The megachurch pastor Rick Warren is a signer of the “Evangelical Climate Initiative.”
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.”
The statement calls for federal legislation that would
require reductions in carbon dioxide emissions through “cost-effective,
market-based mechanisms”  a phrase lifted from a Senate resolution
last year and one that could appeal to evangelicals, who tend to be
pro-business. The statement, to be announced in Washington, is only the
first stage of an “Evangelical Climate Initiative” including television
and radio spots in states with influential legislators, informational
campaigns in churches, and educational events at Christian colleges.
“We
have not paid as much attention to climate change as we should, and
that’s why I’m willing to step up,” said Duane Litfin, president of
Wheaton College, an influential evangelical institution in Illinois.
“The evangelical community is quite capable of having some blind spots,
and my take is this has fallen into that category.”
Full story at New York Times