‘What would Jesus drive?’
Carmakers asked:
By AP
DETROIT – A group of religious leaders came to the Motor City yesterday with a proposition for U.S. automakers: Start producing vehicles that are kinder to God’s creation, and we will urge the faithful to buy them.
The delegation, which included representatives from a variety of Jewish and Christian organizations, met with executives and top officials at Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers.
Earlier, the group introduced a “What Would Jesus Drive?” television advertising campaign, sponsored by the Evangelical Environmental Network.
The ad, to begin airing in limited markets next month, says too many vehicles are polluting, then asks: “So if we love our neighbour and we cherish God’s creation, maybe we should ask, 'What would Jesus drive?”’
Representatives of GM and Ford said they looked forward to a dialogue with the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign’s leaders to explain advances and challenges to improve vehicle fuel efficiency.
The religious groups – which include the Korean Presbyterians, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Mennonite Church – are promoting hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles, and other fuel-saving technologies.
‘EMBRACE CHANGE’
“If you in the American auto industry manufacture and market more clean cars, we in the American religious community will not only tell our people about it but we’ll have prepared them to embrace such a change,” said David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.