Christians from political left and right sign 'Civility Covenant'

[KittyWampus]

Christians from political left and right sign 'Civility Covenant'
By Dan Gilgoff, CNN
March 26, 2010 2:55 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- A group of more than 100 prominent Christians ranging from evangelical minister Jim Wallis on the political left to Nixon White House aide Chuck Colson on the right released a document Thursday calling for an end to the fight club tone of the national political discourse. Called the "Civility Covenant," the document says that churches have too often "reflected the political divisions of our culture rather than the unity we have in the body of Christ."

"Members of Congress have been calling me saying 'It's never been as bad as it is now, but we can't do much about it because we're not credible to a lot of Americans,'" said Wallis, who leads the progressive group Sojourners. "They said to the faith community, 'please help us.'" Wallis said the covenant is the result of those conversations. It has 114 signatories from a broad swath of Christian traditions, including the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, the head of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and the general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, a major Pentecostal denomination.

The list also includes plenty of strange political bedfellows, from conservative Christian leaders like Harry Jackson -- who led the unsuccessful fight against gay marriage in Washington -- to Morna Murray, president of the progressive Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, which is close to the Obama White House. "Anytime you have a document with Wallis and Colson signing, you're talking about a pretty unusual situation and a pretty significant marker," said John Green, an expert on religion and politics at the University of Akron in Ohio. "It shows that there are some issues that transcend politics and ideology."

Quoting the New Testament, the new covenant urges Christians to "put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you."

snip

Wallis says he'll start collecting signatures from more pastors and rank-and-file churchgoers in coming weeks. The pastor publicly feuded with conservative television host Glenn Beck this month after Beck encouraged his fans to leave churches that preach economic and social justice. Wallis organized a boycott of Beck's show but says the timing of the covenant's release is incidental. Colson said the document "wouldn't apply to Glenn Beck because we're talking about the conversation in the family of believers ... Glenn Beck is a Mormon." Many Christians don't consider Mormons -- members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- to be Christians, though Mormons consider themselves Christian.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/26/christian.civility.covenant/

[chillspike]

1. I hope it lasts but....

...I have my reservations about the Right side being able to live up to its side of the bargain mainly because the whole problem the Left has with the Right is it exclusionary ideology. The only people the Left excludes are those who want to exclude others. And for the Right that is gays, feminists, liberals, socialists, atheists, europe, asia, latinos, the third world, etc.

[Festivito]

6. I worry they'll lull progressives into silence while the CONs con.

I do not understand the need or usefulness of this document. It covers whom, a handful of congregations around Cinci?

Seems strange to me.

Welcome to DU chillspike.

[KittyWampus]

2. Apparently the DNC has a Civility Statement which the RNC has refused to sign.

[AllyCat]

3. Dang. Really? That would be great. I hope it works. I have my doubts, but I

hope it works.

[BeFree]

4. Churches and politics should never mix

Church officials should stay out of politics all together.

Either that or tax the buildings, payrolls and properties. If they are involved in politics then they should be treated as equals with the rest of us. They are our servants, we are not servants to the churches. They have no reason to be treated differently than anyone of us when it comes to politics and government unless there is a total seperation.

When churches become involved in politics they are like corporations. It is sin to see that happen.

[1776Forever]

5. Great message sent! We need to continue to call those who are hypocrites of Christs teachings out!

These are not the teachings of Jesus Christ and they need to be told that over and over and over. Some may come to their senses but most probably won't. They are so hatred driven in their hearts they have no true compassion for another human being beyond their brain dead propaganda driven minds and pocket books.

Blessings to all who participated in this mission.

:loveya: