wfn.org | Edgar: God's commandments, not politics, drive NCC

["NCC News" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

NCC GENERAL SECRETARY: GOD'S COMMANDMENTS, NOT POLITICS, DRIVE THE NCC

Washington, D.C., August 9, 2005 -- In remarks today at the Progressive
National Baptist Convention's (PNBC) 44th Annual Session in Detroit, the Rev.
Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA,
told the gathering of Baptist pastors, ministers and lay leaders that it is
the priorities and commandments of Christ rather than partisan politics that
leads the NCC to advocate for peace, ending poverty and protecting God's
creation.
 
"There are those who try to dilute our witness and mislead our friends by
suggesting that the National Council of Churches is a partisan, left-leaning
organization," said Rev. Edgar. "But you know who it is that calls us to
pursue peace, fight poverty and injustice, and care for the earth. It is the
Prince of Peace who each day of his life showed his bias for the poor and
prayed to the Creator who gave us this beautiful world," he said.
 
The NCC has come under fire in recent months for advocating for good
environmental stewardship, working to end poverty and for calling for a plan
to reduce U.S. military presence in Iraq.
 
In an interview Rev. Edgar said of the issues in which the NCC focuses,
"These are not liberal or conservative issues but issues for which God has
called us as Christian believers to take responsibility.
 
PNBC, which is made up of more than 2,000 churches and 2.5 million members
globally, is one of the member denominations of the NCC. With an expected
attendance of more than 10,000 for the Annual Session being held this week,
the PNBC plans to vote on resolutions that address numerous social issues
including the need for universal healthcare, establishment of a living wage,
proposed changes in Social Security, the U.S. boycott of Cuba and the war in
Iraq.

The National Council of Churches USA represents mainline Protestant,
Orthodox, and Anglican communions, historically African American
denominations and traditional peace churches. NCC fosters Christian unity
through advocating for peace, protecting God's creation, and eliminating
poverty in the world.

The full text of Rev. Edgar's speech today is below.
 
____
 
Editor's Note: To schedule an interview with Rev. Edgar or for more
information, contact Leslie Tune at 202/544-2350, ext. 11 or Phil Jenks at
212/870-2252. Reporters interested in finding out more about PNBC's
resolutions should contact Deborah Pankey-Mebane at 410/206-8082.
 

Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar, General Secretary
National Council of Churches USA
Statement for 44th Annual Session
Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
August 9, 2005
 
 
"Giving praise and honor to God, it is an honor to be standing before you
again. No matter where the Progressive National Baptist Convention meets,
history follows you. Many of you have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the
giants of faith and justice that walked among you: L.V. Booth, Benjamin Mays,
T.M. Chambers, Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King Sr., Martin Luther King,
Jr. These giants and many others form a cloud of witnesses that follows you
and proclaims you wherever you go. 
 
Unity, Service, Fellowship, Peace. Your motto is your testimony. Throughout
your history, you have recognized that these ideals must be pursued with
Christian sisters and brothers of all denominations and backgrounds. The
National Council of Churches has been grateful for your strong involvement in
and support of our own efforts to live out your testimony. Your theme,
"Building Better Bridges for Ministry: The Bridge of Partnership" points to
the strength and power that we have working together in Christian unity.
Together we can build a bridge that will take us from where we are to where
we believe God would have us to go.
 
The National Council of Churches is a fellowship of very diverse Christian
groups united by a common Lord and called to a dynamic witness to live out
the Gospel:
 
- in our pursuit of peace, 
- in our vigilance against the infamies of injustice and poverty, and 
- in our care for the health and preservation of the beautiful world God has
given us. 
 
There are those who try to dilute our witness and mislead our friends by
suggesting that the National Council of Churches is a partisan, left-leaning
organization. But you know who it is that calls us to pursue peace, fight
poverty and injustice, and care for the earth. It is the Prince of Peace who
each day of his life showed his bias for the poor and prayed to the Creator
who gave us this beautiful world. 
 
Thank you for clear expression of the call we share, for your steadfast
commitment to Jesus Christ and his commandments to be peaceful, just and
caring people. Together, and only together, can we embolden our witness to
bring all people closer to Christ and closer to the Beloved Community of
peace, justice and caring that is our common goal. Thank you and God bless
you all."