What do you do when someone changes the definition of the words you've been using all your life to describe yourself?

Evangelicals have lost control of how their own identity is defined and now a high profile group of them is trying to get it back.

On Wednesday in Washington D.C. they unveiled "An Evangelical Manifesto" three years in the making. It calls for reaffirmation of identity, reformation of behavior and repositioning in public life among evangelicals. It was unveiled at the National Press Club and presenters urged reporters to look further and deeper at evangelicals before lumping them into a politically defined niche.

"Evangelical" is a theological term but it has been used in recent years to describe a group of people politically, culturally, socially – and even as a marketing demographic.

We're not all Republican and our only issues are not abortion and homosexuality. Of course, the presenters' beautiful, well crafted language was not quite as succinct. The 20-page manifesto truly is a beautiful piece of work. You can read it or a summary here.

It is a joy to read and you are welcome to affirm it with your signature if you feel it describes you. Os Guinness, who has written at least 25 books and was on the manifesto's drafting committee, said, "This is not a rebranding or a relabeling issue. 'Evangelical' is not a bad brand; the trouble is, we have a bad reality."

The drafters, which include Beeson Divinity School's Timothy George, want to reclaim the term "evangelical" from the trash heap where it lies wounded by abusers who loaded it with cultural baggage and used it to describe, label and dismiss from the public forum people whose opinion they wanted to marginalize.

The term has been redefined so often by so many it probably serves no actual, accurate descriptive purpose. The manifesto reclaims the term for both the culture and community of faith. The theological root traces back to the Greek word "euangelion" for "good news" or "gospel."

I watched the press conference live online from the comfort of my desk. Great technology. David Neff, editor of Christianity Today, asked rhetorically, "Why is this manifesto needed? Because American society has an increasingly new perception of what evangelicals are. This is an endeavor to set the record straight. As evangelicals we share a similar determination to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. But our causes, issues, priorities and methodologies differ even as our core values are quite similar."

Follow-up questions demonstrated part of the problem the manifesto seeks to correct. Panel members were asked why certain high profile "evangelicals" were not charter signers. But the persons identified had a higher political profile than religious. Guinness quoted a friend who told him, "The first thing to remember about politics, is that politics is not the first thing." All participants made it clear that the heart of an evangelical is first and foremost in the hands of Jesus Christ. The truth is anyone who agrees that the manifesto describes them is free to sign.

Much of the conversation was about civility in the public square. It is not only alright to co-exist and even work together with persons with whom we differ, it is essential. And, it is essential to do it with the utmost respect for them as persons, no matter how far to the left or right of your own position they might be.

Evangelicals of the manifesto definition may well be involved in political action. But it will not be for a political purpose. "If we advocate for the earth, it's because God made it; if we advocate for refugees, it's because Jesus was one; and if we advocate for children, it's because He loved children," said Neff.

"We have a history of either giving up on the culture or trying to take it over," said Richard Mouw, president and professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary. "Instead, we should do what we are capable of doing for the common good alongside others who have a sincere commitment to the common good. We need to develop a more adequate theology, not impose our will on society."

A news release from Larry Ross, principal of the PR firm that worked with the group to bring off the news conference, said the manifesto repudiates the partisans of both a sacred public square that gives preference in public life to one religion, and a naked public square that would make all religious expression inviolably private and keep the public square equally secular.

"Evangelicalism is about renewal, and renewal brings transformation," Neff said. "The key moments in history, such as the abolition of slavery and women's suffrage, were about personal transformation. Evangelicalism is not an ideology. It is not a party. It is a renewal movement that brings transformation."

There are accompanying study materials with the manifesto online.