SOMETHING BIG HAS JUST HAPPENED!

In a press conference today (zoom ,of course)that I chaired, prominent evangelical leaders publicly launched the statement, “Pro-life Evangelicals for Biden” (see below). In addition,  The Christian Post, which has tens of millions of views each month, published an OPED  by Rich Mouw and myself on this statement. And Friday morning, the Washington Post published a story on us.

The signers include many prominent evangelicals known and respected in the evangelical world for decades: Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline; Roberta Hestenes, president emeritus of Eastern University; John Huffman, prominent evangelical pastor and board chair emeritus of Christianity Today; Jerushah Duford, author, speaker and Billy Graham’s granddaughter; Brenda Salter McNeil, author and longtime IVCF staff; Joel Hunter, for years, pastor of a Florida megachurch; Richard Mouw, president emeritus of Fuller Seminary; and more (see below).

The group is diverse. At least one signer voted for Donald Trump in 2016. It includes at least one lifelong Republican. There are several who never before publicly endorsed a presidential candidate but now feel compelled to do so this year. Richard Mouw and I organized this effort. 

And we want you to join us!  Add your signature (see below).  And forward this blog to all your friends!

Here is the statement of Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden:

“As pro-life evangelicals, we disagree with Vice President Biden and the Democratic platform on the issue of abortion. But we believe a biblically shaped commitment to the sanctity of human life compels us to a consistent ethic of life that affirms the sanctity of human life from beginning to end.

“Many things that good political decisions could change destroy persons created in the image of God and violate the sanctity of human life. Poverty kills millions every year. So does lack of healthcare and smoking. Racism kills. Unless we quickly make major changes, devastating climate change will kill tens of millions. Poverty, lack of accessible health care services, smoking, racism and climate change are all pro-life issues. As the National Association of Evangelicals’ official public policy document (FOR THE HEALTH OF THE NATION) insists, “Faithful evangelical civic engagement and witness must champion a biblically balanced agenda.“  Therefore we oppose “one issue” political thinking because it lacks biblical balance.

“Knowing that the most common reason women give for abortion is the financial difficulty of another child, we appreciate a number of Democratic proposals that would significantly alleviate that financial burden: accessible health services for all citizens, affordable childcare, a minimum wage that lifts workers out of poverty.

“For these reasons, we believe that on balance, Joe Biden’s policies are more consistent with the biblically shaped ethic of life than those of Donald Trump. Therefore, even as we continue to urge different policies on abortion, we urge evangelicals to elect Joe Biden as president.”

Richard Mouw.                                                                  

President emeritus                                                             

Fuller Seminary

Ronald J Sider

President emeritus

Evangelicals for Social Action

Brenda Salter McNeil

Reconciler, Professor, Pastor

Jerushah Duford

Speaker, author

Billy Graham’s granddaughter

John Huffman

Board Chair emeritus

Christianity Today

Roberta Hestenes

Former President

Eastern University

Claude Alexander

Bishop

Joel C Hunter

Faith community Organizer

Richard J. Foster

Author, Celebration of Discipline

Founder, Renovare

Myron S. Augsburger

President emeritus

Eastern Mennonite University

Ray Bakke

Professor of Global Urban Mission

David Black

President emeritus

Eastern University

Bryant L Myers

Professor, Fuller Seminary

Manfred Brauch

President emeritus

Palmer Theological Seminary 

John Perkins

Founder, Christian Community Development Association   

Go to www.prolifeevangelicalsforBiden.com to add your signature. 

And please spread the word far and wide and encourage everyone to add their signature. And if you want more detail on the issues, look again at my blogs: “Does Abortion Trump Everything Else?” and “Why I Am Voting for Joe Biden.” To see these blogs, just scroll back to the blogs on August 28 and August 17.

And as always invite your friends to join my free blog at ronsiderblog.substack.com.