September 30, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Council of Churches USA (NCC) strongly opposes Congress' action yesterday which overhauled and weakened the Endangered Species Act (HR 3824). Prior to the vote, NCC joined with eight other Christian organizations, including several of its member denominations, to ask the U.S. House of Representatives to reject the proposed changes and continue full protection of endangered species because, as the letter states, "extinction is not stewardship."

"As a religious community interested in protecting all of God's creation, including the seemingly most insignificant creatures, we oppose any piece of legislation that diminishes protection for species that are already in danger of becoming extinct," said Cassandra Carmichael, NCC's Director of Eco-Justice Programs.

In a letter sent Wednesday afternoon to the House of Representatives, the nine groups including representatives from the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA) spoke against the bill because of the negative impact it would have on endangered species. Faith representatives also participated in a briefing to Congress sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.).

The letter states "In Scripture, God expresses awe and pleasure with all of God's creation, paying attention to even the seemingly least significant creature. In the story of Noah's ark, God reveals the desire that all life be preserved."

According to Matthew Anderson-Stembridge, director of environmental policy for the ELCA, who presented at the Congressional briefing, "Our approach to endangered species and to critical habitat should be guided by the principles of love and mercy, principles embodied in the love God has for creation and the love revealed through Christ," said. "That is why it is so unfortunate that Congress passed this legislation. We will continue our work on behalf of all of God's creation in spite of this setback."

Other religious organizations that signed onto the letter include the Commission on Religion in Appalachia(Washington Office), Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns and the Mennonite Central Committee.

The full text of the sign on letter sent to Congress is below.

September 28, 2005

House of Representatives
United States Congress
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

In Scripture, God expresses awe and pleasure with all of God's creation, paying attention to even the seemingly least significant creature. In the story of Noah's ark, God reveals the desire that all life be preserved. We, as human members of God's family, are called to care for God's creation and all of God's creatures.

In recent decades, one way to show this compassion and fulfill our stewardship duty has been to implement the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act has worked to prevent extinctions, stabilize declining species, and bring some at-risk species to the point of recovery. Scientists have estimated that nearly 200 more species would have gone extinct without the Endangered Species Act and over 40 percent of the species protected by the Endangered Species Act have stabilized or improved their populations.

Legislation championed by Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (HR 3824) would effectively weaken the Endangered Species Act. We urge you to oppose HR 3824 on the moral grounds that extinction is not stewardship and that one of humanity's responsibilities is to care for all living things. We disavow misleading economic interests that would drive us to sacrifice the wonder, beauty, usefulness, and graciousness of the gifts God has given us all. We firmly hold that we are called to live our lives to glorify God and that development and profit at the expense of God's glory, of which the environment and all the species are but part, is sinful.

We oppose bills that would weaken the Endangered Species Act. As people of faith and as a society, let us ensure that species needing protection are put on the Endangered Species list, that science is allowed to inform those decisions, that the habitat of endangered species is safeguarded, and that endangered species programs receive adequate funding.

As part of our commitment to God we must remember and honor God's covenant with us all: "the sign of the covenant I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations" (Genesis 9:12).

Sincerely,
Commission on Religion in Appalachia
Episcopal Church, Washington Office
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Washington Office
General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
Mennonite Central Committee
National Council of Churches USA
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

National Council of Churches USA