Evangelical, Scientific Leaders Unite

'Unprecedented:' Evangelical, scientific leaders unite to respond to climate change problems and defend 'life on earth'

Ron Brynaert
Published: Wednesday January 17, 2007

A unique partnership was introduced at a Washington news conference today, as a dozen evangelical and scientific leaders announced a new joint effort to protect the environment and defend "life on earth," according to a press release received by RAW STORY.

The coalition's leaders "shared concerns about human-caused threats to Creation -- including climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, species extinction, the spread of human infectious diseases, and other dangers to the well-being of societies."

An "Urgent Call to Action" statement signed by twenty-eight members of the coalition was sent off to President George W. Bush, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, congressional leaders from both parties, and national evangelical and scientific organizations, urging "fundamental change in values, lifestyles, and public policies required to address these worsening problems before it is too late."

"Business as usual cannot continue yet one more day," the statement declares.

Pledging to "work together toward a responsible care for Creation and call with one voice," the group is appealing "to the religious, scientific, business, political and educational arenas to join them in this historic initiative."

"There is no such thing as a Republican or Democrat, a liberal or conservative, a religious or secular environment," Nobel laureate Dr. Eric Chivian, Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, said in the statement. "We all breathe the same air and drink the same water. Scientists and evangelicals share a deep moral commitment to preserve this precious gift we have all been given."

Rev. Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, added, "Great scientists are people of imagination. So are people of great faith. We dare to imagine a world in which science and religion cooperate, minimizing our differences about how Creation got started, to work together to reverse its degradation. We will not allow it to be progressively destroyed by human folly."

The coalition hopes to meet with bipartisan Congressional leaders "to inform them of this unprecedented effort and encourage their attention to environmental issues." A "Summit on the Creation" is also planned, as well as "outreach tools, such as a Creation Care Bible study guide and environmental curricula."

"Love of God, love of neighbor, and the demands of stewardship are more than enough reason for evangelical Christians to respond to the climate change problem with moral passion and concrete action," the group states.

National Public Radio has a pdf of the evangelical "Call to Action" which can be accessed at this link.