Evangelicals sign anti-global warming initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 85 prominent evangelical leaders have warmed up to the idea of helping to slow global warming, while other influential Christians say “the science is not settled” on whether humans have an effect on the steady temperature rise.

With some well-known names in its back pocket, the Evangelical Climate Initiative announced last month in Washington is in the first stage of its campaign to “address climate change.”

Notable leaders, such as California pastor and author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” Rick Warren, president of the Northern California Association of Evangelicals, the Rev. Dwight Burchett, and Salvation Army Gen. Cmdr. Todd Bassett are just some of those who signed the initiative calling for tougher federal legislation that would require a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

The group said it believes that humans are having an effect on global warming and if we don’t do something, “millions of people could die in this century because of climate change, most of them our poorest global neighbors.”

But other heavy-hitters in the evangelical community such as Focus on Family founder James Dobson, Chuck W. Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, and Dr. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries said global warming is not an issue that needs to divide the Christian community. Several have formed their own group called the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance.

“There is no consensus in the world community on what steps should be taken on global warming, there is no consensus in the scientific community, and obviously not in the Christian community,” said Stuart Shepard, Focus on the Family Action employee spokesman. “It’s not something that should become a defining issue among evangelicals.”

Shepard said that Focus on Family has a position on the environment: “that we should be concerned about it and there are things we should be doing like putting less pollution in the water,” but that the environment should not become an issue that defines core beliefs.

A division or hype?
The division among the leaders has made headlines in dozens of national magazines and newspapers, such as the New York Times, but Shepard said there’s not a war between Christians, but instead the disagreement has become more of a media event.

“We’re not divided on this issue,” he said. “We just have a difference of opinion on how to approach the issue.”

Those not with the Evangelical Climate Initiative said one point they disagree on is how, and if, the proposed measure would protect “the poor,” which is one of the main objectives of new initiative signers.

The initiative states that “Poor nations and poor individuals have fewer resources available to cope with major challenges and threats. The consequences of global warming will therefore hit the poor the hardest, in part because those areas likely to be significantly affected first are in the poorest regions of the world.”

But those who share a different view say the proposed changes would hit the poor the hardest.

“From our point of view, the proposed solutions would affect poor people,” Shepard said. “It would require specially blended fuels and that would mean for the poor that the cost of heating oil and gas would go up. We have to balance the care for the creation against the care for the creatures of the earth.”

Ad campaign
The Evangelical Climate Initiative backers said they plan television and radio spots in states with influential legislators, informational campaigns in churches and educational events at Christian colleges to create awareness of global warming.

The television spot reportedly links video of drought, starvation and Hurricane Katrina to global warming. The advertisements are to be shown in Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia where supporters said they receive the most resistance.

The Evangelical Climate Initiative is supported by individuals and foundations, including the Hewlett Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation.

For more information on the Evangelical Climate Initiative, visit christiansandclimate.com. For more information on Interfaith Stewardship Alliance, go to interfaithstewardship.org.

Published by Keener Communications Group, March 2006

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