It's about protecting God's creation, caring for your neighbors, and doing what's right.

“These are moral issues that people are beginning to understand and to share a concern for, regardless

of how we feel about other issues," he said.

Hunt, an ordained United Church of Christ pastor from Knoxville, spent Wednesday on Capitol Hill

encouraging lawmakers to take care of, as he put it, "the gift of our planetary home."

Hunt and the Rev. Jim Deming of Nashville were among some six dozen faith leaders from 35 states who met with members of Congress and urged them to keep climate change legislation on the agenda.

The group did not endorse any particular bill, Hunt said, but talked in general about climate change and

other environmental issues.

The trip was organized by Interfaith Power and Light, a national campaign that is mobilizing a religious

response to the global warming issue by promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and

conservation.

Hunt, executive director of the group's Tennessee affiliate, and Deming met with the staffs of the state's two U.S. senators - Republicans Lamar Alexander of Maryville and Bob Corker of Chattanooga.

They talked about issues such as coal, carbon emissions, energy efficiency, mountaintop-removal mining and the possibilities for renewable energy, Hunt said.

They also stressed opposition to any efforts to weaken the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's

ability to regulate carbon emissions, he said.

Religious leaders have an obligation to speak out on climate change in the same way they have spoken

out on slavery and the other most difficult moral issues of the past, Hunt said.

Other issues may divide them. But when it comes to protecting the Earth, he said, "whether it's a

mainline liberal church, whether it's a conservative evangelical church," all are coming together "to be a

very significant force."

Michael Collins may be reached at 202-408-2711.