INDONESIA: Indigenous Batak Christians fight back
against lake pollution
The Batak Church of Sumatra is a fascinating blend of
the Batak indigenous culture with a vibrant
Christianity. As such, the theology and practice of the
Church is dynamically grounded in a deep respect for the
natural world.
Building upon this, the
Church has created a major new programme aimed at
engaging Batak society in protecting the environment.
The actions undertaken in this Sacred Gift range from: a
campaign to tackle pollution caused by logging and
factories on nearby Lake Toba; protection of their local
national park; work on combating soil erosion caused by
deforestation; and the creation of a new post of
Environment Officer for the Church.
All these
practical actions are backed by workshops, sermons,
educational resources and specific Church-run projects,
which build awareness of key environmental problems.
The
Church’s actions are not only significant for the local
area but are also a model for other Churches in
Indonesia.
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