Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Churches are facing growing calls to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into their operations, as sustainability increasingly becomes part of discussions about responsible institutional leadership in Africa.
The proposal was outlined in a recent commentary published by Punch and written by David Olatunji, a sustainability and ESG consultant and pastor, who argued that churches should move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) and apply broader sustainability principles to their buildings, finances, leadership structures and community programmes.
The discussion comes as research increasingly examines the role of African churches in responding to environmental degradation, climate change and wider social challenges.
A 2025 study of African Initiated Churches across sub-Saharan Africa found growing environmental awareness among church leaders and identified an emerging ecological focus within African Christianity. The researchers said much of this engagement has been driven by the direct effects of environmental degradation and climate change on local communities.
What ESG Could Mean for Churches
ESG traditionally refers to three broad areas of institutional responsibility: environmental practices, social responsibility and governance.
For churches, the concept can be adapted to address how religious institutions manage their physical facilities, employees, finances, leadership structures and relationships with surrounding communities.
Olatunji’s argument is that churches should view ESG not simply as a corporate concept but as a practical framework for responsible stewardship.
Environmental responsibility could include reducing energy consumption, improving waste management, conserving water, using renewable energy and making church buildings more efficient.
Social responsibility could involve safeguarding children and vulnerable people, improving staff welfare, supporting communities and ensuring that church programmes are accessible to people with different needs.
Governance would involve transparent financial management, effective oversight, ethical leadership, clear internal procedures and accountability in the use of church resources.
The approach would represent a broader framework than conventional CSR, which has often focused primarily on charitable or community-based activities.
From Charity to Long-Term Stewardship
Churches across Africa have traditionally played important roles in community support, including through education, healthcare, humanitarian assistance, food distribution and support for vulnerable households.
However, sustainability advocates argue that community impact should not be considered only in terms of occasional outreach programmes.
The internal management of a church can also affect its long-term ability to serve its members and surrounding communities.
A church that operates schools, hospitals, offices, large worship centres or other facilities may have substantial energy and water requirements. Its procurement practices, employment policies, financial systems and property management can also have social and economic consequences.
Under an ESG framework, these areas become part of a broader conversation about institutional responsibility.
This does not necessarily mean that every church would need to establish a complex corporate sustainability department.
For smaller congregations, sustainability measures could begin with relatively practical actions such as reducing unnecessary electricity consumption, limiting paper waste, improving financial documentation, establishing safeguarding procedures and maintaining church property properly.
Environmental Sustainability and African Churches
The environmental dimension of ESG is particularly relevant in Africa, where communities are increasingly dealing with the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
Research published in 2025 by Juliane Stork and Philipp Öhlmann examined environmental attitudes and activities among African Initiated Churches in sub-Saharan Africa.
The study, which drew on interviews, focus groups, public lectures and survey data involving church leaders, found evidence of increasing ecological awareness among the churches examined.
The researchers reported that environmental engagement was often connected to immediate problems experienced by communities, rather than being driven solely by formal environmental theology.
Those findings suggest that churches can become important community-level actors in environmental sustainability because of their local networks and relationships.
Practical measures could include tree planting, responsible waste disposal, water conservation, solar energy projects and more efficient church buildings.
A 2024 study examining selected Pentecostal churches in the Lagos-Ogun megacity also assessed sustainable landscape strategies and the role of religious institutions in reducing environmental impacts.
Such initiatives can potentially provide environmental benefits while also addressing operational costs.
For churches that depend heavily on generators or other backup power systems, for example, investments in energy efficiency and renewable power could form part of longer-term efforts to manage operating expenses.
Governance and Financial Accountability
Governance represents another major part of the ESG discussion.
Churches depend heavily on trust, particularly when members contribute through offerings, tithes, donations and special fundraising programmes.
Strong financial controls can therefore help institutions demonstrate how resources are managed.
Measures such as proper financial records, clearly defined responsibilities, transparent procurement procedures and appropriate oversight can strengthen institutional accountability.
Olatunji argued that financial stewardship should include greater transparency around church finances, while leadership accountability should involve structures capable of addressing misconduct and misuse of authority.
Governance is also relevant where churches operate schools, hospitals, charities, businesses or other organisations that have additional legal and professional responsibilities.
The precise governance requirements, however, can vary depending on an organisation’s legal structure, activities and jurisdiction.
Protecting People and Communities
The social element of ESG extends beyond charitable activities.
Churches are workplaces, community institutions and places where children, families and vulnerable people may interact with staff and volunteers.
This makes safeguarding and responsible employment practices important components of institutional management.
Clear procedures for handling complaints, protecting vulnerable people and responding to misconduct can help institutions create safer environments.
Churches may also consider whether their programmes adequately reach people with disabilities, low-income households, young people and other groups that may face barriers to participation.
These considerations are particularly important because churches often have extensive community networks and can reach populations that may be difficult for other institutions to access.
Research on faith-based organisations in Kenya has similarly highlighted the potential role of churches and faith-based organisations in environmental and development activities, partly because of their community roots and social networks.
ESG Does Not Have to Replace Christian Mission
One of the central questions surrounding ESG adoption is how a framework originally associated with business and investment should be applied to religious institutions.
For advocates such as Olatunji, the answer lies in adapting the principles to existing concepts of stewardship, accountability and service rather than treating ESG as a replacement for religious mission.
Academic work on African eco-theology has also explored ways of connecting Christian responsibility for the environment with African cultural and theological perspectives.
This could allow churches to approach environmental sustainability through their existing teachings and community responsibilities.
The emphasis would therefore be less on adopting corporate terminology for its own sake and more on applying practical principles to how churches use resources, treat people and make decisions.
Growing Interest Across Africa
The conversation is not limited to Nigeria.
In April 2026, the World Council of Churches reported that church leaders, academics, environmental specialists and policy practitioners met in Malawi for discussions focused on religion, sustainable development, biodiversity and climate justice in Africa.
The development reflects a wider conversation among religious organisations about how faith communities can respond to environmental and social challenges.
For African churches, the issue is particularly significant because many congregations operate at the centre of local communities.
Their influence can extend beyond worship to education, social welfare, healthcare, youth development and community mobilisation.
Challenges to ESG Adoption
Despite the potential benefits, adopting ESG principles could present challenges for churches.
Some congregations may consider ESG too closely associated with corporations and financial markets. Others may lack the technical expertise or financial resources required to introduce formal sustainability systems.
There is also no single model that would necessarily apply to every church.
A large denomination operating across several countries would face different institutional challenges from a small congregation serving a rural community.
The most practical approach may therefore involve gradual implementation based on each church’s size, resources, activities and local circumstances.
Churches could begin by identifying their major environmental, social and governance risks before establishing realistic priorities.
Progress could then be reviewed periodically rather than treating ESG as a one-time compliance exercise.
Why the Discussion Matters
The debate over ESG in churches ultimately raises questions about how religious institutions can remain resilient while responding to changing environmental, social and economic conditions.
For Africa, where climate-related pressures, rapid urbanisation, economic challenges and growing demands for institutional accountability are affecting communities, churches may increasingly be called upon to examine how their own operations contribute to or address these challenges.
The emerging research does not suggest that every African church has adopted a comprehensive ESG framework. Rather, it points to growing interest in environmental sustainability and the potential role of faith-based institutions in community-level responses.
The evidence from research into African Initiated Churches indicates that environmental engagement is already developing in some communities, particularly where environmental problems have direct consequences for people’s lives.
The broader ESG discussion expands that conversation by bringing environmental concerns together with social responsibility and governance.
What Churches Could Consider Next
Churches exploring sustainability could begin by reviewing their current operations and identifying areas where improvements are practical.
These could include:
- Assessing electricity and water consumption.
- Improving waste management.
- Exploring renewable energy where financially viable.
- Strengthening safeguarding policies.
- Reviewing staff and volunteer welfare.
- Improving financial reporting and internal controls.
- Establishing clearer governance responsibilities.
- Consulting local communities about their needs.
- Setting measurable sustainability objectives.
- Regularly reviewing progress.
The scale of implementation would depend on each church’s resources and institutional structure.
Rather than treating sustainability as a branding exercise, the focus would be on whether environmental, social and governance practices actually improve the way an institution operates and serves its community.
A Changing Role for the Church
The growing conversation around ESG and sustainability reflects a broader examination of the role religious institutions can play in society.
Churches have long contributed to education, welfare, healthcare, humanitarian assistance and community development. Increasing attention to environmental sustainability and governance could add new dimensions to that role.
For African churches, the challenge will be determining how global sustainability ideas can be adapted to local realities without losing their religious identity or imposing unrealistic expectations on smaller congregations.
The discussion is therefore less about whether churches should become corporations and more about how religious institutions can manage resources responsibly, protect people, strengthen accountability and contribute to resilient communities.
As climate and social pressures continue to affect African communities, the question of sustainability is likely to remain relevant to churches and other faith-based organisations.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch — commentary by David Olatunji on ESG and sustainability in churches.
- Open Theology — research by Juliane Stork and Philipp Öhlmann on African Initiated Churches and ecological sustainability.
- Covenant University Journal of Research in the Built Environment — study of sustainable landscape strategies in selected Pentecostal churches in the Lagos-Ogun megacity.
- World Council of Churches — report on religion, sustainable development, biodiversity and climate justice in Africa.
- Stellenbosch Theological Journal — research on sustainable eco-theology for African churches.
