WASHINGTON, D.C, September 28, 2015 The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, in conjunction with the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Clapham Group, will release the Evangelical Statement on Responsible Care for Animals at a press conference on September 30th from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. ET at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.
The Statement, the first unifying document of its kind, will be associated with the Every Living Thing Campaign. Details of the campaign will be announced at the press conference by Dr. Barrett Duke (Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission), Michael Cromartie (Ethics and Public Policy Center), and Mark Rodgers (Clapham Group).
Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, will offer comment via video. There will also be a presentation of research findings by Lifeway Research from a commissioned survey of 1,000 pastors on the issue of faith and animal welfare.
"Our treatment of animals is a spiritual issue, notes Russell Moore. The Bible is clear that our being created in the image of God does not lessen our responsibility to steward the physical world well, but heightens it. This statement is a reminder that the gospel transforms our use and care of animals as we see all of God's glory reflected in his good creation.
A partial list of co-signers include:
Dr. Russell Moore (Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez (National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference)
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Timothy George (Samford University)
Eric Teetsel (Manhattan Declaration)
Dr. Richard Land (Southern Evangelical Seminary)
John Stonestreet (Colson Center)
Dr. Daniel Akin (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Pastor Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church)
Carl Moeller (Biblica)
Dr. Douglas Moo (Wheaton College)
Dr. David Crosby (First Baptist Church of New Orleans)
Dr. C. Ben Mitchell (Union University)
Jedd Medefind (Christian Alliance for Orphans)
Motivated by centuries of Christian reflection on Biblical teaching, the Statement calls evangelicals to examine Scriptures teaching on the significance of all living things, including animals, in the context of a comprehensive commitment to faithful and conscious living.
To learn more about the statement, and to see a complete list of signees, visit http://www.everylivingthing.com/
The Southern Baptist Convention is Americas largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.8 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is the SBCs ethics, religious liberty and public policy agency with offices in Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C.
To request an interview with Russell Moore
contact Carrie Kintz at 202-547-0209
or by email at [email protected]
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