Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of Chicago Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern
The unique historical document stands in such great contrast to the white evangelical world of today
Five decades ago, a group of young evangelicals and older established evangelical leaders spent Thanksgiving weekend together at the YMCA hotel on Wabash Street in downtown Chicago. The result was the Chicago Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern.
And on Wednesday night at Wheaton College in the leafy suburbs of Chicago, people gathered to remember what became known as the Chicago Declaration, what it meant then and what it might mean now. Scholars, historians, activists, and students were there for a dinner and program convened by Christians for Social Action, formerly Evangelicals for Social Action, which was led by Ron Sider, who helped shape the original retreat. Three of us original signers, “young evangelicals” then, were on hand last night, with several new generations of leaders in the evangelical tradition.
I’ve included the full-text of the Declaration at the end of this column because it is worth a fresh read – as a unique historical document that told the story of the evangelical movement then, and because it stands in such great contrast to the white evangelical world today, which has become politicized by the far right with great loyalty for Donald Trump, one of the least evangelical or Christian presidents in American history.
The Chicago Declaration was perhaps the first place that modern evangelicals addressed the issues of poverty and racism, speaking of both systematically in America and globally. One of the original signers there last night was Dr. Ruth Bentley, an African American woman, now 84-years-old, who reminded us again of the great difference between black and white evangelicals – then and still now.
Sexism and the call for gender equality was also key to the document, and we heard last night how the voices of women there at the Wabash YMCA led to a movement of “evangelical feminism.” Militarism was also directly addressed in the document with the call to become peacemakers. And the false worship of nations, now taking the form of idolatrous white Christian nationalism, was clear in the Chicago Declaration.
The centrality of personal faith was throughout the document, and the commitment to follow Jesus Christ, in our lives and in the world, was the unifying call that brought younger and older evangelical leaders together.
I will never forget those days at the Chicago YMCA. As one of the final editors of the Chicago Declaration, I shared on Wednesday how this was a significant “moment” in church and history, but that we have another “moment” right now with the takeover of white evangelicals by a divisive political agenda which is decidedly anti-Christ. And how the 2024 election will not just be a test of democracy, but also a test of faith for the nation and its future.
Please read the Chicago Declaration. You will find a prophetic call to Jesus Christ that would not be heard from most white evangelical leaders today. It revealed what we wanted to be, and what we could decide to become again: followers of Jesus.
The archives at Wheaton College had a wonderful display of documents and letters around the Chicago Declaration. They have produced a remarkable website that describes the history of the document and the creation of a progressive evangelical movement that has now been taken up by a new generation whose young voices became the highlight of the anniversary celebration for me. Take a look.
I am not evangelical and I could sign this document. You are right that those who follow trump are far from this document and the will of God.
I'm very proud that my older brother, Stephen Mott was a signer of this document. Stephen was Professor of Social Ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for 25 years and authored the book, "Biblical Ethics and Social Change." He has been a very positive influence in my Christian life! Thanks for highlighting this very important event!