Evangelical faction warns against ‘Christian right’

Richard Cizik (photo: National Association of Evangelicals)

Nearly 60 leaders of an evangelical faction have written the National Association of Evangelicals president in support of the NEA vice president for governmental affairs who resigned after saying he supports same-sex unions – and they want a replacement like him.

Richard Cizik, former chief lobbyist and vice president for governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, represented 45,000 U.S. churches from 59 denominations. He told NPR on Dec. 2 that he believes in homosexual civil unions and that Christians who oppose same-sex marriage and abortion may still find reasons to support Obama.

When NPR asked Cizik about about his views on “gay” marriage, he said, “I’m shifting I have to admit. In other words I would willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don’t officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don’t think.”

Cizik suggested Christians should redirect their focus away from the debate about “gay” marriage.

“Maybe we need to reevaluate this and look at it a little differently,” he told NPR. “I’m always looking for ways to reframe issues. Give the biblical point of view a different slant.”

Only one week after the NPR interview, he resigned

Cizik lost the trust of his constituents, said NAE President Leith Anderson, according to Christianity Today magazine.

“Although he has subsequently expressed regret, apologized, and affirmed our values, there is a loss of trust in his credibility as a spokesperson among leaders and constituencies,” Anderson said in a letter to NAE board members.

But now 60 leaders are pressuring Anderson to find a replacement who is much like him, according to U.S. News & World Report. Their names and affiliations are listed at the bottom of the letter.

Some signers were: Cliff Benzel of Evanglicals for Social Action, Randy Brinson of Redeem the Vote, Jason Chatraw of Ampelon Publishing, University of Missouri law professor Carl Esbeck, Peter Heltzel of New York Theological Seminary and Peter Illyn of Restoring Eden.

The note expresses appreciation for Cizik’s 28 years of service to the NAE and asks that his successor have the same vision.

“Richard’s faith, compassion, courage and intellect have strengthened the Church, and his moral witness will resonate for many years to come,” it said. ” … [I]t is our sincere hope the NAE’s next Vice President for Governmental Affairs will carry out Richard’s vision of a broad Christian moral agenda – rooted in the Gospel and relevant to the full range of moral challenges facing us in the 21st century.”

One of the letter drafters is David Gushee, a professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University and a contributing editor for Christianity Today.

In an interview with U.S. News & World Report, Gushee said Cizik’s “reputation had been damaged” and that “he wasn’t able to speak on his own behalf” following his comments about “gay” unions.

“There are always pressures from the right that the two fundamental issues of our time should be abortion and homosexuality,” he said. “I think there will be pressure to hire somebody to make those the top priority.”

Gushee also said the 60 letter signers wanted to be sure the NAE will not abandon the “broader agenda,” including environmental issues and other concerns. He said they wanted to affirm that it won’t “pull back to the Christian right agenda.”

“I can tell you from some feedback that if the NAE makes the mistake of rolling back to the classic Christian right agenda, they would lose support of a lot of people who are currently happy to be working with them,” he said.

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