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April 22, 2010

Earth Day's Pentecostal Origins

Sarah Pulliam Bailey

The man who originally introduced the name "Earth Day" was a Pentecostal minister, according to the Assemblies of God (AG) Heritage magazine.

John_McConnell.jpg

John McConnell introduced "Earth Day" at the 1969 UNESCO Conference on the Environment. The next year, Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) moved Earth Day to April 22, when he held a political protest.

"So the next thing I knew they stole my name Earth Day and they used it for April 22," McConnell told the AG Heritage. "I was urged to sue, but I didn't. I didn't believe in suing."

McConnell's grandfather was at the Azusa Street Revival and his parents were founding members of the AG. Darrin Rodgers also did a video interview with McConnell.

"If there had been no Christian experience in my life there would be no Earth Day - or at least I would not have initiated it," McConnell said. "We love God ... [and therefore should] have an appreciation for His creation."

posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey | Comments (4)

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Out of love to God, we Christians should appreciate God's creation...


http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/04/22/building-a-better-earth-day/

Posted By: Linda | April 22, 2010 1:27 PM

Personally, I don't care who started it, but to keep it going and growing is the most important thing. I am somewhat surprised that a pentecostal minister got it started! I always thought that the pentecostals's and evangelicals were not interested in God's creation as they were more concerned with saving one's soul before the rapture!

Posted By: Doug Lass | April 23, 2010 10:50 AM

You are right Doug, and hats off to John McC! Current aging evangelicals like myself,and our fathers etc, need to keep apologising for the confusion we sowed in our zeal for the kingdom. But there WERE voices of reason and logic. May I quote E.M.Blaiklock on Gen 2/15, when having pointed out that the words literally mean "to serve it and to keep/tend it" he adds "Man is to keep the earth by serving it, but he has dominated & enslaved it, and the gift has withered in his selfish hands". Afraid I dont know the source but I have this quote written in my Genesis margin! Words to take to heart and remember. And by the way Doug, Christians views on the "rapture" do vary and still remain orthodox!Love to all from sunny South Africa.

Posted By: Andrew Phillips | April 24, 2010 4:30 AM

It's too bad that the communists and the eco extremists had to take it over and turn it into THEIR form of mother earth worship. Earth Day is no longer about conservation. It's an environmental militia attack on personal liberties and way of life. With Cap N Trade attempting to tax the very thing we exhale its' pathetic what the extremists have turned a simple call of conservation into....

Posted By: Brett | May 15, 2010 5:15 PM