Faith Communities Awakening to Heal the Earth
Faith Communities Awakening to Heal the Earth
Dr. Irwandi
The Keynote Speaker of NICMCR Annual Meeting 2026/Lecturer of UIN Bukittinggi
Not all meetings end when the conference hall doors close. Some truly find their purpose only after participants return to their respective home countries—when presentation notes turn into quiet reflection, and when discussions that once sounded purely academic slowly transform into a moral calling. Such is the enduring mark left by the Workshop and Annual Meeting of the Netherlands–Indonesia Consortium for Muslim–Christian Relations (NICMCR) 2026, held at UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi in West Sumatra in early June. Now, as the calendar turns to late July, what lingers is no longer the agenda of session proceedings or the opening ceremonies, but a question that grows ever more pressing: Can faith communities once again become guardians of the Earth in an ever-changing world?
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| Dr. Irwandi |
That question feels increasingly urgent at a time when the ecological crisis is no longer just a subject of scholarly debate. Climate change, natural disasters, the loss of green spaces, and environmental degradation have become lived realities for communities across the globe. At the same time, social polarization and rising identity politics often widen the divide between peoples. Yet, the Earth makes no distinction about who lives upon it. When floods strike, when the ground shifts, or when forests lose their delicate balance, humanity faces the exact same reality. It is at this critical juncture that religion is called upon to revive the values of compassion, care, and shared responsibility.
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| Sitka Spruce, Alaska. Source: https://www.green.earth |
This very awareness served as the common thread connecting Muslim and Christian academics from Indonesia and the Netherlands during the NICMCR 2026 forum. Centred on the theme Living in a Changing World: Religion, Ecology, and Responsibility , the gathering provided a space for dialogue that transcended theological boundaries. Discussions went beyond searching for common ground among faiths; they evolved into a deeper reflection on how religion can actively help address ecological and humanitarian challenges. Research, education, and community service were seen as a shared path to translating religious values into concrete action.
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| Delegation of NICMCR 2026 |
Bukittinggi proved to be far more than a mere host city. Amid the Minangkabau society, which steadfastly holds to the philosophy Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah (Custom based on Religious Law, Religious Law based on the Holy Book), participants witnessed firsthand how religion, culture, and social life can flourish in harmony. West Sumatra’s experience with recurring natural disasters reinforced the reality that nurturing humanity's relationship with nature is not merely an ecological issue, but a profound moral obligation. The global perspectives brought by Dutch delegates met the long-standing local wisdom of the Minangkabau people, giving rise to a dialogue that was both academically rich and deeply grounded.
For the Rector of UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi, Prof. Dr. Silfia Hanani, the forum served as a poignant reminder that interfaith dialogue must not end as an annual academic routine. In her view, interfaith conversations must be continually nurtured and translated into tangible cooperation to safeguard the Earth as a shared duty of all humanity. This outlook demonstrates that diversity is not merely a social reality to be tolerated, but a vital moral asset for building solidarity in the face of pressing global challenges.
Behind the successful hosting of this international forum, the university’s Center for International Office played a pivotal role. Through sustained networking with the NICMCR and various partner universities in the Netherlands, the conference stood as a concrete reflection of the university’s academic diplomacy. NICMCR 2026 is as part of UIN Bukittinggi’s ongoing commitment to strengthening higher education internationalisation. The, internationalisation goes beyond signing memorandums of understanding; it is realized through collaborative research, academic exchanges, joint scientific publications, and an expanding global network.
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Perhaps the most significant legacy of NICMCR 2026 is not an expanded list of international partnerships or a new set of joint research agendas. Far more important is the growing realization that religion still possesses the moral energy to unite humanity in tackling shared crises. When faith communities choose to engage in dialogue, learn from one another, and work together to protect the environment, they breathe life into the true meaning of faith as a force that sustains life. From Bukittinggi, a simple message continues to resonate: the future of our planet depends not only on scientific breakthroughs or technological feats, but on the willingness of believers to make care for one another and for nature an everyday expression of their faith.
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Dr. Irwandi
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- Dr. Irwandi
- International Office of UIN Bukittinggi
- io@uinbukittinggi.ac.id
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