In an unprecedented collaboration, leaders from the National Association of Evangelicals and the Center for Health and Global Environment at Harvard Medical School convened in Washington, D.C., Jan. 17 to issue a joint statement that calls on the nation’s leaders to address environmental issues such as global warming. “We scientists and evangelicals have discovered that we share a deeply felt common concern and sense of urgency about threats to life on Earth, and that we must speak with one voice to protect it,” said Eric Chivian, Nobel laureate and a speaker at the event. The group’s “Urgent Call to Action” was sent to President George W. Bush and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for drastic changes in values, lifestyles and public policies to avert disastrous changes in the climate. “We are glad to be partnering with our friends in the scientific community,” said Florida pastor Joel Hunter, who resigned as president of the Christian Coalition of America last year because the organization would not broaden its agenda to include such issues as protection of the environment. “They have the facts we need to present to our congregations; we have the numbers of activists that will work through churches, government and the business community to make a significant impact.” The group’s next step is to meet with congressional leaders to bring more attention to “creation care” issues.

Photo Credit: Copyright 2007 R. Jeffery Grace