WASHINGTON, DC – On behalf of its members, board of directors and staff, Interfaith Alliance president Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy released the following statement on the death of Rev. Bob Edgar, who was a strong ally in the organization’s work to protect religious freedom.

It is with profound sadness and shock that I learned of the death of Rev. Bob Edgar, a dear friend of mine, an avid supporter of Interfaith Alliance, president of Common Cause, former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and a former member of Congress.

Bob has been one of most consistent and loudest cheerleaders for the work of Interfaith Alliance. And, he has been a close personal friend with whom private conversations were always valuable. Less than a week ago in a meeting at the Aspen Institute I teased Bob about his puns and jokes, but I admired the fact that I never once heard him stop hoping or saw him without a smile on his face. Standing on the sidewalk around Dupont Circle last week, Bob and I talked for a long time about our work and concerns. We spoke seriously about the personal cost involved in our commitment to the kind of unrelenting activity required in trying to make our country a better, more secure, and more caring place to live. We both agreed the toll it took was worth it because of the passion we had for our work

Bob Edgar will be missed by many of us who now, far too soon, grieve his death and who always will be grateful for his life.

Please enjoy this compelling interview Welton had with Bob in Vietnam in 2011.

Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.