Richard Cizik forced out (National Association of Evangelicals)

[PaDem]

Richard Cizik, the man who replaced Ted Haggard as the head of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) was recently forced out of his leadership post because of comments he made on NPR's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross regarding civil unions. Cizik insinuated that he voted for Senator Obama on the same show. Also a factor in Cizik's dismissal is his environmentally progressive stance, something he made a priority in his time as head of the NAE.

As a progressive Evangelical Christian I am disappointed in this, though not surprised.

http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=4649

[wryter2000]

1. He wanted to spend time and money helping people, too, right?

I'm sorry progressive evangelicals are stuck with the bad leadership.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

2. Maybe he'll become fully progressive as a result of this.

[grantcart]

4. pls see below

I would be happy if he became fully moderate lol

[grantcart]

3. I went to college with Richard and we were good friends there

Here is his Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cizik


Here is the Christianity Today article http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/decemberweb-only/150-42.0.html


I thought at the time that he was more liberal than he apparently was. He was a couple of years older and Student Body Vice President.


I hadn't talked to him in 25 years but when he started to get national attention on environmental issues I sent him some encouraging emails and he responded in kind.


Its an unfortunate setback for the moderates in the evangelical movement.



I wish Obama had invited Cizik to do the invocation at the innauguration. He is an evangelical that hasn't put his brain on lockdown.

[moobu2]

5. I listened to the interview on NPR that day

and knew he was going to be in trouble about his personal views.

In a weird way though, I'm glad he got canned. It was obvious he wasn’t a real evangelical and he could have convinced a lot of people that evangelicals were thoughtful, compassionate, reasonable people when they aren’t at all.

[grantcart]

6. He was with the NAE for 28 years

[moobu2]

7. He didn’t express the views he expressed in that NPR interview for 28 years

else he would have been fired 27 years & 364 days ago. Perhaps Cizik’s views on issues evolved recently. Maybe Cizik was lying all those years and wasn’t a real evangelical, don’t really care. Anyway, He apologized to the NAE for the NPR interview, and begged for his Job, so he was lying to someone….Typical.

[grantcart]

9. He has been fighting for progressive issues for a long time - here is Wallis comments on Cizik

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/jim-wallis-comments-on-richard.html

The agenda of the evangelical world is deeper and wider because of Rich Cizik. In addition to the environment and climate change, Cizik has also led on the fundamental moral and biblical issues of global poverty and commitments like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), human trafficking, religious liberty, genocide in Darfur, and foreign policy issues like torture and even nuclear weapons. The NAE's critically important statement, "For the Health of the Nation" bears powerful witness to the wider agenda that is the shape of the new evangelical movement in America, and certainly around the world--especially for the next generation.


I went to college with Cizik and we were two of the few liberals in a conservative student body. You are right that he probably had to suppress some of his views to have an impact. For the record the NAE has characterized his resignation as an apology, Cizik hasn't commented and has not released his resignation letter. I haven't seen anything that indicates he was begging to get his job back.

[dmallind]

8. As is often the case

regardless of what people claim is the majority opinion of this or that set or subset of Xians, it seems that whenever an objective measure such as a vote or survey is conducted, the REAL majority tends to be on the most regressive and inhumane side. Since this man could only be fired by such a vote, it is another, albeit small and very predictable, example of this trend.

[SidneyCarton]

10. A pity, he seemed to want to do good work.