WCC News: WCC joins conference in France to address human relationship with nature

The World Council of Churches (WCC) participated in the sixth Annual Meeting of the Ecumenical and Francophone Society of Theology of Ecology (SOFTE) held at the Saint Hugues Spiritual Center in Biviers, France, from 2-5 July. Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant on care for creation, sustainability, and climate justice, contributed virtually with a reflection on biodiversity, spirituality, and the need to redirect human greed towards oikocentrism. A butterfly on flowers in Comitancillo, Guatemala. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth Pictures 11 July 2024 The conference, "Anthropology and Ecological Spirituality," focused on Psalms 8:4, "What is human that you think of him?" The event examined the complex relationship between humans and the rest of creation, highlighting the historical dominance of anthropocentric exploitation and advocating for a shift towards stewardship as envisioned in Christian ecological thought. In his presentation, Andrianos emphasized the importance of ecological spirituality in combating consumerism and structural greed, which are the primary causes of ecological destruction. He stated, "The human being is only one species among billions on Planet Earth, and the human body is an ecosystem of microorganisms. According to the Bible, God commands humankind to live in humility and equity with Creation, reflecting God's omnipresence." Prof. Fabien Revol, president of SOFTE, expressed gratitude for the continued collaboration with the WCC, stating, "We are grateful for the ecumenical spirit and support from the WCC and look forward to returning to Geneva for our future meetings." The conference featured six in-depth presentations from notable eco-theologians from different denominations and regions on various aspects of ecological spirituality, including themes such as steering structural greed towards ecocentrism, moderated anthropomorphism, and African spirituality and ecology.  “WCC's involvement in the SOFTE 2024 meeting underscores its commitment to promoting ecological spirituality and addressing the anthropological questions essential for developing robust Christian ecological thinking,” stresses Andrianos. More about the WCC's initiatives on ecological justice and sustainable development See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland