Press Release  Animal Welfare

Evangelical Coalition Releases Statement on Responsible Care for Animals

religious liberty

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]

Visit our website at www.erlc.com

Follow us on Twitter at @ERLC

religious liberty


Related Content

supreme court

ERLC Files U.S. Supreme Court Legal Brief To Stop Gender Transition Surgeries for Minors

United States v. Skrmetti

NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 15, 2024 —The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern...

Read More

SBC President, ERLC Send Letters to Biden, Congress Urging Support for Israel Amid Escalating Conflict

Church Leaders

Read the full Church Leaders article here. Amid escalating military conflict between Israel and...

Read More
Baptist Press photo

Pressley, Leatherwood send letters to Biden, Congress in support of Israel

Baptist Press

NASHVILLE (BP) – Ethics & Religious Liberty President Brent Leatherwood and Southern Baptist Convention...

Read More

ERLC partners with Southern Baptist State Conventions on Abortion Ballot Initiative Resources Prior to 2024 Election

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 30, 2024 —The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern...

Read More

Trustees affirm Leatherwood, ERLC staff toward ‘greater sense of understanding’

Baptist Press

NASHVILLE (BP) — Ethics & Religious Liberty trustees issued a statement Sept. 10 affirming...

Read More
ERLC Logo

ERLC Board of Trustees Issues ‘Statement of Affirmation & Encouragement’ 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 11, 2024 —The board of trustees for the Ethics & Religious...

Read More