Eco-theology, Spirituality, and Eco-farming of Spirit-filled Religion in the Philippines

Abstract:Farmers are now the "dying breed" in the Philippine populace due to climate change and the agricultural crisis aggravated by geo-political conflicts, wars, and global economic inflations. But what do Spirit-filled religion do in responding to environmental degradation, ecological disasters, and species extinctions? How are they empowering local farmers to integrate and increase crops, livestock, fisheries, and fruit-bearing trees using civic education to respond to the critical issues of ecological crisis? How do they create sustainable on/off-farm and agricultural entrepreneurship job opportunities that generate income for small local farmers? This study uses biblical data to investigate the eco-theology and spirituality of Spirit-empowered religion toward creation care at times of ecological degradation. While this study predicts that fewer farmers engaging in agriculture in the future will aggravate food insecurity, leading to a food crisis, this study provides models and best practices of eco-farming by Spirit-filled people that perhaps refuel the interest of the farming industry in the Philippines.

Presenter Bios: Joel Agpalo Tejedo is a research professor at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary and a member of post graduate studies of the seminary. He and his wife are pastoring the International Praise Center in Baguio City and are serving as missionaries at APTS since 2009. Joel Tejedo is currently directing the Asia Pacific Research Center (APRC), a Pentecostal archives of the Pentecostal movement in the Asia Pacific region. Joel and Carolyn own and manage the JC Integrated Farm and Campsite located in Brgy. Manano, Mallig, Isabela. Joel is a member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the International Sociological Association, and the American Academy of Religion.

Affiliation:  Asia Pacific Theological Seminary