Press Release: The IPC Commends the National Association of Evangelicals on Their "Effort to Protect Creation"

The Institute of Progressive Christianity Commends the National Association of Evangelicals on Their "Effort to Protect Creation," Challenges the Opposition of Extreme Conservative Leaders

The Institute for Progressive Christianity (IPC) (http://www.instituteforprogressivechristianity.org) both commends the courage and Christian concern displayed by Rev. Rick Cizik and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) for recommending preventive action on the issue of global warming, and challenges their “conservative� detractors who demanded Rev. Cizik be fired for spearheading the effort.

“What is more fundamentally conservative than conserving the earth?� commented Zeus Yiamouyiannis, co-Director of IPC. “We at IPC praise Rev. Cizik, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for NAE, for bringing together Christian belief and scientific reason in the pursuit of moral and sensible environmental policies.�

Dr. Yiamouyiannis also criticized the more extreme leaders of the Religious Right, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, Rick Scarborough, Paul Weyrich, Harry Jackson and others, for sending a letter (http://www.beliefnet.com/blogs/JWalking/2007/03/dobson-letter.html) pressuring Rev. Cizik to abandon “creation care.�

In a strongly worded challenge, Dr. Yiamouyiannis noted, “Even though these leaders are not members of the NAE they have the audacity to attempt censorship over that organization's free expression and demonstration of Christian belief. This assault is a matter of grave concern not only for the ecological and planetary preservation but for civic and religious respect.�

Fellow IPC co-Director Rev. Mark Farr, added, “In the light of the conclusions of several world-wide studies issued in the past decade, there can be little doubt that the actions of humankind are destroying our global home. What greater moral issue exists today than the stewardship of the home God gave us?� He continued, “As Rev. Cizik has cited (Genesis 2: 15), 'The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it'.�

IPC Leadership Council member, Rich Warden, observed, “What little good does it do to defend the sanctity of human life if we humans destroy the very basis of life? If we are to teach our children anything, it is for us to take full responsibility for our actions, especially those that threaten the continuance of life after birth.�

Yiamouyiannis concluded, “As progressive Christians, we at IPC share the concerns of our conservative brothers and sisters for the sanctity of all life on earth. Good stewardship demands we take responsibility for those actions which either harm or provide for life. We fully support the call among evangelicals for public debate over global warming and its ecological impacts as a 'great moral issue' of our time.�