Faith, Ecology and Unity: Examining Church Leadership Responses to Climate Justice with Particular Focus on Ecumenical Engagement in Oyo State

Abstract

Climate change represents not only an environmental concern but also a profound moral, spiritual, and theological crisis that demands active ecclesial engagement. In Africa, where the Church has historically served as a voice for justice, human dignity, and social transformation, there is an increasing need to reinterpret Christian mission in relation to ecological responsibility and climate justice. This study examines church leaders’ theological and ecumenical responses to climate justice in Oyo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it explores how church leaders understand environmental responsibility within Christian theology, evaluates the extent of ecumenical cooperation in addressing ecological concerns, and identifies the challenges limiting coordinated church engagement in climate action. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, using semi-structured interviews with 30 church leaders from Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, and African-Initiated Churches in Oyo State. Data were analyzed thematically through the interpretive lenses of eco-theology and ecumenical theology. Findings reveal that although many church leaders demonstrate theological awareness of creation care and environmental stewardship, practical engagement with climate justice remains limited, fragmented, and insufficiently coordinated across denominations. Environmental concerns are frequently interpreted within moral, spiritual, or apocalyptic frameworks rather than as justice-oriented issues requiring structural and collective responses. The study further reveals that while ecumenical bodies such as the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Christian Council of Nigeria provide important platforms for Christian cooperation, ecological engagement has not yet emerged as a major area of sustained ecumenical collaboration. The study concludes that strengthening ecological theology within theological education, promoting ecumenical environmental initiatives, and encouraging youth-driven climate engagement are essential for enhancing the Church’s contribution to climate justice in Nigeria. It argues that ecumenical collaboration, when intentionally directed toward ecological stewardship and public responsibility, can reposition the Church as a credible moral and transformative force within both Nigerian society and the wider global South.