AgroTheology and Related Theological Insights

Article by Felix Amari (Nigeria)_ ChurchDay Africa Magazine) In an era marked by ecological crises and widespread food insecurity, the intersection of faith and agriculture has become an urgent topic within African theology. Rev. Dr. Brighton Katabaro , a Tanzanian Lutheran theologian and currently the Director of Studies at the Academy of Missions in Hamburg, Germany, is a leading voice in this emerging field through his pioneering work on agrotheology —a theological framework that places agriculture at the heart of Christian faith and practice. For Dr. Katabaro, agrotheology is not simply a niche topic but a call to reimagine how theology speaks to the realities that shape human life. “Agrotheology is about recognizing that God is not only concerned with heaven, but also deeply involved in the material world,” he explains. He argues that the church’s strong emphasis on heavenly matters—though important—has often led to the neglect of the material world, especially agriculture, whi...

Brighton Katabaro Nyegezi, Mwanza, 25 January 2026     Dear sisters and brothers in Christ , This story is familiar to many of us. It is about the people of Israel who had just been freed from Egypt, where they had lived as slaves for generations.  Life in Egypt was hard, painful, and humiliating.  They faced many difficulties.  They were forced to work for their masters without pay.  They suffered deeply. In the eyes of their masters, they were not treated as fellow human beings.   This experience reminds us of the period of European colonialism here in Tanzania—a time that was also brutal and humiliating. Exploitation was widespread, and life was extremely difficult. In such a situation, the Israelites cried out to God, and God heard their cry. God freed them from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.   Yes, they were no longer slaves of Pharaoh. They were happy to leave his oppressive hands. However, they were not yet in the Promised Land.   Th...

                                       

  Brighton Katabaro Academy of International Ecumenism, University of Hamburg