[Tikkun and our interfaith and secular-humanist-welcoming Network of Spiritual Progressives are happy to join with people of all faiths and none to insist that our politics be guided by our recognition of our obligation to welcome the stranger/the Other, and to love them –in Hebrew: ve’ahavta la’geyr. This has been our guide post when critiquing governments that do the opposite, from Trump’s America to the governments of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, Israel, and many many others. Our task is to affirm a different worldview which emphasizes the sanctity of all human beings and our obligation to pursue justice, promote love, and protect the earth!]
With an exodus of migrants headed towards The United States we have an opportunity to challenge the ways our borders are used to separate instead of welcome. This is a moment to declare that God creates all human beings with inherent dignity. We refuse to tie anyone’s humanity to the labor they produce or their place of origin. As families, communities and individuals make the heartbreaking decision to leave the place they call home, we recognize this is not just a political issue. This is a matter of faith. We must dare to ask the question, what does God see when those who seek asylum find armed forces, threats of violence from vigilantes and loathsome legal maneuvering instead? This exodus is framed as terror, called an invasion, but the terror is coming from our side. While white supremacy uses terror to uphold itself; we must choose radical peace.
Radical peace means following the lead of our siblings making their way to the border as we empower each other to take a stand. Radical peace requires that we put our bodies on the line. It reminds us God’s love transcends and tears down the walls of our borders. And so, God sends us: to accompany, receive, provide sanctuary and protect our sisters and brothers. This is our responsibility.
We call on you to stand in opposition to a present day Pharaoh who seeks to harm God’s children. Freedom calls out to us to make our way to the border, send much needed resources to a traveling and weary people, and spread a message of hope. Let us transform this exodus from violence into a secure journey of hope.
ENDORSED BY
Rev. Sharon Benton , United Church of Christ
The Rev. Grace Burson
Reverend Vanessa Cardinale , Amherst South Congregational Church
Reverend Westley Conn , United Church of Christ
Rev. Adele Crawford
Rev. John Edgerton , Old South Church in Boston
The Rev. Lorain Giles , United Church of Christ
Associate Pastor Calvon Jones
Reverend Susan Karlson , Unitarian Universalist
Ingrid Lilly
Senior Pastor David Lindsey , Little River United Church of Christ
(Rev.) Robert Livingston , United Church of Christ
Rector Lindsay Lunnum , Zion Episcopal Church, Douglaston
Interim Pastor John Madsen-Bibeau , UCC
Rev. Emily McGinley , Urban Village Church
Rev. Grace Murray , People’s United Church of Christ
Rev. Kurt Nelson
The Rev. Dr. Allie Perry , Shalom United Church of Christ New Haven CT
The Rev. Yejide Peters
Rev Bruce Prescott
Rev. Jennifer Seaich , Beavercreek UCC
The Rev. Canon Nora Smith , The Episcopal Diocese of New York
The Rev. Winnie Varghese , Trinity Church Wall Street
Rev. Anna Woofenden
Associate Conference Minister Anita Bradshaw , Minnesota Conference, United Church of Christ
Dr. Rita Brock , Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Dr. Linda Burrs
Professor James Byassee , Vancouver School of Theology
Reverend Lorraine Ceniceros
Rev. John Forrest Douglas
The Rev. Kaji Dousa , Park Avenue Christian Church
Pastor Elizabeth Duffy , United Church of Christ
Rev. Ashley Harness , Lyndale United Church of Christ
Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, PhD , Activist Theology Project
Minister Cece Jones-Davis
The Rev. Martha Korienek
Senior Minister Elena Larssen , First Congregational Church of Long Beach UCC
Minister Velda Love , United Church of Christ
Dr. Tony McNeill , Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary
AVP Jonathan Soto , Union Theological Seminary
Senior Transitional Minister Rochelle Stackhouse , Center Church UCC Hartford, CT
Rev. William Stell
Rev. Jennifer Tafel , Swedenborgian Church of N. America
Rev Zayna Thomley , First Congregational UCC Platteville
Reverend Dr. Emilie Townes
Reverend Lori Walke , Mayflower Congregational UCC
Reverend Trey Witzel
Reverend Erin Wyma , Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
Rev. Rebecca Blake , PCUSA
Rev. Shawna Bowman , Friendship Presbyterian Church
Reverend Greg Briggs , First Congregational United Church of Christ
Lead Pastor Kelle Brown , Plymouth Church UCC Seattle
Rev. Michael Caine , Old First United Church of Christ, Philadelphia
Rev Dr Davida Foy Crabtree , United Church of Christ
Reverend Hector Custodio , Immanuel-First Spanish UMC
Pastor Alistair Drummond , West End Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Rabbi Michael Feinberg , Greater New York Labor- Religion Coalition
Rev. John Gage
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale , Ray of Hope Christian Church
Reverend Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft
Ministerial Intern Jessica James , UUAC First Parish Sherborn
Reverend Jim Ketcham
Reverend Lori Knight-Whitehouse , PC, USA
Ruling Elder Leslie Mardenborough , PC(USA) White Plains, NY
Rev. Stephen Phelps , Member, Presbytery of New York City
Reverend Anthony Sandusky
Conference Minister Kent Siladi , Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ
Fr. Dale Korogi Gloria W Smith , Ascension Catholic Community
Rev. Melissa St. Clair
Buddhist Chaplain Joanie Trussel
Rev Dr William Huston Wilkinson , First Presbyterian Church, Medina, New York
Beacon in the Episcople Church Marisha Zeffer
Pastor Rev. Malcolm J. Byrd , Jackson Memorial AME Zion Church
Pastor Pastor Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes , The Double Love Experience
Pastor Debbie Early , People being Jesus
Rev. Dr. Kelly Farrow , Convent Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Micah Gaines
Minister Racquel Gill
Rev. Cereza Green
Youth Minister Qadry Harris , First Baptist Church — Stratford (CT)
Minister Michael Jones , New Bethel Baptist Church
Reverend Stephanie Kendell , Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Minister Richard Lucas III
Reverend Chelsea MacMillan , Brooklyn Center for Sacred Activism
The Rev. Elizabeth Maxwell , Church of the Ascension
Reverend Kendal McBroom , AME Church
Reverend Kymberly McNair
Rev Jenny Peek
Minister Yolanda Richard
Minister Gina Robinson
Pastor Jennifer Romero , Iglesia la Roca
Sister Linda Sarsour , MPower Change
Pastor Brandon Sims , Collins Community AME Church
The Rev. Diana Wilcox , Christ Episcopal Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge
Pastor Rev. Andrew Wilkes , The Double Love Experience
Reverend Porsha Williams
Senior Pastor Kaji Douša , Park Avenue Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Cheryl F Dudley
Rabbi Dr. Barat Ellman
President Willie Dwayne Francois III , Black Church Center for Justice and Equality
Reverend Sam Ghiggeri , Interfaith Minister
Rabbi Dr. Laura Gold
Rabbi Lisa Grant , Hebrew Union college-Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster , T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Advocate for Justice Ministries, Presbytery of New York CityMark Koenig
Reverend Mary Beth Mardis-LeCroy
Reverend Danielle Miller
Rev. Benjamin Perry , Union Theological Seminary
Scholar-in-Residence Reverend Quincy James Rineheart , Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc.
Pastor Christian Savage , New Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rabbi Joshua Stanton
Rev. David Telfort , Lafayette Ave Presbyterian Church
Reverend Adriene Thorne , First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn
Rabbi Simkha Y, Weintraub
Elder/High Priest Warner Woodworth , Latter-day Saint (Mormon)
ENDORSING INSTITUTIONS
Brooklyn Center for Sacred Activism
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Collins Community AME Church
First Congregational UCC Platteville
First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn
First Presbyterian Church, Medina, New York
Friendship Presbyterian Church
Immanuel-First Spanish UMC
Jackson Memorial AME Zion Church
Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary
Judson Memorial Church
MPower Change
Mayflower Congregational UCC
New Bethel Baptist Church
Park Avenue Christian Church
People being Jesus
People’s United Church of Christ
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc.
Shalom United Church of Christ New Haven CT
The Double Love Experience
Trinity Church Wall Street
UCC
United Church of Christ
Urban Village Church
Lafayette Ave Presbyterian Church
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The Second Presbyterian Church in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary