A new coalition of voices within the American Christian community is beginning to lobby in concert for a change in US environmental policy.
The newest voices that are joining to the call for this change are coming from the traditionally politically conservative evangelical wing.
From an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“The once-tiny Christian environmental movement began accelerating quickly in 2006, when 85 prominent evangelical leaders signed on to the Evangelical Climate Initiative calling for action on global warming. The number has climbed to more than 100.
‘It’s a bit out of the ordinary for evangelicals to be involved with this issue,’ said Jim Jewell, chief operating officer of the Evangelical Environmental Network, a group that educates and mobilizes Christians on environmental issues. ‘The evangelical involvement with climate has kind of shaken the political landscape a bit.’
In March, dozens of prominent Southern Baptist leaders called on followers to acknowledge human contributions to global warming, and demanded bold action to address climate change.
They said the church’s cautious approach was ‘too timid’ in promoting stewardship of God’s creation.
‘To abandon these issues to the secular world is to shirk from our responsibility…’ they declared. ‘The time for timidity regarding God’s creation is no more.’
Jonathan Merritt, the 25-year-old seminary student from Atlanta who organized the Baptist environmental declaration, said younger Baptists in particular were relieved to see church leaders take a bold public stance.”
Read the full article here.
According the article this new coalition is expected to have a significant effect on next month’s debate over legislation moving through the Senate that is designed to confront global warming.