ECOLOGICAL THEOLOGY IN GMIH LITURGY AND ITS ROLE AS THE CHURCH’S EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS IN NORTH MALUKU

Abstrak

This study aims to examine the ecological-theological content embedded in the liturgical practices of GMIH, analyze the perceptions of mining-affected communities regarding environmental impacts, and formulate educational recommendations for the church through the integration of empirical findings and theological reflection. The research employs a mixed-methods approach with a convergent design, integrating quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously. The quantitative component was conducted through the distribution of structured questionnaires to a purposive sample of affected residents, with descriptive percentage analysis used to measure the intensity of perceptions related to air pollution, limited access to clean water, waste management issues, and economic impacts associated with mining activities. The qualitative component consists of in-depth interviews with congregational leaders, GMIH ministers, and affected community members, as well as document analysis of GMIH liturgical texts, using transcription, coding, and thematic analysis. Data integration was carried out through side-by-side comparison, linking numerical findings with contextual narratives and theological interpretation to achieve a more comprehensive understanding. The findings indicate a clear correspondence between the ecological experiences of local communities, who identify air pollution, water scarcity, and waste management as primary concerns, and the limited explicit ecological-educational dimension within GMIH liturgy. Although the liturgy contains theological narratives concerning creation and the stewardship of creation, its pedagogical emphasis on contextual ecological issues, particularly the environmental impacts of mining in North Maluku, remains relatively limited. These findings highlight the strategic potential of GMIH liturgy as a space for theological formation and ecological education, which can be further developed to strengthen environmental awareness, ethical responsibility, and ecological stewardship among congregations in responding to local environmental crises.