Press Contacts:
Jack J. Pannell, Jr.
(202) 745-4614
Colin Mathewson
(202) 745-4625
Alex Howe
(202) 822-5200
»download audio of our Oct. 18 press conference
»download Associated Press radio segment Oct. 19, 2006
Print coverage
Evangelicals broaden their moral agenda
by Alan Cooperman
The Washington Post 10-19-2006
The Darfur appeal was backed by full-page ads in yesterday's Washington Post and other newspapers, paid for by $575,000 in donations from two individuals who wish to remain anonymous, according to Jack Pannell, spokesman for the liberal evangelical magazine Sojourners. "Without you, Mr. President, Darfur does not have a prayer," said the ads, addressing Bush. "This is an important day. You see evangelical leaders from across the political spectrum coming together to speak as one voice," Jim Wallis, Sojourners' editor, told reporters. »read more
Evangelicals lobby Bush on Sudan crisis
by Rachel Zoll
Associated Press 10-19-2006
Liberal and conservative evangelicals set aside their political differences Wednesday to urge that President Bush do more to end the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Rev. Jim Wallis, head of the liberal Sojourners/Call to Renewal, an evangelical social justice movement, and the Rev. Richard Land, head of the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, are among the leaders of the Evangelicals for Darfur campaign. »read more
Evangelicals urge Darfur action
by Julia Duin
The Washington Times 10-19-2006
"Darfur should be on the front pages until this is resolved," said Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine and a founder of the Call to Renewal network. "But it falls off the front page again and again. We cannot resolve this until we stop [merely] talking about it." Mr. Wallis' group, which represents the evangelical left, has teamed up with 23 mostly conservative evangelical groups or leaders in placing radio and newspaper ads urging Mr. Bush to push for a multinational force in western Sudan. Several of the leaders are seeking to meet personally with the president -- a fellow evangelical -- to discuss the issue. »read more
Evangelical groups ask President to save Darfur from genocide
by Josh Montez
Family News in Focus 10-19-2006
With each new day that passes in Darfur women are raped, villages are burned and dozens more are added to the already 400,000 killed in the region since 2003. Reverend Jim Wallis with Sojourners says, enough is enough. “The world has called this genocide and allows it to go on every day because of politics. The world seems unable to do anything to stop the horrors of Darfur. So people of faith must act.” »read more
Media Advisory For: Wednesday, October 18
***National Conference Call Wed. Oct. 18th at 11:00am EDT***
Progressive and Conservative Evangelical Leaders
Unite over Darfur Genocide
Call for Immediate Meeting with President Bush
Radio, Print Ads to Run Nationally Wednesday
**View the ad online at www.evangelicalsfordarfur.org**
(Washington, D.C.) ---On Wednesday, progressive and conservative evangelical leaders will put aside their political and doctrinal differences and jointly call attention to the worsening situation in Darfur. Religious leaders are calling for an immediate conference with the President to discuss economic sanctions and the intervention of a United Nations peacekeeping force in the war-torn region.
“We speak with one voice for millions of Evangelical Christians in our nation. Genocide is being committed against God’s children and our response to that is a matter of faith, not politics, said Jim Wallis, the founder and head of Sojourners/Call to Renewal. “We have put aside other differences to heed God’s call to “rescue those being led away to death,” as the Bible puts it. This is not about Republicans and Democrats, conservatives or liberals, Christians or Muslims, this is about compassion and the commands of God.”
“We need to focus on the things we share in common, like compassion for all of our fellow human beings. President Bush is the only person who can truly make an immediate difference,” said Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Combined, the ad’s 24 prominent religious leaders signing the ad represent leadership of over 50 million Evangelical Americans.
Print ads running in the Washington Post, Washington Times, New York Times, USA Today and several other daily newspapers will be accompanied by radio ads on nationally syndicated religious and conservative talk shows. The ad has been signed by 24 national evangelical leaders (see below).
Media Details
WHAT: Teleconference call with Evangelical leaders to discuss the situation in Darfur
WHO: Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics, preacher/speaker, organizer--head of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, the nation’s largest progressive Christian network
Richard Land, President of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination
Ted Haggard, President and Director of the National Association of Evangelicals
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr., President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Rev. Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director, World Evangelical Alliance
WHEN: Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 at 11:00am EDT.
WHO ARE THE EVANGELICALS FOR DARFUR?
Rev. Rob Bell, founding pastor, Mars Hill Bible Church, author of Velvet Elvis
Bishop Charles Blake, Pastor, West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Founder, Save Africa's Children
Dr. Tony Campolo, Baptist evangelist and international speaker
Rev. Rich Cizik, Vice-president for Government Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals
Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr., President, Esperanza USA
Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary, Reformed Church in America.
Rev. Ted Haggard, President, National Association of Evangelicals
Rev. Dr. Roberta Hestenes, former president, Eastern University
Dr. Joel Hunter, President, Christian Coalition of America
Rev. Bill Hybels, Pastor, Willow Creek Church, leader of Willow Creek Association
Bishop Harry Jackson, President, High Impact Leadership Coalition
Dr. Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Rev. Brian McLaren, author, leader in emerging church
David Neff, Editor & Vice President, Christianity Today
Dr. Glenn R. Palmberg, President, Evangelical Covenant Church
Dr. Bob Roberts, Jr., founding pastor, NorthWood Church
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr., President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Rev. Dr. William J. Shaw, President, National Baptist Convention, USA
Dr. Ron Sider, Founder and President, Evangelicals for Social Action
Rev. Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director, World Evangelical Alliance
Rev. Jim Wallis, President, Sojourners/Call to Renewal, author of God's Politics
Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond, MD, Co-Founder, My Sister's Keeper
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, President, Skinner Leadership Institute
Lauren Winner, author and visiting professor, Duke Divinity School
# # #