The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
February 10, 2010, 6:17 am
Posted by Cathleen Kaveny
Here’s an interesting new website for a new Evangelical group, deliberately more broadly focused. Note the resonance with Catholic language–the “common good.” There’s a newly emerging group of “consistent ethic” Catholics and Evangelicals who are striving to instantiate this kind of broader focus.
on February 10th, 2010 at 9:33 am
I see they have no organizations listed on their “Partners” page. So not exactly a partnership yet.
Continues a movement by some evangelicals away from conservative evangelicalism, with it’s siege mentality and unhealthy preoccupation with the Rapture. (See documentary “Jesus Camp” and compare tone of this group to the evangelical children’s movement depicted there.)
I notice they refer to their “orthodox” rather than “fundamental” or “Bible-based” beliefs.
on February 10th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
And, sigh of all sighs, of course one has to take a look at their position on the right to life to see just how consistent they are. And, sigh of sighs, one is disappointed. We need more organizations that take the pro-life stance in terms of the death penalty, torture, and war, but who also do not pussy-foot around the issue of justice for the unborn.
These groups always seem to recognize that when crimes like racism or torture are institutionalized, the laws need to be changed to reflect justice. But structural injustice against the unborn seems to be in an entirely different category for groups like this. We can work to elimnate laws that allow for prejudice and evil interrogation techniques, but abortion? Let’s just work to eliminate the need.
And don’t get me wrong, we definitely need to work to eliminate the economic and social causes of abortions, but we can’t just drop working for justice, either. HUGE double standard/hypocrisy issue with these groups, I’m afraid. This is what makes these types of organizations lose so much credibility – the failure to be really radical and consistent in the cry for justice.
on February 10th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Well, we will see. Credibility with whom? My guess is that they’re not looking for credibility among the Focus on the Family crowd– they’re doing something different. I think they’re trying to appeal to a younger audience of evangelicals.
on February 11th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Jean is right. One would like to know more precisely what they mean by calling their theology “orthodox.” And just whose theology they would see as heterodox, and why.
Still, they are certainly trying to build bridges here. And I think on many issues Commonweal readers would be able to cooperate with them. It will be interesting to see which supportive “partners” turn up in their list, and to see the response to their efforts from the wider Evangelical community.
on February 11th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
“My guess is that they’re not looking for credibility among the Focus on the Family crowd– they’re doing something different. I think they’re trying to appeal to a younger audience of evangelicals.”
My understanding was Focus on the Family used Tim Tebow as a spokesman during the Super Bowl, who I believe was born in 1987, wasn’t he? By younger do you mean primary and secondary school types?
on February 12th, 2010 at 7:57 am
No. I am sure that FF can find some younger spokespeople (though I notice the ad was very broad and vague, doubtless to appeal to a wide range of people.)
It’s the demographics as a whole: Here’s some commentary on the Manhattan Declaration
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/manhattan_declaration_unlikely_to_inspire_young_christians.html