Churches and Integrity of Creation

“The churches have a strategic position to fight deforestation, especially in Sumatra. History has shown: when all the churches in North Sumatera asked the government to shut down a pulp company on 2000, it was done”, Rev Debora Sinaga says. As head of Diaconia in HKBP*, she was leading the panel.

 

On 26 September 2024, a Public Dialogue invited experts on environment and Christian leaders, titled “Churches and Integrity of Creation” in Parlilitan Humbang Hasundutan District. The event with about 50 participants was hosted by three organizations:

 

• the United Evangelical Mission (UEM)
• the Indonesian National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (KN LWF)
• the Study Group of Community Development Initiative from Sumatra (KSPPM)

 

Massive deforestation in this region has caused floods, landslides and loss of biodiversity. This includes the loss of a particularly valuable frankincense forest which has been a source of income for the community.

 

Dr Bastian Simangunsong from State Christian Institute said: “We need change our environmental management policies and consider of environmental sustainability. The Good News is not only for humans. But it is also for all creations including forests and the earth itself!”

 

 

 

Irma Simanjuntak, JPIC Officer from United Evangelical Mission, pointed out that it is important to raise awareness among all parties about the impacts of deforestation. “I know the churches have done many programs to preserve the integrity of creation, but the rate of deforestation is also very fast. We still need to work hard to hold the rate of deforestation, we need to work together with many parties. And we all need to keep asking the state to stop granting concession permits for business sector. Because these companies don’t think about the future of our planet!”

 

The participants asked the government to reduce forest concessions in their area and urged churches to support them in their fight. At the end of the dialogue meeting, all participants planted tree seedlings on their land as a symbol of protecting the land from deforestation. Because only if we humans preserve the land, the land can preserve us humans.

 

 

 

*HKBP = Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (Christian-Protestant Church of the Batak)