Top evangelical resigns after backing gay unions **wow**

[cboy4]

By ERIC GORSKI – 7 hours ago

An outspoken and polarizing voice in conservative Christian politics resigned effective Thursday from the National Association of Evangelicals after a radio interview in which he voiced support for same-sex civil unions and said he is "shifting" on gay marriage.

The Rev. Richard Cizik's comments — made on a Dec. 2 "Fresh Air" broadcast on National Public Radio — triggered an uproar that led to his stepping down as NAE vice president of governmental affairs.

A fixture in Washington for nearly three decades, Cizik has played a key role in bringing evangelical Christian concerns to the political table. But in recent years, he earned enemies in the movement for pushing to broaden the evangelical agenda. His strongest focus was on "creation care," arguing that evangelicals have a biblical responsibility to the environment that includes combatting global warming.

The Rev. Leith Anderson, a Minneapolis-area pastor who serves as NAE president, said Thursday the group is not backing away from its environmental stances. Cizik's resignation was necessary, he said, because some of his answers in the radio interview did not reflect NAE values and convictions.

"Any organizations that speak to controversial issues are going to have critics," Anderson said. "What was different this time was our individuals and organizations felt there was a loss of credibility for him clearly espousing our positions and values. When you lose that, it's very difficult to re-establish."

Cizik did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. The NAE said in a statement that Cizik had expressed regret, apologized and "affirmed our values."

The NAE is an umbrella group for tens of thousands of churches and organizations.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jARZSY_v6MYj98bNdK2rolNhIsSwD950RJH80

[Dogmudgeon]

1. The bastard's been paying attention to what Jesus said!

CRUCIFY HIM!

--p!
Sorry, I was trance channeling Jerry Falwell again. My bad.

[DarkTirade]

2. Heh. My old pastor was elected into a fairly high office in one of the big 'christian' groups

and he immediately announced that his first goal was to try and get them out of politics.

... he ended up resigning within a month or two because he realized he was not going to be able to, and that was the only way he could protest what that group was doing.

[Creideiki]

3. This is clearly okay, by the Fundie Standard

But when, say, the Director of a musical theater company ends up resigning because he's going to tank the whole business, it's an act of economic violence.

I don't know yet how I feel about the guy having to step down, but I'm sure there are plenty of reasonable religious organizations where he can get work.

[bluedawg12]

4. I don't trust him, nor fundy help.

>>"Meanwhile, Cizik drew further criticism from pro-LGBT advocates this past week for being a signatory to the misleading New York Times ad by the Becket Fund which falsely characterized the peaceful protests against Prop 8 as “mob violence.”

NAE executive director W.T. Bassett tried further to calm the waters with an e-mail to constitutents which quoted Cizik as backtracking:

“I categorically oppose ‘gay marriage’ and see now that my thoughts about ‘civil unions’ were misunderstood and misplaced,” Cizik said, according to the message. “I am now and always have been committed to work to pass laws that protect and foster family life, and to work against government attempts to interfere with the integrity of the family, including same-sex ‘marriage’ and civil unions.”<<
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/

[Ioo]

5. But, if he is "coming around" on the issue, you know others are as well NT

[bluedawg12]

7. I don't see this as coming around, it's waffling:

Cizek made a comment on a radio show mildly suggesting some gay rights support.

Then, he signed the rw Becket group ad calling gay protests mob violence.

Further, under rw pressure, he now revised his position.

>>NAE executive director W. T. Bassett also sent an e-mail reply to concerned constituencies that quoted remarks from Cizik following the Fresh Air interview. "I categorically oppose 'gay marriage' and see now that my thoughts about 'civil unions' were misunderstood and misplaced," Cizik said, according to the message. "I am now and always have been committed to work to pass laws that protect and foster family life, and to work against government attempts to interfere with the integrity of the family, including same-sex 'marriage' and civil unions."<<

I'm not counting on fundy's anytime soon. I'd rather no hope, than false hope.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. If he "recanted" then why did he have to step down?

[bluedawg12]

8. Perhaps they are not about "forgiveness" after all.

Plus, there may be some inside power politics?

I am not linking because this is from a theofascist web site, but it does shine a light on their thinking and internal politics:

Anderson strongly supported Cizik after Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, and 23 other politically conservative evangelicals called for Cizik's resignation in a March 2007 open letter.

>>"The event two years ago was not from NAE members or constituencies. This time, there has been concern expressed from those who are from member constituencies that have made clear that they are not comfortable with him representing NAE values and positions," Anderson said. "We're not concerned about the agenda of those who are not members of the NAE."<<