The enviro-magazine Grist hosted a wonderful dialogue between three leaders at the crossroads of religion and the environment: Richard Cizik of the NAE, LeeAnne Beres of Earth Ministry and Peter Illyn of Restoring Eden.

Cizik said evangelicals have a lot to confess, namely being AWOL on climate change for so long. While acknowledging evangelicals must then earn the right to speak on the environment, he said their urgency is motivated by a desire for justice and the common good. Speaking of moving beyond polarization and tired culture wars, Cizik said: “We’re interested in something else. We’re interested more in, frankly, making a difference than in making a statement."

The conversation is also hopeful, suggesting that climate change can be a bridge-building issue. Illyn says, for example, that some politically conservative Christians are beginning to see concern for the environment as part of a widening definition of being "pro-life." Beres testifies to the sea change on this issue, noting an "organic" interest among mainline Protestants and saying that youth especially understand the need to engage.

Finally, Cizik discusses how far evangelicals' numbers and political capital can help move the dialogue:

This type of bold language and leadership is necessary to continue what has been an encouraging move toward increased evangelical engagement. The climate crisis is a tremendous problem but also a tremendous opportunity to shed differences and come together around shared values.