, I have not stopped for a moment to promote the ATIME model in all areas of activities of the churches: in the field of work with family, women, youth, environment, relief and development, vocational training, economic rehabilitation, communication, information and publishing, and other areas in which our churches are active. This is done in order to raise the level of interaction between specialized activities of our churches and to raise the level of synergy between their institutions with similar competencies. We have advanced in some areas although progress is slow. We have not yet been able to work in some other areas due to purely material reasons, as activities of this kind need funding that is unavailable so far. Relying on volunteering is not enough because such endeavor requires to be done by specialists.
Hence the importance of ATIME as a well-structured and coherent system. The credit goes first to its leaders for their belief in what they do, second to their determination, and third to their vision. Anyone familiar with the programs they have set for the ATIME can imagine its future and the role it will play in its field.
As for the theme of the conference, it is a serious and fateful matter that humanity has not yet fully realized the adequacy of its importance, except at the level of some conscious ethical altruistic elites. It is known that the largest percentage of economic elites, including industrial ones in particular, have realized its seriousness but ignore the matter because of its effects on their profitability.
Yes, dear attendees, they miss the environmental dimension or put it at the end of their priorities, to the benefit of productive efficiency and profitability. All they have invented is “green management” in a hypocritical attempt to exonerate themselves from the environmental crimes they commit. How many environmental agreements have they failed to sign over the past three decades? This is matched by effective environmental legislation and the establishment of respected environmental bodies that do their job to the fullest, but this has proven to be insufficient.
Environmental awareness and officials are still far from reaching the grassroot level and becoming a culture and lifestyle. Hence the importance of the Church’s engagement with the protection of the environment and the need to access the environmental space with all its capacity because it is the only one capable of linking the environment to its righteousness, creation to its Creator. Anyone who navigates the Internet will realize how advanced churches have become in environmental work in the West. From Eco theology to the Green church and other labels, the church is in the midst of the environmental work. Our theological institutes must be the spearhead in defending creation given to us by the Creator as a framework for our lives, continuity, happiness, and growth against people who are deeply corrupt and harmful.
At the Middle East Council of Churches, we have been aware of this for a long time, and some of our predecessors have taken the necessary responsibility, but it needs a systematic and focused approach. That’s why we created the “EcoJustice Justice Unit” – which may soon become a department – and we launched the “Season of Creation” project. We are now in its third year of operation and have become members of its international committee. The MECC is also preparing to hold an international environmental conference that will be held on the fourth and fifth of October at The Holy Spirit-Kaslik and Saint Joseph, on the theme “Ecumenical Perspectives in Climate Change”. In addition, the MECC will participate in the Environmental Conference (COP 28) and will be a partner in the biblical reflection on the environment at this conference.
In this context, your wonderful conference comes, which carries the concerns of the believer who is concerned with the environment, adding knowledge to the topic, making dealing with the matter deeper and more specialized. It provides ministers and researchers with advanced knowledge and puts modern man in front of his responsibilities towards his Creator by holding him responsible for respecting the environment.
The conference program shows how promising it will be, and we expect a lot from it. We expect it to provide the means of communication of the churches and the Council with ideas and directions that will be circulate by it to generalize the benefit.
The topics of the lectures, as well as the distinguished lecturers, indicate that we are on the verge of a new environmental theological orientation in the Middle East in thought, awareness, and education. The environmental additions that will be included in theological programs in the near future will be transmitted to parishioners through their ministers. This must have an impact on how man deals with the gift of the Creator.
May God help us all in serving man whom He created in His image and likeness by protecting and preserving his environment as well as protecting him from all disasters produced by a modern civilization that persists in ignoring the Creator and denying the beauty of His gifts.
Beirut, July 23, 2023.