c. 1999 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ More than 125 evangelical Christian leaders have endorsed a new document affirming the doctrines of faith on which they agree.

Drafters of”The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration”say their work _ which took more than a year _ aims to remind evangelicals of their basic beliefs at a time when doctrinal agreement can be lost in differences of culture, worship style and politics.”All Christians are called to unity in love and unity in truth,”the statement reads.”As evangelicals who derive our very name from the gospel, we celebrate this great good news of God’s saving work in Jesus Christ as the true bond of Christian unity, whether among organized churches and denominations or in the many transdenominational cooperative enterprises of Christians together.” The document was drafted by a 15-member committee and initially endorsed by an additional 114 people, including a wide range of evangelicals _ a word drawn from”evangel,”the Greek word that means gospel or good news.

The endorsers include leaders of numerous evangelical ministries, such as Promise Keepers’ Bill McCartney, Campus Crusade’s Bill Bright and Prison Fellowship’s Chuck Colson. Religious broadcasters such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Charles F. Stanley are signatories, along with prominent pastors such as Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church outside Chicago, Tony Evans of Dallas and D. James Kennedy of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They also represent Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglican and Lutheran denominations, among others.

Timothy George, a drafting committee member, said he hopes the document affirms Jesus’ prayer”that they all may be one.””When evangelicals themselves are so divided, as our rhetoric has sometimes portrayed us to be, that’s a bad witness for the gospel,”said George, dean of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.

Drafters and signers alike say the document is an inclusive one.”It’s a pretty broad cross-section of people who have signed it,”said Brandt Gustavson, president of the National Religious Broadcasters, and an endorser.”I don’t know who wouldn’t.” The lengthiest section of the document is subtitled”The Gospel”and details evangelical beliefs and doctrines about”infallible Scriptures,”Jesus’ bodily resurrection and salvation.”The heart of the gospel is that our holy, loving Creator, confronted with human hostility and rebellion, has chosen in his own freedom and faithfulness to become our holy, loving Redeemer and Restorer,”the document reads.”The Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14); it is through his one and only Son that God’s one and only plan of salvation is implemented.” The new document also seeks to clarify evangelicals’ definition of justification by arguing that what they believe is a”not guilty verdict”given to them through Jesus, said David Neff, a member of the drafting committee.

The document states:”God’s justification of those who trust him, according to the gospel, is a decisive transition, here and now, from a state of condemnation and wrath because of their sins to one of acceptance and favor by virtue of Jesus’ flawless obedience culminating in his voluntary sin-bearing death.” Neff, executive editor of Christianity Today, said he hopes the statement, to be published in the June 14 issue of the evangelical magazine, will prove to be a new”reference point”in discussions about evangelical doctrine.”There were several organizations that saw ways in which this document could be a resource for them in their work, whether that’s evangelistic work or a teaching kind of work, or simply making sure that the ministry they do is in line with the gospel,”he said.

Signatories commend the statement for its declaration of foundational beliefs, a move away from what they consider to be less significant aspects of Christian life that can divide them.”I think this document may go a long way in reminding us of who we are and what we’re supposed to be about,”said Mimi Haddad, executive director of the Minneapolis-based Christians for Biblical Equality.”It, if you will, pulls us out of being sidetracked by celebrity figures, political heroes,”she said.”It reminds us that the church is more than the organ, the music, that we have deep and rich eternal history.” John Ankerberg, a member of the drafting committee, agreed.”With our different organizations, schools, parachurch ministries, we have needed a statement on what the central message of the Christian faith is,”said Ankerberg, host of a Christian television show based in Chattanooga, Tenn.”This is important, it’s needed and it’s wonderful to see the unity on this message.” (OPTIONAL TRIM _ STORY MAY END HERE)

Ankerberg said the document, now endorsed by mostly North American leaders, may eventually become a global affirmation of evangelical belief.”There is a lot of enthusiasm among international evangelicals,”he said.

In fact, the public celebration of the document will be held during the international gathering of CBA, formerly the Christian Booksellers Association, when it is held in July 2000 in New Orleans.

Bill Anderson, CBA president, said he’s pleased his organization will host the signing of the document.”I think this is going to be a very historic event,”he said.”This is really quite a strong coming together around the gospel and it’s exciting to see.” David Melvin, director of operations for the National Association of Evangelicals, and an endorser, is hopeful that the document will help evangelicals move forward with a better understanding of their beliefs.”When we understand who we are, then we can more confidently carry out our mission,”he said.

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