Hey, We'll Take Stewardship

Texan Baptists turn themselves into quiet anti-coal activists

Duty says we should report on the $5.9 billion Kyoto loophole that let China add simple upgrades to plants making a gas called HFC-23 and reap gigantic benefits through carbon trading. But yawn! Wouldn't you rather read about Texan Baptists busting the shackles of their anti-eco-activism past to combat coal-fired power plants? "This is cutting edge stuff for Baptists -- even moderate Baptists," says Bruce Gourley of Georgia's Center for Baptist Studies. The 2.3-million-member Baptist General Convention of Texas passed a resolution last fall to "advocate for sound environmental policies in the public square," and many churchgoers are quietly fighting Gov. Rick Perry's (R) push to fast-track approval of TXU Corp.'s 18 planned coal plants. But the head of the state's Christian Life Commission knows where to draw the line: "I know environmentalists, they want to see a bunch of Christians marching on the Capitol," she said. "We have a longer-term goal, which is about the stewardship of creation."