(Washington, DC)—This week, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II addressed the Progressive National Baptist Convention, an association of Baptist churches with 2.5 million members worldwide, at their annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Congressman Cleaver told the convention, “About halfway through the 20th Century, the thoughtful people of the planet began to speak ominously about an impending environmental apocalypse. To be sure, that time seems to be close at hand.  Today, with global climate change, the environment in which God so graciously placed us is suffering because of “man-made” mess and mischief.  God said in Genesis 1:28, “subdue the earth,” we have sought to undo it.  The unspoken but perilous attitude of contemporary earth dwellers is that nature exists only for their comfort and enjoyment.”

“Tragically and wrongly,” said Cleaver, “some Christians ignore issues related to the environment because they see themselves as living in a world restricted by space and time while Christians are creatures with an eternal future in the celestial realm.”

Congressman Cleaver urged the Convention to make the earth’s environment the business of the church. “There is overwhelming scientific evidence that the sin of materialism and greed are inextricably linked to the alarming rise in greenhouse gas emissions and that, my friends, demands an urgent response,” said Cleaver.

Cleaver, a practicing United Methodist minister, asked the Conference to take action on global climate change and introduced the following resolution, which was officially adopted by the body this afternoon:

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Progressive Baptist Convention meeting in Washington, D.C. August 10, 2007, urge Progressive Baptists to recognize the urgent need to reduce global warming pollution in light of the scientific evidence; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we consider proposals to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions necessary to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming, to foster sustainable development around the world and to promote the development of innovative technologies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Congress and the President to support cost-effective, mandatory measures to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge governments to begin to take steps to help protect vulnerable communities and regions from the effects of global warming; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we strongly request that all public policy decision makers ensure an appropriate balance between care for the environment, effects on economies, and impacts on the poor when considering programs to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the development of public policy that will improve the stewardship of the Earth’s resources and improve the environment not only of the United States and other developed countries, but also, and most importantly, of the poor and of developing countries; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support public policy that helps provide immediate assistance to the poor and most vulnerable people around the world, including access to clean drinking water and electricity, AIDS care and prevention, vaccinations, malaria eradication, education programs, and efforts to deal with the impacts of global warming already being felt; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we continually reaffirm our God-given responsibility to care for the Earth by remaining environmentally conscious and taking individual and collective efforts to reduce pollution, decrease waste, and improve the environment in tangible and effective ways.

“I congratulate the Progressive Baptist National Convention for taking a leadership role on this issue of survival. From the Genesis narrative, we find these words, ‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to keep and care for it.’   This means that we are to protect the Earth.   The inhabitants are to defend - not to destroy, to repair - not impair,” said Cleaver.

Earlier this year, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Congressman Cleaver to the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and charged him with reaching out to faith communities across the world. “With his values and experience, global warming will be an issue that is as local as neighborhoods in your cities, and as global as all of God’s creation,” said Speaker Pelosi.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and the Speaker’s Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Congressman Cleaver also serves as a Regional Whip of the Democratic Caucus and Second Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.