Faith and Tobacco

Religious leaders have long played a critical role in protecting children and other vulnerable people. Helping to reduce tobacco use, the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States, is a natural extension of these efforts. The faith community can be a powerful force in protecting our children and reducing the terrible toll of tobacco.

Virginia Faith United Against Tobacco Products is part of a larger movement of faith leaders working to support tobacco control policies at the federal, state and local levels. Over 20 national denominations and faith groups are part of Faith United Against Tobacco including:

American Baptist Churches of the South
American Baptist Churches USA
Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church Women United
Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
General Commission on United Methodist Men
Health Ministries Association
Islamic Society of North America
International Parish Nurse Resource Center
Midwest Province of St. Joseph Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin
National Council of Churches of Christ
National Episcopal Health Ministries
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Southern Baptist Convention
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ - Justice and Witness Covenanted Ministry
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
World Sikh Council - America Region

Most of these denominations and faith groups have adopted their own tobacco control policies and are working in collaboration with public health groups including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.