"Is God Green?" Debate Comes to Pennsylvania.

PennFuture-Sponsored Event Draws Hundreds to Fight Against Global Warming, Protect Creation

BRYN MAWR, Pa. -- Hundreds of southeastern Pennsylvania religious and environmental leaders and activists turned out this evening for a presentation, Global Warming: An Issue of Justice, by the Reverend Jim Wallis, an internationally recognized leader of the evangelical "God is Green" movement. The presentation was sponsored by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) and the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, which hosted the event.

"Tonight was a powerful call to arms for people of faith to fight for the environment," said John Hanger, PennFuture president and CEO. "Mr. Wallis forcefully made his case, and the panelists offered clear, concrete ways that Pennsylvanians can stop global warming at home. The case for action here, at home, is clear - Pennsylvania makes a full one percent of the world's global warming pollution.

"I hope all those in attendance are as invigorated to take action as I am," concluded Hanger. "We simply must stop global warming to protect our planet, our state, our environment and our economy."

The evening's highlight was the address by Wallis, best selling author of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It," and a world renowned public theologian and activist. Wallis is president and executive director of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, where he is editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine, which reaches more than 250,000 people. Wallis also convenes a national network of churches, faith-based organizations and individuals working to overcome poverty in America.

Wallis' presentation was preceded by a panel discussion about what individuals, organizations and government can do to combat global warming in Pennsylvania. The panel, moderated by Hanger, included:

* Kathleen McGinty, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection;

* Rabbi James Egolf, Beth David Reform Congregation

* the Reverend Wesley Avram, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and

* Joy Bergey, Pennsylvania Interfaith Climate Change Campaign.

The Wallis presentation and panel discussion were cosponsored by the Pennsylvania Interfaith Climate Change Campaign and Beth David Reform Congregation.

PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state's environment and economy. With offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and West Chester, PennFuture's activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state and federal courts, advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public education and assisting citizens in public advocacy.