The Evangelical Statement Launches Tomorrow!

 By Abby SkeansIn 2011, national faith leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss how scriptural truth can motivate Christians to celebrate the wonder of God’s creation and responsibly care for the lives of every living thing.At this meeting, the need for a unifying document that expressed Evangelical commitment to compassionate living and faithful stewardship of God’s creatures became apparent. In response, Dr. Barrett Duke (Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission), Michael Cromartie (Ethics and Public Policy Center), and Mark Rodgers (The Clapham Group) drafted an Evangelical Statement on Responsible Care for Animals.After four years of prayerful reflection and input from nearly 40 theologians, the Statement will launch today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. You can take part in this movement by joining the Every Living Thing campaign -- a yearlong effort to create public discourse on this issue through a series of national conversations.To join Every Living Thing, click over to our website to sign the statement, access resources tailored to individuals, families, and communities of faith, and discover or request an event on this issue in your area.Join us today and carry forward the rich Evangelical legacy of fighting for and protecting our animal co-inhabitants that began with the great abolitionist William Wilberforce in 1824 when he established the first organized animal welfare organization.Together we can prick the conscience of a coarsening culture that might tolerate cruelty, and instead, offer the redemptive way of compassion and mercy as demonstrated in the Gospel.