A March 1 letter signed by 25 evangelical leaders, and sent to Dr. L. Roy Taylor, chairman of the National Association of Evangelicals Board, called for the resignation of NAE Vice President Rev. Richard Cizik (see photo) primarily because of his stance on Global Warming.
“We implore the NAE board to ensure that Mr. Cizik faithfully represents the policies and commitments of the organization, including its defense of traditional values. If he cannot be trusted to articulate the views of American evangelicals on environmental issues, then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his position with the NAE,” the letter stated.
Dr. Don Wildmon, Chairman American Family Association; Tony Perkins, President Family Research Council; James C. Dobson, Ph.D., Chairman Focus on the Family; Gary L. Bauer, President Coalitions for America; Paul Weyrich, Chairman American Values; Jim Daly, President Focus on the Family; Bishop Harry Jackson, High Impact Leadership Coalition were among the 25 who signed the March 1 letter that was addressed to Taylor.
“Although we, the undersigned, are not members of the National Association of Evangelicals, our organizations interface with it regularly and consider it to be an important Christian institution in today’s culture. From that perspective, we are writing the Board of Directors to call attention to what we perceive as a threat to the unity and integrity of the Association. The issue that is dividing and demoralizing the NAE and its leaders is related to global warming, resulting from a relentless campaign orchestrated by a single individual in the Washington office, Richard Cizik, vice president of government relations,” the letter opened.
“The letter really wasn't directed to Richard Cizik. A copy was never sent to me and I don't know that a copy was sent to him. I learned about the letter when a reporter called and read parts of it to me over the phone on March 2. It was released to the press on March 1 and a copy was sent to the chairman of the NAE board on March 5. He received it on March 6. Actually, I've not seen the letter. NAE has not responded to the letter. We would not normally seek counsel about our staff from those who are not part of the association,” said NAE’s Interim President, Leith Anderson.
In response to what prompted the letter, Anderson said, “I really don't know what was the motivation for the letter. This question would be better answered by those who wrote and signed the letter.”
One of the letters signers, Dr. James Dobson respectfully declined an interview.
On March 6, a statement issued by Jim Ball, President, Evangelical Environmental Network asked that the March 1 letter be withdrawn, “It alarms us that a disagreement by a group of Christians on climate change has led them to attack Rich Cizik, a faithful servant of Christ who for over 25 years has been at the forefront, fighting for the positions that evangelicals have held dear, including the sanctity of life and the family, religious freedom, forging new responses to AIDS, and to the horror in Darfur. The letter by Dr. Dobson and others to the NAE is unfair and inaccurate. We call for it to be withdrawn,” Ball said in the statement.
“There are more than 100 senior evangelical Christian leaders who are part of the Evangelical Climate Initiative—Christian college presidents, denominational leaders, mega-church pastors, and others—who, like Richard Cizik, believe that we have a moral responsibility to combat climate change. They have said that the love of God, love of neighbor, and the demands of stewardship are more than enough reason for evangelical Christians to respond to the climate change problem with moral passion and concrete action,” Ball said.
In a March 27 interview Anderson said he wasn’t aware of Ball’s statement, “I am not familiar with communication between Mr. Ball and others. This is the first I've heard of it,” he said.
Today, Global Warming has become a hot topic among evangelical Christians. Some support it wholeheartedly, while others believe it shouldn’t be a primary focus. “The issue that is dividing and demoralizing the NAE and its leaders is related to global warming," wrote the leaders in the March 1 letter to NAE’s Taylor, none of whom are members of the association.
Ball said that is vital for Christians to take care of the environment, “ As evangelicals, we believe that with God’s help we can slow global warming and reduce its impact on our children and grandchildren, and on the poor--who will suffer the most. The message to evangelicals is not a doomsday message; this is our day to take hold of this problem and to be faithful to God’s call to protect His creation,” Ball said.
The NAE said there are several issues that Christians today need to be concerned about. “The NAE has established seven current priorities in our declaration "For the Health of the Nation" (see it at NAE.net). One of the seven is Creation Care. While no specific mention is made about global warming this is a concern to many evangelical Christians in America,” Anderson said.
In closing, Anderson reflected on the current leadership for NAE. “Richard Cizik has effectively led our office of Public Affairs in Washington for 26 years and I expect him to continue for many more years with the strong support of the NAE board. He is vice-president. Todd Bassett is Executive Director and I am President,” Anderson said.
