What would Jesus drive?

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Now this is more like it !!

Going for a Sunday Drive Evangelical Campaign Focuses on Environmental Awareness The Rev. Jim Ball wants consumers to think of gas mileage as an ethical statement. (Photos Juana Arias -- The Washington Post)

By Katherine Ellison Special to The Washington Post Friday, November 8, 2002; Page A03

The Rev. Jim Ball has come up with a question he hopes will make millions of church-going Americans think twice before buying another SUV.

It's: "What would Jesus drive?"

Ball, a native of Baton Rouge, La., directs the Evangelical Environmental Network, a "biblically orthodox" nonprofit working with groups including the large relief organization World Vision International and the International Bible Society. The organization is launching a barrage of ads, mostly on Christian radio stations and cable television, urging consumers and automakers to start thinking of gas mileage as an ethical statement, noting that auto emissions are significantly contributing to climate change.

"Most people don't think the kind of car they drive has anything to do with their faith," said Ball, 41. "We want to show them it does."

The national campaign may be going against the consumer tide: gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans outsold cars for the first time in the United States last year. But the endeavor is part of a broader effort by some religious leaders in recent years to make ethical stands on environmental issues.

Concern has escalated among some prominent religious leaders that politicians and voters alike are paying too little attention to the threat of climate change, which scientists warn could lead to more frequent and heavy storms, floods, and epidemics spread by mosquitoes migrating to warmer climes.

Last year, for instance, Roman Catholic bishops in the United States unanimously backed a statement calling for immediate action on the threat. And last February, more than 1,200 religious leaders of different denominations signed a letter to U.S. senators urging specific measures such as increasing vehicle fuel efficiency and regulating carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

"Somebody's got to represent the long-term future, and the long-term future doesn't get much market share. So we have to do it," says John Briscoe, development director for the National Council of the Churches of Christ.

Over the past three years, activist groups organized by the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign, a project of the National Council of Churches and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, have sprung up in 21 states to educate Jews and Christians on the benefits of conservation and clean fuels. Scores of churches and synagogues have pledged to cut down their own energy use, while encouraging individual members to do the same.

Now the climate campaign is turning its attention to transportation. On Sunday, congregations in 15 states plan to coordinate events including press conferences with elected officials, sermons on fuel efficiency and displays of hybrid electric autos in their parking lots.

Later this month, the campaign will send mailings to 100,000 Jewish and Christian congregations and synagogues, discussing the relationship of fuel economy to religious teachings about stewardship and justice. Additionally, some 50,000 e-mails will be sent to individual churchgoers, giving them an opportunity to send a message to automobile manufacturers.

The pressure on automakers is intended to culminate on Nov. 20, when the mainline Christian and Jewish groups and the evangelical environmentalists hold their joint press conference in Detroit. NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar has asked chief executives of the "Big Three" automakers for a meeting that day to begin "a new conversation about cars and their impact on global sustainability, security, health, and justice."

"We'll be showing up in Priuses," said Briscoe, referring to Toyota's high gas-mileage hybrid car. "The key message is: You make it, we'll buy it."

To be sure, automakers have yet to buy this argument. The popularity of sport-utility vehicles has pushed the average gas mileage of new cars to its lowest point since the early 1980s. "The crux of the issue is that we make 50 different models that get 30 miles per gallon or better, and very few consumers buy them," said Eron Shosteck, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "We can't control the price of gas, and as long as gas is an inexpensive commodity, there is no incentive for consumers to use less of it."

Shosteck contends that car manufacturers don't fear the religious pressure, since they're "acting morally and responsibly" in giving consumers a choice.

On the other hand, the industry has long fought politicians' attempts to improve fuel economy standards -- most recently in Washington, during debate over a proposed energy bill earlier this year, and in California, where Gov. Gray Davis (D) recently signed a law requiring cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by cars and light trucks.

During the battle in Congress, religious groups joined mainstream environmental organizations in lobbying for tougher fuel standards but with little success: In September, House and Senate negotiators agreed on fuel economy rules that according to one government study would actually increase oil consumption.

"We lobbied hard, and we got our heads handed to us," Briscoe says. "So we decided that if vinegar won't do the trick, what about honey?"

The intent is to combine sweet talk with muscle. "The religious community does have some force," says Doug Grace, director of the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign. "After all, we changed civil rights."

The Evangelical Environmental Network, formed in 1994, successfully demonstrated its own clout back in 1996, with a $1 million crusade to save the Endangered Species Act, which it called a modern Noah's Ark, from an attempted rollback by Republican House members. The network took out TV, radio and print ads, mailed "Let the Earth Be Glad" kits to 33,000 evangelical churches, and led other religious and secular groups in the effort to rescue the law.

The "What would Jesus drive?" ad campaign will target four states with a heavy evangelical presence: Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina. Ball anticipates spending up to $65,000 on the blitz, supported by the Energy Foundation, based in San Francisco. He is also planning events on college campuses and a "Creation Sunday" celebration in the spring with the same theme.

"Jesus wants his followers to drive the least-polluting, most efficient vehicle that truly meets their needs -- though first he might look at other ways to get around." Ball said. "He'd definitely be in favor of us taking public transportation."

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2002

Answers

You know those TV ads for the "War on Drugs" that say that if you smoke pot you're supporting terrorism? There's a group raising money to produce TV ads that say if you drive an SUV you're supporting terrorism. I read a story about it on salon.com about a week or so ago. :)

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2002

I think alot of the problems lie with folks who buy these gas-guzzling SUV's and drive a mile or so to a big city job. Maybe there should be a law or something prohibiting everyone from driving their own vehicles every day!! I mean REALLY push the carpooling and public transportation ideas. Have to admit that we do have a full size pickup that only gets about 22 MPG. but it is our only vehicle (til my '64 Dodge s fully restored) and we drive it into town about once a month for grain and groceries. We need a full size truck for hauling hay!!

To be perfectly honest...I'd love to go back to driving a horse and buggy!!

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2002


I'd hate to see ANY more laws passed but I applaud the efforts of this group. Frankly it kinda surprises me, coming from where it comes from. It seems like theres alot of the "conservative" crowd who are big into opposing the idea of global warming.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2002

Maybe one way to start the ball rolling is not to completely remove the SUV from the scene, but limit the numbers . . .

Maybe like one SUV per household? My wife and I own five vehicles: a Suburban (boo - hiss), a VW station wagon, a Sentra four door sedan, a 250 Yamaha dirt bike and a 250 Yamaha motorcyle street cruiser. I use the Suburban for getting out in the boonies and getting to work, where job sites are too difficult to get to with standard cars. The cars we normally use during the weekends, daily errands (not too many of those) and vacations. Suburban sucks up gas, but does some things impossible for the smaller cars - no two ways about it.

Funny thing is, most of the SUVs I see on the road aren't driven by hairy chested macho men - they are driven by soccor moms, at least in my area. Just an observation.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2002


It seems like here in the city the SUV has become the new minivan for the soccer mom set. I've driven a SUV since before it was cool, I think my first one was a '92 Explorer, but back a couple of summers ago when gas prices got so high and I was spending $100 a week on gas I traded in my latest Explorer for an Escort. Cut my fuel bill in half immediately. :)

I think that there's a place for SUVs, I just don't think that cruising the interstate in the city is it. Maybe we should just double the price of gasoline and use the extra money for public transportation and alternative fuel research.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2002



I agree the answer is not to ban anything; that just gets folks riled. Choice is always good whenever possible. And yes, I think gas is way too cheap. And I think all vehicles should have the same gas mileage requirements as passenger cars; the fact that SUV's are classified as trucks and are excused from new standards is disgusting. But the public obviously doesnt give a damn.

Appropriateness of choice is a vital consideration. People on farms NEED a pick-up, fer cryin out loud. People who live in the north country can feel perfectly justified in driving SUV's, but all SUV's are not equal. IMO, it makes no ecological sense for southern folks to be driving 4 wheel drive vehicles on the road, and few people anywhere need huge SUV's. We needed a big vehicle for years cuz we hauled a livestock trailer around, but no longer need one.

I donated my nine year old, 135,000 mile full size van, MPG 12 last month to MN AIDS Project, and bought a little Honda CR-V. It's a small SUV, but has lots of interior room, and we I wanted a vehicle with fourwheel drive after our wintertime floundering around in that van for all those years. It's now our family car, and has room enough so far for plenty of stuff. We did a lot of reseach before this purchase, and I feel very happy with my decision. Besides its practically flawless record and reviews for every imaginable thing, it is a Low Emissions Vehicle, and gets 25 MPG. Granted, that's only half what Bren's Insight gets, but we have no idea yet how that one is going to handle in the snow, cuz its very lightweight, and its twice as efficient as my old car.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2002


Actually, people in the south sometimes have a need for four-wheel drive vehicles year round rather than just during the winter, as do people in the North. Have you ever visited anyone that lived on the side or top of a hill or mountain? My Mom's road, and ours where we use to live, was dirt (or maybe "rocks" would better describe it - ha, ha) and there is not way to get up it without a four-wheel drive vehicle, especially during rainy season. Of course, it doesn't take an SUV. My Mom owns a Subaru sedan. Most southern state have a lot of "unpaved" roads.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2002

Huh - the church folks must really be working on spreading this idea around 'cause it's even made it out here in the boonies - driving to work last night, the marqee on one of the churches I pass informed me that "God wants us to use energy wisely". The tired, crabby, snarky me thought: "That's nice - then maybe they can work on not using so much energy to build/heat/cool huge buildings that set mostly empty all but one morning a week." Then I told me to shut the hell up - any savings of energy is a positive thing and they are a big group so maybe it will do some good. Sheesh - I gotta quit hanging out with the schizophrenics at work!

Now, I would love to have a big old honkin' 4WD truck - sometimes I borrow the ex's to take Jes somewhere and it is pretty neat to be sitting up there above the rest of the folks and feeling all that power under the wheels...but I am too cheap to do so - not only gas cost, but also buying the darn thing in the first place and insuring it and all that. I live out in the sticks, tho all my roads are paved; I could make it back and forth to work in my little Neon just about any day of the year - if the darn road commisioner would get off his butt and plow out the road when it snows. Our snow down here is nothing like what the northern folks push through; but I will admit it is a little intimidating sometimes to look at an all white landscape and try to remember where the heck the road is when you're getting ready to head home.

Pop's friend Lisa has an Explorer. She's a typical SUV owner to my way of thinking. She has one small child, lives in town, right on the highway - 1/2 block from one job, 5 blocks from the other one, and 3 blocks from the grocery store. It ain't a need thing. I've got no problem with folks who NEED an SUV - I'd have loved to have one when I was navigating Sharon's lane, fer instance; but I did make it up (and down even!) in the Neon.

Then again, who am I to cast stones? We have more vehicles than we need; really. Farm truck, Hub's Dakota, my Neon, Pop's Caddy, Jes's Cavalier, the spare Dakota, the quad, all the durn tractors, coupla combines....though I gotta admit; we don't drive things all at the same time!

It would be nice to see safe, reliable, useable public transportation - I'd love to see a metro train, or even a bus; that would run between my town and the one I work in - I'd still have to make the 6+ mile run to town to catch it; but at least I'd get to spend the other 30 minutes of my commute doing something more useful than driving - and wouldn't have to worry about falling asleep driving on the way home; one of my real fears. Actually though, if there was a good public transportation system, I would probably take a job at a different hospital; one a bit farther away - the only thing stopping me is the drive. Would that be much of an energy savings? At least some employers are offering a 12 hour shift, like mine. I only have to go to work 3 days a week; at 54 miles round trip, that saves me 108-162 miles per week. Hub's commute is only 50 miles round trip, but he works 5 1/2 days a week. Trouble is, some folks don't want to work 12 hours, so it makes scheduling difficult (or so the powers that be tell me, anyway.) Maybe we all ought to just work out of our homes - though there ain't much call for a psych nurse in the home, for some reason...

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2002


Wow! This is great. I've been saying we need to take excellent care of our Earth beause 'God created it with love and it still belongs to him' for oh about 30 years now. Glad to see other folks finlly realizing this too. Sort of gives me a little hope. Thanks Earthmama.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2002

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