Bob Edgar

Lecture by Rev. Bob Edgar:
Holding Power Accountable in an Unstable World
September 5, 2007

Common Cause President and former United States Representative Rev. Bob Edgar spoke about holding power accountable in an unstable world September 5, 2007 at Gettysburg College.

Edgar is transitioning from his role as general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, an organization focused on Christian unity, to president of Common Cause, a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy group that serves as a vehicle for citizens' voices in the political process and accountability to the public interest, effective Sept. 1. The talk was sponsored by Gettysburg Area Democracy for America, Gettysburg College's Departments of Religion and Political Science and The Eisenhower Institute.

"Too often we see government policies that do not reflect the interests and clearly expressed views of the American people," Edgar said. "We have to ask ourselves why, when the 2006 election was an unmistakable message to lawmakers to end the war in Iraq, the answer was a surge in troop levels. Why do millions of Americans, especially kids, have no health insurance? Why is the United States not joining the global fight against global warming? And why do we have voting machines that don't work election after election? A political system awash in money and special interest influence where those who get heard are those with the money, is not working in the public interest."

An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Edgar came to the NCC from the Claremont School of Theology, Calif., where he was president from 1990 to 2000. During that decade, he brought a school on the brink of collapse back to institutional health, confirming his reputation as an optimist, a futurist and a coalition builder. Edgar served as a six-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1974 to 1987, where he was the first Democrat in more than 120 years to be elected from the heavily Republican Seventh District of Pennsylvania. His election and service demonstrated the bipartisan, ecumenical quality that has marked his whole life and ministry. His wide-ranging career has also included pastorates at United Methodist congregations and stints as a teacher, college chaplain, community organizer and director of a think- tank on national security issues.

Edgar received a bachelor of arts degree from Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pa., and a master of divinity degree from the Theological School of Drew University, Madison, N.J. He holds four honorary doctoral degrees.