It also examined friction within the National Association of Evangelicals — which represents 45,000 congregations and some 30 million members nationwide — over the place of "creation care" on the group's political agenda. An environmental "Call to Action" — raised by 86 Evangelical leaders this year — was doused by a number of the coalition's heavy hitters. They included former presidential candidate and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson and James Dobson of Focus on the Family.

Yet the movement appears to have staying power.

This week an environmental advocacy group said selected churches and synagogues across the country will preview a new climate-change documentary, "The Great Warming," during the next few weeks before it opens in theaters in early November. Those who see the film can then contact their state's congressional candidates via the Web site, www.questionsforcandidates.org, and create customized questionnaires for candidates whose responses are tracked online.

Greg Johnson, president of a local group of Evangelical churches called Standing Together, said the movement hasn't taken hold among member churches, but "if you asked any single pastor, he would say we should be good stewards of the resources of our planet." It's an issue the group has no current plans to address, he said, though he isn't opposed to it.

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