“Evangelicalism should be distinguished from two opposite tendencies to which Protestantism has been prone: liberal revisionism and conservative fundamentalism.”
From An Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment, written and published this month. PDF is here. Dan Wallace has the skinny and why he signed it. An Evangelical Response to the Evangelical Manifesto was written by Big Al. I wonder who will be the first to write a Post-evangelical Response to the Evangelical Manifesto?
Others: Evangelical Outpost, Justin Taylor. [oh yeah . . . and Scot McKnight]
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Andrew,
Does mine from last Monday count?
What’s telling to me are the signatories – e.g., the Institute on Religion and Democracy has a known history going after mainline church leaders in a way that is more malicious than missional – even when they are right in their assessements, their tactics bring people down without uplifting the kingdom.
Also, see whose names are absent – e.g., Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren, Rob Bell – not to mention the fact that hardly any women are signatories to this document – we’re talking 2008 not 1958. Dr. Dobson noted the lack of African-American theologians (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gIMD30g1mDuBXJyCdwZrew3j5RtQD90H2HCO2) and when I agree with Dr. D. on ANYTHING, that’s a warning sign.
As far as I can see, the main point of this document is to give a select group of old guard evangelicals a vehicle to give them increased media exposure. Otherwise, why hire a very prestigious PR firm that used to handle Billy Graham to run this website?
http://www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com/media/
That’s why I am “VERY” skeptical of groups that gather to create a manifesto, declaration, proclamation, etc. because they always end up as promotional product that gives a very small self-appointed group an excuse to circulate a press release.
I find gatherings like Greenbelt far more healthy and my hunch is a lot more kingdom changing happens after getting rejuvenated from an event like that than having a small group craft, sign and promote a paper product. Here’s hoping too many trees weren’t destroyed in the process at least.
thanks Becky. I would have expected a few female voices. uummmm!!! And can i add that no New Zealanders at all were invited to sign the document.
Scot – i missed your post but just added it to the list. Good response on that one on your blog! thanks.
I posted about it on my site the day it came out.
There’s more opinion in the comments than in the post – and various links in the comments to other (early) posts/articles about it.
I wonder who will be the first to write a Post-evangelical Response to the Evangelical Manifesto?
Thanks for the idea, Andrew. Would love to get your take (and, no, you don’t have to sign it).
Grace and Peace,
Raffi