"Shouldn't churches instead focus on explaining the Good News made possible on Good Friday to a broken world in need of redemption?" -- IRD President Mark Tooley

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- As Earth Day coincides with the observance of Good Friday this year, some church groups are linking the two in order to promote environmental advocacy among their congregants. Two-way initiatives that also seek to bring a Christian witness to the secular environmental community have not been promoted.

Groups such as the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program, Episcopal Church Environmental Ministries and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) are offering liturgies and other materials that seek to incorporate Earth Day within the context of the Christian Holy Week.

"This year, Earth Day falls on Good Friday -- a profound coincidence," reads a statement from the Episcopal Church. "On the day we mark the crucifixion of Christ, let us remember that when Earth is degraded and species go extinct, a part of God's body experiences a different type of crucifixion, and another way of seeing and experiencing God is diminished."

The Institute on Religion and Democracy has published a paper on the environmental task facing Christians. Part of the Institute's Mount Nebo series, the paper examines the many environmental concerns clamoring for attention and investment. It is available free for download at www.TheIRD.org.

Mark Tooley, IRD President, commented:

"Almost all Earth Day resources from these liberal church groups aim in one direction -- enlisting the faithful into environmental advocacy.

"Shouldn't churches instead focus on explaining the Good News made possible on Good Friday to a broken world in need of redemption?

"In some cases, the connection to Good Friday seems little more than a religious veneer.

"Rather than appearing prophetic, these church agencies seem only to echo secular environmentalists. Shouldn't churches have a more powerful message during Christianity's most momentous week of the year?"