Press coverage on the letter (shown below) that Faith Commons circulated to faith leaders in Texas and sent to the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general:
- A story on KERA, Texas Public Radio
- https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/we-are-dismayed-faith-leaders-call-on-leaders-to-reject-trumps-visit-to-texas
- https://dallasvoice.com/faith-leaders-call-on-state-leaders-to-reject-trumps-visit-to-the-border/
- https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/toledo/news/2021/01/12/president-trump-to-break-silence-during-visit-to-texas-border-wall
To: Governor Greg Abbott
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
Attorney General Ken Paxton
January 11, 2021
As faith leaders in Texas we are dismayed by your failure to object to President Donald Trump’s visit this week, where he will speak in public for the first time since he incited the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
The border wall that he is coming to brag about was built with over 10.5 billion dollars, dollars he extracted from the budget of our military. He took that money when the democratically elected Congress did not agree that building a wall was a responsible way to spend government funds.
We now know that the current President is not a defender of Democracy, he is not a patriot, and he has no regard for the health or wellbeing of Americans. Last week he called for action that led to the death of at least 6 Americans and serious injuries sustained by dozens more, including over 50 police officers. His very presence has become a symbol of insurrection and lawlessness.
Yet you, our State leaders, who are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all those who live in Texas have not condemned President Trump, nor have you opposed his appearance in our state, an appearance that can easily lead to more violence, injury and loss of life. Worse, you are acquiescing to his contentious visit at a time when our state health care system is overwhelmed by the tragic spread of COVID-19 and should not be further stressed.
We urge you to go on record to oppose this visit as guardians of health and safety for your electorate. Your most important task right now is to protect life at this tumultuous time in our nation’s history.
Sincerely,
Rev. Ann Akin, St. John’s UMC, Lubbock
Riad K. Ali, Muslim Guide, American Muslims Research and Data Center
Rev. Laurie Anderson, Senior Minister, Midway Hills Christian Church, Dallas
Dr. Zafar Anjum, Imam, Islamic Association of the Colony
Rev. Stacy Pever Anzick, United Methodist Church, Magnolia
Azhar Azeez, Past President, Islamic Society of North America and North Texas Islamic Council, Plano
Rev. Holly G. Bandel, Associate Minister, First United Methodist Church, Dallas
Rev. David B. Batchelder; West Plano Presbyterial Church, Plano
Rev. Mike Baughman, Union Coffee, Dallas
Rev. Rachel Baughman, Senior Pastor, Oak Lawn UMC, Dallas
Dr. Susan M. Baxley, Chair, Social Justice Committee, Kessler Park UMC, Dallas
Rev. Mitchell Boone, Senior Pastor, White Rock United Methodist Church, Dallas
Rev. Lora Brandis, Horizon United Universalist Church, Carrollton
Rev. Judith Sarkozy Brandt, Denver City
Stacey Brown, Elev8 Movement, Dallas
Rev. Susan Buchanan, Unitedf Methodist Church, Houston
Rev. Dr. Vanessee Burns, Christian Chapel CME Church, Dallas
Rev. Wally Butts, Pastor, United Methodist Church, Plano
Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, Dallas
Mary Ann Climer, Social Justice Committee, Kessler Park UMC, Dallas
Julie Baugh Cloud, Vice President, Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, Westlake
Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas
Rabbi Heidi Coretz, Shir Tikvah, Frisco
Armel Crocker, Lay Pastor, Grace Presbytery, Winnsboro
Rev. Carolyn Davis, PhD; Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C.
Rev. Thomas W. Daugherty, Texas Annual Conference, UMC, Houston
Rev. Phil Dieke, Pastor, White Rock UMC, Dallas
Rev. Anita Dinwiddie, Tyler
Rev. Benjamin Dueholm, Dallas
Rev. John Elford, Sr. Pastor, University UMC, Austin
Rev. Andrew Fiser, North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Dallas
Rev. Eric Folkerth, Kessler Park UMC, Dallas
Rabbi Alan Freedman, Temple Beth Shalom, Austin
Rev. Tom Gibbons, Pator Emeritus, St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, Richardson
Rev. Scott Gilliland, Senior Pastor, Arapaho United Methodist Church, Richardson
Fr. Tim Gollob, Retired Priest, Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Rev. Dr. Mike Gregg, Pastor, Royal Lane Baptist Church, Dallas
Bishop Erik Gronberg, NT-NL Synod, ELCA, Argyle
Rev. Dr. Sid Hall, III, Lead Minister, Trinity Church of Austin
Rev. Wes Helm, Rowlett
Rev. Page Hines, Associate Pastor, Arlington Heights UMC, Fort Worth
Rev. Dr. Don Holladay, Lubbock
Rev. Deanna Hollas, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Dallas
Zulikha Hussain, Valley Ranch Mosque and Community Interfaith Activist, Irving
Saif Islam, Executive Director, Good Citizens of DFW
Dr. Hind Jarrah, Co-Founder and retired President, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation
Donna Jensen, President, South District United Methodist Women
Rev. Charles Foster Johnson, Pastor, Bread Fellowship, Fort Worth
Rev. Kathryn Johnson, Associate Minister, St. Stephen UMC, Mesquite
Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of Dallas
Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Chief Relationship Officer, Faith Commons
Rabbi Neal Katz, Congregation Beth El, Tyler
Marv Knox, Coordinator, Fellowship Southwest, Coppell
Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, Senior Pastor, Friends Congregational Church, UCC, College Station
Rev. Sandy Londa, United Methodist Elder, Retired
Dr. D. Stephan Long, Dallas
Rev. Dr. Griff Martin, Sr. Pastor, First Baptist Church of Austin
Rev. Dr. George A. Mason, Senior Pastor, Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, and President, Faith Commons
Rev. Bill (JW) Matthews, University Park UMC, Dallas
Rev. Diane McGehee, Bering Memorial UMC, Houston
Rev. Bobby J. McMillan, retired UMC clergy, NWTX Conference, Lubbock
Rabbi Ralph Mecklenberger, Rabbi Emeritus, Beth-El Congregation, Fort Worth
Rev. Joe Miller, Texas Annual Conference, UMC, Newton
Dr. Michael Miller, Dean, Bright Divinity School, Fort Worth
Rev. Amy W. Moore, Dallas
Jackie Baugh Moore, President, Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, Boerne
Bee Moorhead, Executive Director, Texas Impact
Almas Muscatwalla, Executive Director, Faith Forward Dallas
Dana Norton, Pastor, Sunnyvale
Rabbi Andrew Paley, Temple Shalom, Dallas
Rev. Payton Parker, Pastor, First UMC, Lancaster
Robyn Reno, Social Justice Committee, Kessler Park UMC
Sister Patricia Ridgley, Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, Fort Worth
Rabbi Debra Robbins, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas
Rabbi Amy Ross, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas
Leslie Russell, Social Justice Committee, Kessler Park UMC, Dallas
Rev. Gail Ford Smith, Retired Elder, UMC, Houston
Rev. Kerry Smith, United Methodist Church, Dallas
Rev. Robert O. Smith
Rev. Dr. Jeff Smith, Wellspring, Georgetown
Rev. Sandra W. Smith, Texas Annual Conference, UMC
Rev. Dr. T. Randall Smith, Texas Annual Conference, UMC
Rev. Marti Soper, Senior Pastor, Northaven UMC, Dallas
Rev. Cathy Sweeney, Arapaho United Methodist Church, Richardson
Rev. Tom Stephenson, United Methodist Full Elder, Houston
Rabbi David Stern, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas
Rev. Cathy Stone, First UMC, Austin
Rev. Dr. Meredith Stone, Fellowship Southwest, Abilene
Imam Azhar Subedar, Plano
Imam Dr. Omar Suleiman, Valley Ranch Islamic Center, Dallas
Rev. Kelly Sullivan, Retired Clergy, Texas Annual Conference, UMC
Reverend William R. Taylor, Texas Annual Conference
Rev. Neil Thomas, Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ, Dallas
Rabbi Dan Utley, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas
Minister Cameron Vickrey, Faith Commons
Garrett Vickrey, Senior Pastor, Woodland Baptist Church, San Antonio
Rev. John E. Warren, Retired Elder, Wimberly
Laura Westerlage, MDiv/MSSW, The Stewpot, Dallas
Rev. Marcus Womack, Plymouth Park United Methodist Church, Irving
Rev. Kevin Young, Senior Pastor, St. John’s UMC, Lubbock
Rabbi Elana Zelony, Richardson
Rabbi Brian Zimmerman, Beth-El Congregation, Fort Worth
Mimi Platt Zimmerman, Student, Bright Divinity School, Fort Worth
Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, Plano