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PALMER PROFESSOR RON SIDER MEETS WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BARACK OBAMA

St. Davids, PA, June 18, 2008:  Palmer Seminary Theology Professor Ron Sider, who is also President of the Seminary-based Evangelicals for Social Action, was part of a 30-member delegation to meet with Illinois Senator and Presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday, June 10, in Chicago. The gathering took place at the initiative of Senator Obama who had expressed an interest in meeting with Christian leaders. Dr. Sider was among those invited to be part of the group, with the invitation coming from Sen. Obama’s religious liaison.Because this was an off-the-record conversation, Dr. Sider is not at liberty to disclose the names of others in attendance, but he said that most were heads of denominations, megachurch pastors, or leaders of national Christian organizations.

According to Dr. Sider, the meeting lasted for about two hours, during which time Senator Obama responded to questions on a variety of topics, including abortion, Iraq, homosexuality, urban poverty, and health care. Says Dr. Sider, “He gave candid answers, even when he knew his position differed from that of the person posing the question.” Dr. Sider said that Senator Obama noted that his position on some aspects of abortion had been distorted. Sider added, “I plan to check that carefully.”

According to Sider, Sen. Obama said he intends to be “as careful in getting out of Iraq as President Bush was careless in getting in.” Sider added, “I disagreed with him on some points and agreed on others. But on every issue, I found him to be a brilliant, thoughtful Christian who is trying to get the facts straight and build bridges where possible.”

Before leaving the meeting, Dr. Sider handed the Senator a three-page memo outlining ways he’d like the Senator to move on abortion, marriage and family issues, and faith-based initiatives. Sider noted that Senator Obama promised to read the memo.

For more information on Evangelicals for Social Action and The Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy, visit www.sidercenter.org.

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