I just received this press release, and thought it was definitely worth sharing. I love the fact that this is the faith community working to stop global warming, proving once again that the political right wing doesn't have a monopoly on religion in America.
February 8, 2007Religious, Enviro Coalition Aims to Screen Climate Change Film in 10,000 Churches Prior to '08 Elections
DVD Release of Movie Announced Emblematic of the growing movement that pairs religious leaders with scientists, a national coalition of clergy, religious groups, policymakers, scientists and environmental groups today announced the DVD release of the critically-acclaimed climate change film The Great Warming and the goal of getting the movie screened in 10,000 churches prior to the 2008 election. Already seen in 500 churches by at least 30,000 people, The Great Warming presents climate change as a moral, ethical and spiritual issue.
The DVD release is part of a major initiative to engage Americans in proactive action and advocacy to make environmental stewardship and creation care a top policy priority. A special package is being offered to churches, which includes a copy of the DVD and a set of downloadable guides specifically designed for religious audiences, including a Sunday School discussion guide and a 60-page Creation Care sermon guide with source material from the Old and New Testaments.Rev. Dr. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals, a signer of the recent statement by evangelicals and scientists demanding policy and lifestyle changes to combat global warming is one of the faith leaders in the film. In an NAE letter recommending the film, Cizik wrote, "The Great Warming presents an objective, balanced, overview of climate change - the science, the consequences, and, most importantly, the solutions. It also features a major sequence about the evangelical response to climate change, emphasizing Christian action? May this film challenge, inspire, and ultimately change you, as it has me!"
Following months of calls from people who viewed the documentary in their communities and churches, Regal Cinemas released the film on the big screen last November. Now, convinced that the movie must reach a broad audience in order to galvanize action on climate change, clergy and religious organizations from across the country are all working to promote the film's DVD release to their congregations and constituencies.
Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter, pastor of the 12,000-member Northland Church in Longwood, Florida who recently stepped down from becoming the president of the Christian Coalition because of the organization's refusal to broaden its focus, is among the many pastors who have hosted church viewings of The Great Warming. Dr. Hunter is also a member of the Evangelical Climate Initiative and a signer of the recent climate change statement by evangelicals and scientists. "I'm part of the religious right, and am one of those leaders who wants to expand the agenda... to the compassion issues that really care for people and really care about God's creation," Dr. Hunter said on a teleconference promoting The Great Warming Call to Action.
Also featured in The Great Warming is Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Pastor of Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta: "It became crystal clear to me as I watched The Great Warming that environmental concerns must become an integrated, active part of the life-sustaining messages in the African-American community. These essential messages must be mandatory teachings throughout all faith traditions, if we are to survive."
Click here for audio from the teleconference with evangelical leaders -- Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter, Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Rev. Dr. Paul de Vries, and Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo -- announcing The Great Warming Call to Action in October 2006, which has included airing ads on Christian radio stations and widely distributing a unified statement through churches and religious organizations.
DVDs of The Great Warming and the special church exhibition kit can be ordered online by visiting www.thegreatwarming.com or by calling 800-493-9369.
There were always religious progressives, even within the Evangelical movement, although they are a minority there. But there are many, many progressives in mainline Protestant churches, the Catholic Church, and in Judaism's synagogues. There are also Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and countless other minority faiths in America.
Al Gore, himself, was once a Divinity student when he was a grad student at Vanderbilt, and he's hardly an atheist.
I'm very glad that some of the major evangelical groups are recognizing the dangers of global warming and putting their considerable prestige and influence on the line to be good stewards of the earth, which is what the Bible mandates. However, no faith tradition or political party has a monopoly on good sense. There have always been those who care and want to pass on to their children a clean, safe, and healthy environment.