March 17, 2008
Evangelical Liberals Put Priority on Poverty, Environment
by Julie Carr Smyth
The Associated Press
A group of evangelicals seeks to redefine the faith's political reputation as more than a fight against abortion and same-sex marriage with a three-day "justice revival" focused on its historical roots in women's suffrage, abolition and civil rights.
The stated goal of the gathering, which kicks off Tuesday, is to tackle poverty in the city. But the broader idea is to energize a new movement that links religious faith with social action as earlier American social movements did, said its planners. Among the areas to be explored by participants are access to health care, immigration, global warming and the war in Iraq.
"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 liberal evangelical group that is holding the event with 30 of the city's largest evangelical churches, representing 10,000 Christians.
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