Teaching towards Christian environmental stewardship - to what extent are the Tbilisi Declaration objectives for environmental education relevant?

Abstract

Christians, as believers and followers of God's word, are biblically appointed as stewards of the created biophysical world (Genesis, 1:26-31; Genesis, 2:15). This task is accomplished through practising environmental stewardship (ES). In a secular context, care for the environment is promoted through environmental education (EE). The Tbilisi Declaration (1977) articulates specific goals, objectives and principles of EE which have been followed by environmental educators for decades. This study aimed to determine to what extent the Tbilisi objectives of EE apply in the Christian context where EE is practised through educating towards ES. Research findings evidenced that apart from the five Tbilisi objectives, educating for ES employs an additional objective. This objective is the fostering of reverence for the environment which precedes the Tbilisi objective of cultivating environmental awareness. Reverence for God's creation underlies the Christian yearning to obey, honour and bring glory to God. In the Church, educating for ES consequently should be based foremost on nurturing reverence for God's creation. It is argued that ES will be more effective if reverence for creation is at the forefront