Christianity Today has a news story today about controversy among Evangelicals and their stance on stewardship of the Environment:
“More than two dozen evangelical leaders are seeking the ouster of the Rev. Richard Cizik from the National Association of Evangelicals because of his ‘relentless campaign’ against global warming.
In a March 1 letter to L. Roy Taylor, chairman of the NAE Board, Focus on the Family Chairman James Dobson and others said the NAE vice president’s activism on global warming is ‘a threat to the unity and integrity’ of the organization.
‘The issue that is dividing and demoralizing the NAE and its leaders is related to global warming,’ wrote the leaders, none of whom are members of the association. ‘If he cannot be trusted to articulate the views of American evangelicals on environmental issues, then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his position with the NAE.'”
I have been surprised up until now by the support from the right-wing of the larger Church in taking our stewardship of Creation seriously. So, I find this push back by the political heavyweights in the Evangelical movement much more in keeping with their theological convictions.
Read the rest here: Dobson, Others Seek Ouster of NAE Vice President | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction
I was initially surprised, too. This story suggests that the NAE initiative was strongly influenced by Anglican Evangelicals such as Sir John Houghton.
Frankly, while I think Dobson will win this battle, he’ll lose the war. Too many young Evangelicals are interested in economic injustice issues between the developed and the developing world for his particular brand of conservatism to hold sway. The theological landscape will be much different on environmental and economic issues two decades from now if perhaps not on social issues.
I think your analysis is spot on Caelius. Thanks for the link with the additional information.