Evangelical Climate Initiative
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) is an initiative by some American evangelical
leaders and organizations to mitigate global warming
. ECI's first statement, calling for reductions in carbon dioxide
emissions, was initially signed by 86 evangelical leaders. Signatories included Rick Warren
, the presidents of 39 evangelical colleges, and the leader of the Salvation Army
. The number of signatories had risen to over 100 by December 2007, and as of July 2011 over 220 evangelical leaders had signed the call to action. David P. Gushee, a professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University
, helped draft the document.
When the Evangelical Climate Initiative began in February 2006, the National Association of Evangelicals
(NAE) was not ready make such a commitment. Not quite a year later, the NAE worked with the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School
to bring scientists and evangelical Christian leaders together to mitigate climate change. As ABC News
reported:
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
leaders and organizations to mitigate global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. ECI's first statement, calling for reductions in carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions, was initially signed by 86 evangelical leaders. Signatories included Rick Warren
Rick Warren
Richard Duane "Rick" Warren is an American evangelical Christian minister and author. He is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch located in Lake Forest, California, currently the eighth-largest church in the United States...
, the presidents of 39 evangelical colleges, and the leader of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. The number of signatories had risen to over 100 by December 2007, and as of July 2011 over 220 evangelical leaders had signed the call to action. David P. Gushee, a professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, helped draft the document.
When the Evangelical Climate Initiative began in February 2006, the National Association of Evangelicals
National Association of Evangelicals
The National Association of Evangelicals is a fellowship of member denominations, churches, organizations, and individuals. Its goal is to honor God by connecting and representing evangelicals in the United States. Today it works in four main areas: Church & Faith Partners, Government Relations,...
(NAE) was not ready make such a commitment. Not quite a year later, the NAE worked with the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
to bring scientists and evangelical Christian leaders together to mitigate climate change. As ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
reported:
See also
- Creation care
- SustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
External links
- Evangelical Climate Initiative
- Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action with original list of signatories