An appraisal of the Pentecostal eco-theology and environmental consciousness among youths in Parklands Baptist Church, Kenya

Abstract

The younger generation in different countries have been said to be growing into environmental consciousness. Are youths in the Kenyan religious landscape aware of the environmental issues? Is environmental consciousness evident among Pentecostal youths? On the one hand, environmental consciousness based on anthropocentric perspective promotes the view that only human beings and their interests are to be considered. On the other hand, environmental consciousness grounded in eco-centric viewpoint insists that natures’ value cannot be reduced to only what promotes human well-being. The researchers adopted a descriptive design for the study. The tools for data collection included participant observation and literature review.

Contribution: This article critically examines the Parklands Baptist Church (PBC) in Kenya vision 2040 strategy, sermons and congregational programmes in relation to environmental stewardship. It considers how through these, PBC youths are mobilised in practical ways towards creation care to grow an awareness for the environment. It further points to the ways in which religious communities such as churches could be important instruments in enabling youths to have conviction and nudge them to be conscious of the environment as a divine mandate. For analysis, this article considers tenets of a credible eco-theology at PBC and its applicability.