Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 15

The Southern Illinoisan Saturday, August 1 3, 2005 www.thesouthern.com 7B Evangelicals abandon stereotypes to pursue array of social issues evangelicals think" about issues beyond abortion and same-sex marriage. Wells cites a need for an internal reformation so evangelicals can speak with more moral authority on social issues. "The moral fabric of the evangelical world is not in good shape," he says. "To make a national agenda of moral issues effective you need much more than just pronouncements. You need soldiers. You need people of -moral standing and determination and conscience who can make the agenda stick. I just don't see -that. I think the evangelical world is soft and of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It." He asks: "How can you shrink all of our Christian ethics and values to one or two hot-button social issues?" Wallis has written, "on at least three key social issues poverty, race and the environment evangelicals are exhibiting a growing conviction and conscience." The effort to broaden the evangelical agenda comes partly from "a fear that the fundamentalistic hard right has so far been the only voice in national affairs," says Wells. That, he says, has resulted in a misrepresentation of "what the vast majority of KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KRT) Evangelical Christians, not happy being known only for their intense opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, are heading into wider seas. "Evangelicals don't want themselves identified as the Republican Party at prayer," says Mark Noll, a prominent evangelical author who teaches history at Wheaton College. They say that image is unfair because evangelicals, who account for about 40 percent of American Christians, are politically, racially and economically diverse. Encouraged by a new statement on broader civic obligations from the National Association of Evangelicals, they are turning their attention to such issues as poverty, peacemaking, environmentalism and the burdensome debt carried by developing countries issues some evangelicals have always cared about but that now are getting broader attention. Evangelicals have been pushing President Bush, an evangelical himself, to lead effort to bring out of the background things that have always been there but have been overshadowed by the concentration on life issues." Ted Haggard, NAE president, said the statement proves that "evangelicals can think about more than two or three things at a time and can be active and concerned." The NAE is made up of 52 denominations (not including the Southern Baptist Convention) with 45,000 churches and 30 million members. The statement chastised evangelicals for failing "to engage with the breadth, depth and consistency to which we are called." But it also cautioned evangelicals to "practice humility and cooperation to achieve modest and attainable goals for the good of society" and to acknowledge that "perfect solutions are unobtainable." Evangelicals don't speak with one voice. Many of the sharpest critiques, in fact, come from within conservative Christianity. For instance, on forgiving Third World debt, David F. Wells, who teaches theology at the charge on reducing foreign debt owed by Third World nations and to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa. The debt-relief effort has been driven by the Rev. Rick Warren, author of the enormously popular book, "The Purpose-Driven Life," and evangelicalism's new national star. Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, has been mobilizing evangelicals to work on the debt issue. Warren and others are pushing "The ONE Campaign (www.one.org)," which seeks "to make poverty history" by allowing countries with heavy debts to spend money on social needs instead of interest payments. Warren also has created a separate "P.E.A.C.E. Plan," to work on poverty and AIDS in Africa. A sign of new directions is a 12-page statement from the National Association of Evangelicals (www.nae.net). "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility" was issued earlier this year after the NAE took more than two years to work out acceptable wording. Noll calls it "an Gordon-Conwell, a conservative seminary in Massachusetts, says many developing countries can't make good use of the extra money debt relief would provide because corruption is so endemic that no aid does much good. Another internal critic, Ronald J. Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action (www.esa-online.org), thinks it's good that "we've ended the one-sidedness where we were doing only evangelism. It's very clear that evangelicals are not libertarians. On a whole range of issues, they want government action." But Sider, who teaches theology at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary near Philadelphia and is author of "The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience," warns evangelicals they can't afford to be narrow: "Faithful evangelical civic engagement must be committed to a biblically balanced agenda." That's also the goal of an evangelical on the more liberal side of the political spectrum, Jim Wallis, author ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH SCHOOL BENEFIT PICNIC Saturday, August 13, 2005 St. Michael Church Grounds, Radom, IL Starting after 4:00 p.m. Mass Fried Chicken Roast Beef Dinner Real Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Corn, Slaw, Dessert Drink Adults $7.00 6-1 2 years $4.00 Under 6 Free Serving 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Air-conditioned Church Basement Quilt and Cash Bingo Starting 6:30 p.m. BL51698 Raffle, Games and Refreshments Rockin Rich DJ 7:00 p.m.-J 1:30 p.m. Car Truck Show 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Registration Entry Fee $10.00 per vehicle Judging at 6:00 p.m. Awards Presentation at 6:30 p.m. Sud U9htJfS Tap No Cqrry-in No alcoholic beverage served to minors Not responsible for accidents or stolen property. Carbondale Church of Christ 1805 W. Sycamore St. (next to Denny's) v'n Praise God! i N- Meet Friends! -a Share Life! i a i t.j M.x c. a i-ui carbondalecoc.com Sun 6PM at Study mulitple locations. Worship See web for details St. Johns Praise and Worship Center Presents Annual 3 in 1 Conference "Equipped for Destiny" October 7-9, 2005 371 N. Chestnut, Pulaski, IL 62976 Early Registration thru September 30, 2005 $20 per person For more information contact 618-342-6785 gives you $10 too much change. What do you do? The teller sr. A woman A man on BOSKYDELL BAPTIST CHURCH "The little white church in the Dell" A country spirit with strong biblical principles. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 1 0:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Sunday AM Sermon: August 14 th "King of This Hill!" Celebrating Our 99th Anniversary 3815 Boskydell Road All Welcome Dr. K. Stephen Combs, Pastor 924-7233 (cell) Eric Taylor Youth Director Please view our website which includes streaming audio of Pastor sermons www boskvdell.orR stands by a stalled car at rush hour. What do you do? the street asks you for $5. What do you do? God's Son comes into the world to gives us clues to a meaningful life, even if it means losing his own. What do you do? 214 W. MAIN CARBONDALE 457-2416 Crainville Baptist Church 806 E. Marion lr UlllCIVIIIC, IL oiTTTI www.crainvillebaptistchurch.org Sunday School Sunday Morning Worship Sunday Evening Worship Wednesday Bible Study Chuck Epperly Pastor in "Come Worship with Us" ni INTERCONTINENTAL CHURCH OF GOD Keeping God's Sabbath Services every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Masonic Lodge Old Highway 146 Vienna, IL For information Call Vrendell Yeary 618-252-3176 Clyde Walker 618-684-4474 Dr. James Ricks 573-335-7499 Do You Wish to Learn About the Catholic imnn Come and See WORSHIP 8:15 AM 10:45 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 AM CHILDREN'S CHURCH 10:45 AM BUILDING FOR YOU! We are under construction. Look for North South entrances. VISITORS WELCOME NURSERY CARE PROVIDED FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Pastor Rev. John Annable Associate Pastor Rev. Mike Herzog email fumcmidwestmail.com 5 OU a.m. 2 00 p.m. International Ministry: Cive-Away Yard Sale September 2nd -51h Family Ministry: Rend Lake Camp-Out SeptemlMfJStii 6 OU p.m. Senior Adult Ministry: Young at Heart Hawaiian Night September 17th Upward Hag Football Came 1 QrtfiJkrJJtlUlth Senior Adult Ministry: Phil Waldrep Ministries Celebrator Conference Branson, MO Lunch Croups ONE KfrV 'j, BAPTIST CHURCH 809 Ryan Dr. Energy, IL Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship Senice 10:30 a.m. Sunday Sight Sen ice 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Xight Senice 7:00 p.m. rastor: Jerry Schell Wife Carolyn Schell m-7 irVt Pray for our country Kim. JtaZS We're building a worship center! Join us on Sunday at our present location as we await completion of our new building: 9 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Pastor Phil Nordstrom 17th Grace St. Murphysboro 618-684-3597 "In and -s You are invited to join the RCIA, in order to learn more about the Catholic Religion. These Jl classes start in the beginning of September. 'J For registration or questions, call: 1 Sister Rosemary at 457-4556 (St. Francis Xavier) Dave Ebenhoh at 224-7521 (Newman Center) Father Gary at 687-2012 (Murphysboro) (rim- MURDALE BAPTIST CHURCH 2701 W. Main St Carbondale, II (618) 529-5800 (IL Route 13 Next to the Carbondale Clinic) Pastor: Rev. Paul Hickt Attoc. Pastor: Rev. Tommy Taylor Assoc. Pastor Rev. Robert Pierce Inspiring Worship Exciting Children's Ministry "Uhere Friends Meet" 2005 "The Year of Miracles" 1 1 I I KJM 8:15 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 10:45 A.M. 5:45 P.M. Early Worship Sunday School Late Worship Discipleship Training Children's Choirs Youth Croup Evening Worship Religion Community Valuing Freedom, Reason, tolerance and Sunday, Aug. My Journey into and its teaching http:www.cuuf.net Love 14, 10:30 a.m. Asian Medicine of inner healing Leigh Wolf 7:00 P.M. 12:15 PM. Men's Brown Bag" 6:30 PM. Prayer Meeting Choir Rehearsal 7:00 P.M. Youth Children's 7:15 P.M.- Bible Study Christ we who are many form one body, each member belongs to all others. Romans 12:5 (NIV) $fGrace Episcopal Church I a) is a place for you Contemporary; Praise and. Worship WorsHin Services: Sunday School 9:45 a.mr All ages including young senior adults Church of the Good Shepherd's annual yard sale Is now neiflhborhood-wlde! Friday, Aug. 19 Saturday, Aug. 20th 4pm 8pm Bam Noon Park at the church, browse our enormous sale, then pick up a map and visit all the sales In the neighborhood A tithe from the church sae floes fo The Heifer Project's Kentucky Small Farms Project Church of the In Carbondale. one block south Good Shepherd Cy of Hardee's at 515 Orchard Dr. United Church of Christ www.goodshcpherd-uccorg Family Worship 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, 9am Christian Education, Wednesday Services Fellowship Meal, 6pm Holy Eucharist, 7pm (Childcare provided at all services) The Rt. Rev. T.J. Gentry, D.Min Rector The Rev. Richard Lewis Associate Rector 10253 Samuel Rd. Carterville, IL 62918 (Next to SI Bowl) 618.985.5147 dspcecaol.com Thuipday Evening Services 7:00 p.m. Pastor Frank Voorhees Route 127 Murphysboro G18-G84-2013 vcfglobaleyes.net

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