US evangelical rift on global warming widens

[cal04]

· Modernising leaders urge action on emissions
· Southern Baptists' timid policy is reckless, they say
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/11/climatechange.religion

A group of more than 40 leading Southern Baptists has widened the divisions within the powerful American evangelical movement over global warming, denouncing the denomination's stance as "too timid" and warning that its cautious response to the environment is seen around the world as "uncaring, reckless and ill-informed".

A declaration backed by the president of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention, Reverend Frank Page, as well as by two former presidents, Rev Jack Graham and Rev James Merritt, argues that the "time for timidity regarding God's creation is no more". Though it acknowledges that the church's followers continue to be split about the causes and extent of global warming, it says it is prudent to take action now to avoid disaster.

The statement marks the culmination of a growing body of feeling within the Southern Baptists that the church's stated position is outdated. At its convention in June last year, church leaders approved a resolution saying any attempt by government to limit greenhouse gases was "very dangerous" and risked hurting the poor.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the second largest denomination in the US after Catholicism, with 16 million members. Since the 1970s it has played a central role within the religious right, the alliance of political and theological interests that helped to sustain the administrations of Ronald Reagan and both George Bushes.

[diane in sf]

1. Good, there is quite a shift toward caring for the earth even in the most

fundagelical churches. Means a growing rift between fundagelicals and the repuglican party as well.