Reverend Minister expresses concern about destruction of planet

Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - A German Reverend Minister on Sunday expressed concern about the destruction of the planet saying developed countries had not been good stewards of God's grace in this regard as their greed had contributed to this situation, putting future generations at risk.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Dutzmann, Moderator of Lippe Church, Germany, noted that God had entrusted to man the land, water, air and all things he had created freely on the planet but these had been severely destroyed.

"We people of the North (developed countries) are not good stewards of God's grace," he said at a Church service held at the Trinity Evengelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Madina, to mark the end of the 66th Synod of the Church at which nine reverend ministers who had completed their two-year probation were ordained. Twenty-three others who were commissioned one month ago were also presented to the Synod.

"The creation God has entrusted to us has not been preserved very well. Quite to the contrary, we have damaged it severely," Rev. Dr. Dutzmann said in the sermon on the theme "Christian Steward Revisited".

"We have exploited the natural resources, have polluted the air, have contaminated the water and ruined the climate," he noted. Rev. Dr. Dutzmann said whether the planet earth could be saved at all was not yet known and was concerned that the motive for our excesses had been greed of the North.

"Although God has given us plenty we could not get enough and have harmed our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. We have also put future generations at risk." The world has been concerned about environmental destruction with fears that climate change, which has wreaking havoc in many parts of the world, is a major challenge facing the world. Rev. Dr Dutzmann said the world could only be good stewards when it was together.

He said globalization had taught us that everything we did in one part of the world would affect people living in other parts, adding this was true for harmful actions as well as every good deeds. "God has made us brothers and sisters who have a common responsibility for God's creation and for spreading the gospel." Rev. Dr Dutzmann noted that many Christian churches fought for the integrity of creation, but this could only be successful when there was justice and peace throughout the world. "Only people whose needs were met and who had a chance in peace would in the end be able to preserve this planet," he said and thanked congregations, organisation and individuals who stood for justice, peace and preservation of creation. Rev Dr Dutzmann asked Christians to rediscover the abundance of the Gospel and work tirelessly and faithfully to bring it to the people. Right Reverend Livingstsone Komla Buama, Moderator of E.P. Church, asked members of the Church to receive the reverend ministers as God's messengers and assist them in all aspects of their work. 26 Aug. 07