"The most important step that
can be taken at the federal level," the statement reads, "is to pass and
implement national legislation requiring sufficient economy-wide reductions in
carbon dioxide emissions through cost effective, market-based mechanisms such
as a cap-and-trade program."

Poll Results Indicate Growing Evangelical Concern
The group also announced that a new poll by Ellison Research showed strong
concern among evangelicals for responsible care of the environment."
Rev. Leith Anderson, senior pastor of Wooddale Church near Minneapolis and
former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said, "When a
major challenge like this is recognized, leaders must lead."
The text reads in part: "With the same love of God and neighbor that compels
us to preach salvation through Jesus Christ, protect unborn life, preserve the
family and the sanctity of marriage, defend religious freedom and human
dignity , and take the whole Gospel to a hurting world, we the undersigned
evangelical leaders resolve to come together with others of like mind to pray
and to work to stop global warming.
In his speech, President Bush said: "We will also lead a nationwide
effort, working closely with African American churches and faith-based groups,
to deliver rapid HIV tests to millions, end the stigma of AIDS, and come
closer to the day when there are no new infections in America."

The Balm In Gilead, Inc. The Balm In Gilead, implements
innovative programs nationally and overseas.

This includes The Black Church
Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, which will be observed for the 17th
year from March 5-11, 2006.

religion spirituality

"

Concern for Impacts on People, Especially the Poor
The statement highlights a strong concern for the impact global warming
will have on people , especially poor nations and individuals.
To get more information on The Balm In Gilead, log onto the organization's
Web site at http://www.

denomination agencies

This week of prayer, education and action engages
Black congregations to help stop the spread of HIV in Black communities
worldwide and to care for those affected by the disease.

local church

Contributing to
this alarming picture is the fact that 61 percent of new AIDS cases are among
African American teens and young women. "HIV/AIDS is a public health crisis in
the African American community," said Seele.(TM) is a 501(c) (3), not-for-profit organization
whose mission is to improve the health status of people of the African
Diaspora by building the capacity of faith communities to address
life-threatening diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.org

churches local

Rev.

its christianity

Other signatories include denominational leaders Jack Hayford (Foursquare
Gospel ), Peter Borgdorff (Christian Reformed Church), and Berten Waggoner
(Vineyard), as well as David Neff , executive editor of Christianity Today, and
Duane Litfin, president of Wheaton College.

bible society

"
The statement, Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action, establishes
that Christian moral convictions demand a response to the climate change
problem, and calls on governments, business, churches and individuals to play
a role."

Advertising Campaign
The Evangelical Climate Initiative also announced an advertising campaign
that will present the themes of the climate statement through a series of
national television, radio, and print ads, beginning with a full-page ad in
The New York Times February 9.

seminaries bible

church general

balmingilead.

about church

Evangelical Leaders Call Global Warming a Moral and Spiritual Crisis

church denomination

org

In State of the Union President Bush Pledges to Work With African American Churches to Address HIV/AIDS

synod seminaries

S.ChristiansAndClimate.
The Center also assists public agencies and community -based organizations that
wish to partner with Black churches on AIDS issues.

agencies beliefs

Calling on Leadership from Government and Business
For the first time, a major evangelical group is calling on the U.
government to establish limits on emissions. Ron
Sellers, president of Ellison Research , said that 70 percent of the
evangelical respondents said they believed global warming would pose a serious
threat to future generations. "The
consequences of global warming," the statement reads , "will hit the poor the
hardest, in part because those areas likely to be significantly affected first
are the poorest regions of the world."
The Evangelical Climate Initiative is a group of more than 85 evangelical
leaders who -- as a result of their commitment to Jesus Christ and concern for
His creation -- have signed the statement entitled Climate Change: An
Evangelical Call to Action; it represents their efforts (signatories sign as
individuals, and not as spokespersons for their respective organizations) to
encourage action by evangelical Christians and all Americans to make life
changes necessary to help solve the global warming crisis, and to advance
legislation that will limit emissions, while respecting economic and business
concerns. The Balm In Gilead CEO is Special Guest of First Lady During Address

NEW YORK, In his fifth State of the Union address,
last night President Bush highlighted the HIV/AIDS public health crisis and
committed to working with African American churches. It is
among the top three causes of death for Black men ages 25-54. The Black Church
Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is the largest AIDS awareness campaign
targeting the African American community. Launched in March 2004, this historic partnership between the
Balm In Gilead and the women's missionary societies and councils of three
Black religious denominations -- The African Methodist Episcopal Church, The
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and The Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church -- is designed to build the capacity of these denominations to address
cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS and other health issues in Black communities.

bible about

Citing higher sea levels, more frequent heat waves and droughts, increased
tropical diseases, and reduction in agricultural output as likely results of
"even small rises in global temperature," the statement declares: "This is
God's world, and any damage that we do to God's world is an offense against
God himself. In addition, "63 percent of evangelicals
believe that while global warming may be a long -term issue, the problem is
being caused today, so we must start addressing it immediately," Sellers said.
Additionally, The Balm In Gilead operates the nation's only HIV/AIDS
technical assistance center designed specifically to serve Black churches.

denomination churches

"This is a positive step based on the hope that God will help Americans
lead on this issue," Borgdorff said. Seele,
Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead and a pioneer in mobilizing Black faith
communities to address HIV/AIDS, was invited to sit in the First Lady's Box as
a symbol of the President's commitment. "Today, I am happy that the
President of the United States is paying attention to the crisis and
acknowledging the vital role faith communities can play in eliminating it.

bible denominations

The Evangelical Climate Initiative Seeks National Legislation to Reduce
Emissions

New Poll Results Show Broad Evangelical Support For Effort

WASHINGTON, A group of more than 85 influential
evangelical leaders released a statement today expressing a biblically driven
commitment to curb global warming and called on the government to enact
national legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that are contributing
to global climate change.
The document outlining theological and policy imperatives, issued by the
Evangelical Climate Initiative, was signed by leaders of evangelical Christian
denominations, mega-church pastors, Christian college presidents, and CEOs of
major evangelical world relief organizations. With God's help
we can make a difference. Pernessa C. I
hope the Administration will disburse sufficient funding to build the capacity
of African American churches to carry out this responsibility.

seminaries its

Peter Borgdorff, head of the Christian Reformed Church, said the
statement was notable because of its Christian foundation and motivation, and
the specificity of its call for personal and government action on the issue of
climate change."
Jo Anne Lyon , executive director of World Hope International, said: "The
evangelical community has worked in poor countries for many years, spending
billions of dollars to help people meet their basic needs and to share the
Good News about Jesus Christ."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AIDS is the
leading cause of death among African American women ages 24 to 34.
The Balm In Gilead's other groundbreaking work in the African American
faith community includes the African American Denominational Leadership Health
Initiative.
The organization's international mission includes building the capacity of
faith organizations in Cote d Ivoire, Nigeria, Tanzania , and Kenya to address
health crises, especially HIV/AIDS.

christianity spirituality

The signers include Rick Warren , author of the runaway best seller, The
Purpose Driven Life, and the leaders of the two largest charitable
organizations in the country: Rich Stearns, president of World Vision, and
Commissioner Todd Bassett, national commander of The Salvation Army. "As signatories, we are committing
ourselves to use our influence as evangelical leaders to focus attention and
prompt action of Christian believers to work to limit the emissions that are
contributing to disastrous climate change. In the future , global warming puts at risk our
longstanding efforts to help the poor.
The print ad has a partial list of the signatories and is headlined: "Our
commitment to Jesus Christ compels us to solve the global warming crisis.

http://www.