Many of you caught the recent news of a growing number of Southern Baptist leaders signing onto a global warming declaration. They say their church's official stance is "too timid" and call for more action on climate change. They write:

We realize that simply affirming our God-given responsibility to care for the earth will likely produce no tangible or effective results. Therefore, we pledge to find ways to curb ecological degradation through promoting biblical stewardship habits and increasing awareness in our homes, businesses where we find influence, relationships with others and in our local churches. Many of our churches do not actively preach, promote or practice biblical creation care. We urge churches to begin doing so.

This statement was pioneered by Jonathan Merritt, a graduate of Liberty University. He is currently a seminarian at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, in North Carolina. Over the weekend I wrote to Jonathan asking for an interview, and he graciously agreed to share his thoughts with the Interfaith Power and Light community.

The Interview:

Interfaith Power and Light: You've mentioned an epiphany "that broke you" and changed your perspective on the environment. What triggered it?

Jonathan Merritt: I was in a theology class at Southeastern learning about the general revelation of God. My professor likened destroying creation to tearing a page out of the bible. Obviously, these two forms are not equally important, but they are equally revelation.

IPL: What process did you go through in deciding to translate your personal
conviction into a public, furthermore a community, statement of belief?

JM: I first began to examine my life, but I felt an inner nudge to do more. Then I sort of tore a page out of the SBC playbook. As Southern Baptists, we have learned that we can accomplish more when we cooperate together rather than blaze a trail individually.

IPL: What do you have to say to other seminarians (and pastors and laypeople) who love their denominations, but also wish that their leadership would speak more prophetically to contemporary issues?

JM: This is not a call for leadership to address the issue of creation care as much as a call for "fellow Southern Baptists" and Christians everywhere. Real results will not come through resolutions; they will come through reexamination on the part of real people in real communities.

Read the rest at the Interfaith Power and Light blog.