“The beauty, joy, and health of human life on earth depend deeply upon the wide variety and great richness of plant and animal life God has provided.” Academy of Evangelical Scientists and Ethicists
“[T]he Endangered Species Act is one of our generation’s richest fulfillments of our biblical destiny as b'tselem elohim, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26 ), with the unique power and responsibility to shape, preserve, and renew creation through the work of our hands, our hearts, and our minds.” Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and Jewish Leaders
September 21, 2005
Dear Members of Congress:
As leaders of Evangelical Christian and Jewish organizations, we are deeply concerned about legislation you may consider in a few days, H.R. 3824, that seeks to significantly change and weaken our nation’s landmark wildlife protection law, the Endangered Species Act.
Attachments to this letter are statements that have just been unveiled. These statements make it clear that the protection of God’s endangered species is a deeply religious issue that brings together sometimes distant communities – evangelical Christians and Jews, clergy and scientists.
As you can see from the signatories, leaders in both our communities are concerned about, and oppose, attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act. This important law should be maintained and strengthened, and we are communicating this with people of faith around the country.
Our communities share the model of Noah, set forth in the book of Genesis. As the Jewish statement notes, “[w] e call upon U.S. policymakers to emulate the forethought, self-restraint, and prodigious effort modeled by the biblical Noah — ‘a righteous man . . . blameless in his age’ (Genesis 6:9).”
We hope the Scripture, religious traditions and teachings, and commitment reflected in these statements will be an inspiration for you, just as they have been and continue to be for us. Thank you.
Sincerely,
| Adam C. Stern Executive Director Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) |
Dr. Calvin B. DeWitt President Academy of Evangelical Scientists and Ethicists |
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Click here for Major Faith Community Statements