Laurie Goodstein has another good story this morning on evangelical leaders, including Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life calling for action to slow global warming.
Coupled with growing evangelical interest in issues of global and domestic poverty, this development suggests the potential for a potent political alliance of evangelical and mainline Protestant denominations on behalf of the poor and the environment. Whether differences over the interpretation of Scripture, or the fact that we tend to take differnet sides in the culture wars will choke off the alliance before it can blosson, I can’t say. But if people are willing to put those differences aside, the possibility is there.
The story begins:
Despite opposition from some of their colleagues, 86 evangelical Christian leaders have decided to back a major initiative to fight global warming, saying “millions of people could die in this century because of climate change, most of them our poorest global neighbors.”
Among signers of the statement, which will be released in Washington on Wednesday, are the presidents of 39 evangelical colleges, leaders of aid groups and churches, like the Salvation Army, and pastors of megachurches, including Rick Warren, author of the best seller “The Purpose-Driven Life.”
“For most of us, until recently this has not been treated as a pressing issue or major priority,” the statement said. “Indeed, many of us have required considerable convincing before becoming persuaded that climate change is a real problem and that it ought to matter to us as Christians. But now we have seen and heard enough.”