May 20, 2022 |
George Matthias Aman, III, has deep roots in Wayne Presbyterian Church (WPC) and in the community of Wayne. Like his father before him, George was baptized at WPC, and in the 90-plus ensuing years, he has been intimately involved in the life of the church and the town. After his early education in Radnor public schools and WPC Sunday School, George went to Princeton University and Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and law degree, respectively. Following his service as a 2nd lieutenant in the Korean War, George returned to Wayne to practice law, with a particular interest in tax exempt bond and municipal law. This experience was invaluable when he served more than two terms as a Radnor Township commissioner and was a member of the township planning commission.
At WPC, George has served as an elder and a deacon, has sung in the choir and with the Wayne Oratorio Society for decades, was a member of pastor nominating committees, volunteered with the Philadelphia Presbytery, and was instrumental in establishing Southwest CDC's economic development programs. But George’s abiding passion has been for social justice issues, particularly those related to education, hunger, fair housing, and illegal firearms. When the Rev. John Galloway, Jr., sought to increase the presence of mission at WPC, George was one of the people to whom he turned. In response, George initiated the Social Justice Advocacy Ministry, which continues to advise on current issues that demand Christian attention.
George has worked tirelessly for equitable funding for PA schools, traveling to Harrisburg on many occasions to advocate for increased aid to the state’s poorest school districts. His advocacy has encompassed every level of education, from funding for high quality pre-K education to grants to Presbyterian colleges. He has been an active member of Bread for the World, organizing numerous trips to Washington, D.C., to speak with federal legislators about the Christian imperative to end hunger at home and abroad. After his retirement, George volunteered with Philadelphia’s foreclosure prevention programs to help low- and moderate-income families stay in their homes. More recently, he has led the way in WPC’s involvement in the rehabilitation of houses for families in SW Philadelphia. Moved by the devastating toll of gun violence in SW Philadelphia and throughout the region, George joined with Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence to regularly participate in rallies to end illegal sales of firearms at shops known for their lax compliance with federal regulations.
George has been a voice of reason and advocacy, fearless in raising issues of conscience in the church and community that he loves. As he has done for decades, George continues to put his faith into action by speaking out for the marginalized, the oppressed, the voiceless, the hungry and homeless, and the victims of violence.
