Who are your favorite political Christian leaders living today?

[greyl]

Rev Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church And State is mine.

[napi21]

1. I don't have any. Religious leaders shouldn't be political! n/t

[greyl]

5. Not even when they agree with you? ;) nt

[napi21]

10. No. Not even when they agree with me.

I want my Religious leaders to teach me how to be a good person, neighbor, wife, mother, and citizen. That includes NOT constantly downgrading your neighbors who happen to be of a different faith!

There is no reason for these Religious leaders to get into politics, and as far as I understand, are forbidden to do so under the "tax free status laws of the IRS".

[Donald Ian Rankin]

21. But surely

"How to be a good person" includes politics?

I don't think any religious leader who gets involved in politics should receive tax exemptions, but I think the idea that any religion must regard all political parties as equally valid and be neutral between them is a mistaken one.

One of the primary duties many religions impose on their followers is to try and make the world a better place, and that often means getting involved in politics.

[saltpoint]

2. Bill Moyers. Liberal, Texan, and a Baptist minister. Arguably the

most intelligent and perceptive human being in America.

[greyl]

4. Ah yes, he's a great one.

I forgot that he was a Baptist minister. (ordained in 1959)

[saltpoint]

6. It would be almost insurmountable for any mentioned Republican

candidate to defeat Bill Moyers with the church-going demographic.

And in the televised debates, I don't think anyone on earth could out-duel Bill Moyers.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Bishop John Shelby Spong

http://www.dioceseofnewark.org/jsspong/

Bishop's Address
125th Convention of the Diocese of Newark
January 29th, 1999
" * * * Perhaps a new political start without the burden of the past might be a better way to redeem our present political process. For an independent candidacy to be successful, it will require competent, substantive leadership and a personal respect that the prospective candidate has already won. This broad-based reconciling effort cannot be accomplished by a narrowly focused or single issue candidate. We do need to face the fact that the old political structures have succeeded in alienating so many members of our electorate that less than 50 percent of the eligible voters of this nation even bother going to the polls. These structures have simply become too partisan, too hostile, too uncompromising to be flexible enough to do the nation's business effectively. Both parties are also today too deeply compromised with illegal campaign financing which is why they will always refuse to police themselves by passing campaign reform legislation. Those are the reasons that I believe the American people are ready to consider new political alternatives. I call on those political leaders whose personal integrity has enabled them to stand loose to partisan pressures and above the traditional political structures, to consider an independent run for the White House * * * "
http://www.dioceseofnewark.org/99bpadd.html

(I know the topic is "living", but I love this guy)
Posthumously: Father Mychal Judge

[Bellamia]

8. Bishop John Shelby Spong

I second that; if he were here I'd go to his church twice on Sunday and never miss Wednesday night! As it is, I live for his weekly newsletter via email, and yes, he's political.......why not, we've got a Fundie Prez, now THAT'S political, only its the wrong party!!!

[ChazII]

11. Wednesay nights at

an Espicopalian church?? Not at mine. It is only open on Sundays.

[boobooday]

7. The nuns who were just sentenced to jail

For protesting -- I think it was School of the Americas.

[hlthe2b]

9. Yes. Revs. Barry Lynn, Bill Moyers, and President Jimmy Carter!

[greyl]

13. I love Carter, but he doesn't qualify here

I meant Christian leaders as in ordained preachers who are also outspoken about progressive political and social issues.

[Rowdyboy]

12. I'm partial to Bishop Gene Robinson of Vermont.....and

generally supportive of Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

[tjwmason]

19. I'll second the A.B.C.

and without being pernickety - Bishop Gene is of New Hampshire not Vermont.

[Taxloss]

14. Rowan Williams, the present Archbishop of Canterbury, is a good chap.

So is Richard Harris, the bishop of Oxford, who confirmed me. (I still have a prayer book inscribed by him.) They both make political pronouncements on a fairly regular basis, what with being in the Established church.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu deserves a mention for a lifetime's service to humanity.

[Lucy - Claire]

18. He condemned Guanamento Bay today.....

It is all over the news.

[kwassa]

15. Desmond Tutu, Bishop Spong, Bishop John Chane, and many others

[f-bush]

16. Jim Wallis

[Lucy - Claire]

17. Rev Desmond Tutu

n/t

[WritingIsMyReligion]

20. Bishop Spong....

I'm really not big on religious leaders, in general, though.

:D