Preaching the Gospel Green

The Rev. Richard Cizik has lobbied each administration since Ronald Reagan’s on behalf of the National Association of Evangelicals, promoting international religious liberty and faith-based community initiatives. Now, however, the issue at the top of his agenda is one that, until recently, wasn’t likely to be on the minds of a great many evangelicals. Rather than abortion or gay marriage, Cizik has spent the last four years focusing on climate change, and the unique responsibility he feels Christians have to protect the earth. He calls this particular brand of environmentalism “creation care,” and is proving to be a crucial bridge between the religious and scientific communities on climate change, a normally hot-button political issue.

It hasn't all been clear skies for Cizik: James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Pat Robertson have assused Cizik of "dividing evangelicals" and environmentalists have speculated that he has been kept on a short leash by the NAE. Still, Cizik has persevered. More evangelical leaders than ever are now preaching green. As global warming becomes an increasingly divisive issue in D.C., Cizik could emerge as a crucial powerbroker in the effort to get a carbon-emissions reduction bill to the president’s desk. He recently spoke with NEWSWEEK’s Matthew Philips. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: What was it about 2006 that brought evangelicals to the front of the green movement?

Richard Cizik: We really went from zero to 50 miles an hour in short order. There were those who laid a foundation in years gone by, but in no way have we ever seen the kind of energy that this year produced. We put the opponents of our movement on the defensive and established a name as the go-to community in D.C. on the topic of climate change.

Which is amazing considering the history of the evangelical community. How in the world did that happen?

It was a confluence of things. There was a moment of opportunity to persuade the public that this is not a Red or Blue issue but a moral one. And there was a vacuum of leadership on this front in Washington, and evangelicals stepped into the void saying it’s our duty to protect God’s creation.