A primary purpose of theological education relates to Christian leadership; in particular, what is needed is education for a more holistic approach to mission leadership. In theological terms, Christian mission includes Earthcare as an essential element rather than as an “optional extra”. The potential of a theme of reconciliation, involving ecumenical, interfaith and community aspects, is enormous. A function of theological education will be to help motivate future leaders to move beyond an anthropocentric approach to theistic biocentrism, to see excess and “the trashing of creation” as sin, individual and corporate, related to greed and the self-centredness of humanity. It involves expanding our awareness of an issue about which Theology has something to say. The aim is to ensure that all leaders in mission, including clergy, have at least a basic awareness of the validity and potential of eco-mission, with the practical and theological issues involved.
