More than two dozen evangelical leaders are seeking the ouster of Richard Cizik from the National Association of Evangelicals because of his “relentless campaign” against global warming.
In a March 1 letter to L. Roy Taylor, chairman of the NAE board, Focus on the Family Chairman James Dobson and others said the NAE vice president's activism on global warming is “demoralizing” the evangelical umbrella group.
“If he cannot be trusted to articulate the views of American evangelicals on environmental issues, then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his position with the NAE,” wrote the leaders, none of whom are members of the association.
Taylor could not be reached immediately for comment.
Cizik said, “I have no intention of resigning.”
The NAE's interim president, Leith Anderson, said Friday he expects the board to stand by Cizik, who directs the NAE's Washington office.
“I'm supportive of Rich Cizik,” Anderson said. “I think that he is highly respected in Washington” and a supporter for care of the environment, “and that's good.”
When read a list of the signatories, Anderson said: “We would normally look to our own constituency—and not to those who have chosen not to be members of the NAE—for counsel.”
The letter comes as some leading conservative Christians have been vocal in their criticisms and doubts about global warming, arguing against leading international scientists who say global warming is human-induced, and saying the issue is not an appropriate focus for evangelicals.
“I am today raising a flag of opposition to this alarmism about global warming and urging all believers to refuse to be duped by these ‘earthism' worshippers,” Jerry Falwell said in a Feb. 25 sermon on “The Myth of Global Warming” at his Lynchburg church.
Earlier in February, World magazine founder Joel Belz wrote in an essay in his conservative Christian weekly that “Cizik has made it way too easy for the public to conclude that his own views are also the views of the NAE.”
Cizik said he is addressing issues included in the NAE's vision statement, including support of the traditional family, sanctity of human life, religious freedom and environmental stewardship.
Cizik considers his attention to the environment to be part of a “biblical mandate” he follows as a Christian and NAE staffer, but said the association has not reached a consensus on global warming.
“There are people who, because of my views on climate change, which are very mainstream, want to pin a label of being a political liberal on me, which, of course, is not true,” he said.
The letter's signers, who included American Family Association Chairman Don Wildmon and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, charged that Cizik has a “preoccupation” with climate concerns.
“We have observed that Cizik and others are using the global warming controversy to shift the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time, notably the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality to our children,” they wrote.