Liberal evangelicals hope to link faith, social justice

[marmar]

from the AP, via the El Paso Times:



Liberal evangelicals hope to link faith, social justice
By Julie Carr Smyth / Associated Press
Article Launched: 03/28/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An evangelical group that wants to reshape the movement's political reputation for being focused on opposing abortion and same-sex marriage hopes that a series of meetings stressing its roots in women's suffrage and abolition will help it break out of the mold.

The stated goal of the first three-day "justice revival," one of several to be held around the country, is to tackle poverty in the city through a collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

But the broader idea is to energize the relatively small liberal end of the evangelical spectrum by linking religious faith with social action as earlier American social movements did, planners say. Among areas to be explored by participants are access to health care, immigration, global warming and the Iraq war.

"I have been very deeply moved by the history of these great awakenings in our national life, where there was a revival of faith that led to big change in our society," said Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourners/Call to Renewal.

The Washington, D.C.-based group will have the event April 16-18 in Columbus, with 30 of the city's largest evangelical churches, representing 10,000 Christians.

"A whole generation of young evangelicals believes that Jesus would probably care more about the 30,000 children who died again today -- as they did yesterday and they will tomorrow -- from preventable disease than he would about passing a gay-marriage amendment in Ohio," Wallis said. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_8721214?source=rss

[Donkeykick]

1. I feel that it is a sad thing...

when people have to use religious institutions in order to obtain political power--left or right. :shrug:

[54anickel]

5. I don't think that's Wallis' point - or at least it wasn't back when he started

out. It was to take "the Church" back from being used as a tool in partisan politics.

Then again politics corrupt so he too may be "confusing political power with God's power" as one of the former of the Moral Majority (Cal Thomas?) said a few years back. There's been a push in the Southern Baptist Convention to "be true to Leland" - separation of church and state/no faith based initiative money, etc.

Not sure how I feel about it either...I'm still trying to figure out how the term "evangelical" got so twisted. :shrug:

[riderinthestorm]

2. They're still against marriage equality and a woman's right to choose an abortion

Evangelicals can try to whitewash their bigotry and anti-privacy POV but those beliefs are still fundamental to their movement.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. The RW hijacked the term "Evangelical". There are many little e evangelicals

who very much support marriage equality and women's rights.

[Donnachaidh]

6. and where were THEY when the evangelical movement became so extreme?

Cowering under a desk?

Sorry, but far too many members of extremists organizations *suddenly* say *well, I was more liberal than the others* but did NOTHING to stop or slow down the damage done to this country. Support doesn't just mean a sunny day with a sign - it also means speaking up when extremists are highjacking what is supposed to be your beliefs.

:rant:

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Just because you didn't hear them doesn't mean they weren't talking. Liberal

clergy don't get any more airtime than liberal politicians.

[Juche]

3. Good for them

I'm an atheist but I welcome anyone who wants to be part of the progressive movement. The next generation of evangelicals supposedly care more about HIV, starvation, global poverty, domestic injustice and a lack of representative government.

I would gladly work with Wallis and the others. I might go to this since it is only 100 miles from where I live.