The treatment of immigrants and refugees under the Trump Administration’s policies and practices reflects a different call and a different vision for our country. That vision calls us to suspect and fear our neighbors. It sows division and thrives on bullying, intimidation, threats, and coercion. It deploys law enforcement agencies and private militias to surveil and disrupt neighborhoods, private businesses, and public institutions. Flipping the legal precedent of “innocent until proven guilty” on its head, it convicts people in the court of distorted media based on the color of their skin, the garments they wear, the words they say or the country they come from. In this America anyone can be abducted without warrant, denied legal representation, and deported.
President Trump is destroying institutions created to nurture, sustain, and safeguard the human body, mind, and spirit. He is doing this solely to test and strengthen his power. It is up to each of us, individually and collectively, to thwart his ambitions by countering them with the powers of justice and compassion. We must cry out against the illegal abductions by anyone, of anyone, anywhere. We must forcefully insist that courts decide the fate of people detained, and that elected officials obey court orders. We must call out anyone who uses dehumanizing words like “illegal” when referring to any human being, including immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
We recognize that faith leaders are not the only leaders being tested right now. Elected officials, civil servants, and many others are being called upon to risk their personal safety, status, and standing by speaking up against the Trump Administration. But in the wake of Pope Francis’ funeral, we might consider ourselves among those addressed in his letter to the U.S. Bishops in February of this year:
What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly…All the Christian faithful and people of goodwill are called upon to consider the legitimacy of norms and public policies in the light of the dignity of the person and his or her fundamental rights, not vice versa.
The power of our faiths is being tested at this moment.
Are there limits to our human capacity to care for one another? Those of us who sign this letter believe the answer is no. We believe God needs us to manifest the divine strength needed to resist an authoritarian takeover of our country.
Therefore, we, as concerned faith leaders, call on our colleagues across traditions to rise in moral courage:
The moral authority of our witness depends on our willingness to live the words we preach. If our faith means anything, it must be seen in how we respond to those crying out for help and hope.
We call on every faith leader of every faith tradition to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). This is not the time for neutrality. It is the time for moral clarity, courageous action, and deep compassion.
Let us lead with love. Let us protect the vulnerable. Let us stand together.
In faith and solidarity,
Abbey Adcox, Wilshire Baptist
Almas Muscatwalla, Co-Founder, Faith Forward Dallas
Ann Moulding Ph.D, Texas Impact
Anne Edwards
Annette Rutherford. PHPC
Bob Krakow, President, Temple Emanu-El
Brenda Young
Stephen Long, Cox Chapel/Southern Methodist University
David Grebel, Pastor, Celebration Community Church, Fort Worth
Erica Matsil, Director of Social Justice and Family Engagement, Temple Emanu-El
Erika Pelletier/ Kessler Park UMC Social Justice Team
Frank Fehmel Faith United Presbyterian Church
Georgia McKee, M.Div.
Hallie Weiner, Cantor/Temple Emanu-El
J Gary Nelson/Faithful America
Joan Dolan, Pax Christi, Dallas
Joey Darwin
Karen McCracken, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church
Karen Muncy / First Unitarian Universalist Church of Dallas
KayLynn Lyon
Kim Vernon MD, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church
Kyle Ogden, President & CEO, The Thanks-Giving Foundation
Laurie Anderson, senior minister, Midway Hills Christian Church
LB, civil rights attorney, CACN
Leslie Russell, Parishioner / Kessler Park UMC
Linda Abramson Evans / Founder Refugee Service Agencies Dallas-Fort Worth
Mara Richards Bim, Justice and Advocacy Fellow at Royal Lane Baptist Church
Margaret Isom North Park Presbyterian
Mary Ann Climer/Kessler Park UMC
Melanie L. Beller, Wilshire Baptist Church
OriAnn Phillips US Citizen
Owen Ross, Director of Multiplication of the Horizon Texas Conference of The UMC
puck glass, co-creator, Makom Shelanu Congregation
Risa Gross, Temple Emanu-El
Sara “Cookie” Stokes, Royal Lane Baptist Church, Dallas
Sisters of St. Mary
Susan Litman, Temple Emanu-El
Terra Anders / citizen
Tiffany McClain, Broadway Baptist Church
Tom Plumbley, First Christian Church, Fort Worth
Imam Dr. Zafar A. Anjum, Islamic Association of The Colony, Texas
Cantor Sheri Allen, Makom Shelanu Congregation
Rabbi Amy Rossel, Temple Emanu-El
Rabbi David Stern, Temple Emanu-El
Rabbi Debra Robbins, Temple Emanu-El
Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Faith Commons
Bishop Erik K.J. Gronberg, NT-NL Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Pastor Beth Ensor, Lone Oak United Methodist Church
Pastor Fran Patterson, Pastor of Congregational Care, Broadway Baptist Church
Rev. Amos Disasa, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas
Rev. Amy D Spaur, Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Mission
Rev. Amy W. Moore, NorthPark Presbyterian Church
Rev. Andrew Fiser, Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Rev. Ashley Anne Sipe, Senior Pastor, Vista Ridge UMC
Rev. Benjamin J. Dueholm, Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church
Rev. Beth Dana, First Unitarian Church of Dallas
Rev. Brandie Spletzer, Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. Cara Gilger, Frisco, Texas
Rev. Carol Montgomery, Horizon Texas Conf. UMC
Rev. Cathy Sweeney, Arapaho United Methodist Church
Rev. Christopher Thomas, Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Dallas
Rev. D. Scott Cooper First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
Rev. Dana Norton / College Mound UMC
Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Edwin Robinson – The Dallas Black Clergy for Safety, Equity and Justice
Rev. Elizabeth Moseley, First United Methodist Church Dallas
Rev. Eric Folkerth, Kessler Park UMC Dallas
Rev. Heather G Moore, Perkins School of Theology
Rev. Heather Mustain
Rev. Isabel Marquez /Oak Lawn-Gracia Viva UMC
Rev. Jennifer Baergen Davis, with Broadway Baptist Church
Rev. Jeremy Rose, Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ
Rev. Jonathan Perry, Arapaho United Methodist Church
Rev. Joy Dister-Dominguez, Horizon Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church
Rev. Karen Mann, Sojourners UCC
Rev. Katie Newsome, Union Coffee & Missional Congregation of the United Methodist Church
Rev. Katy Rigler / PCUSA
Rev. Kay Ash, Kessler Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Kristin Warthen/Pastor, St. Andrew’s UMC, Arlington
Rev. Laura Echols-Richter, Grace Avenue UMC
Rev. Laura Walters, Grace Presbytery
Rev. Linda Taylor, St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church, Fort Worth.
Rev. Lisa Garvin, Chaplain/ United Methodist Church
Rev. Mark Leonard, East Dallas Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Martha Valencia, Pastor Elmwood-El Buen Samaritano United Methodist Church
Rev. Melissa Hatch, Button Memorial UMC
Rev. Michael Davis, Th.M.
Rev. Mitchell Boone, First United Methodist Church of Dallas
Rev. Peter McNabb, First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas
Rev. Phil Dieke, Peace with Justice Coordinator Horizon Texas Conference UMC
Rev. R. Casey Shobe, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church
Rev. Richard E.Patterson, Pastor/St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Union City, NJ
Rev. Richie Butler, St. Luke Community United Methodist Church
Rev. Rodney Whitfield / Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Rev. Ryan Wager / Oak Lawn-Gracia Viva UMC
Rev. Ryon Price, Senior Pastor, Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX
Rev. Silvia Wang, Horizon Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church
Rev. Stacey Piyakhun, Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Rev. Susan Gorham Robb, Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Rev. Tim Clifford, Arlington Heights UMC Fort Worth
Rev. Tim Griffin, Disciples of Christ, Dallaa
Rev. Tomeca Richardson McMillan and Morningside UMC
Rev. Victoria Robb Powers / Royal Lane Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler UMC
Rev. Dr. Charles L. Fuller, Wilshire Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. George A. Mason., President, Faith Commons
Rev. Dr. Greg Smith, Advent Lutheran Church
Rev. Dr. Joe Stobaugh/University Park UMC
Rev. Dr. Jorene Taylor Swift
Rev. Dr. Katie Hays, Galileo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. Ken G. Crawford
Rev. Dr. Larry George, Horizon Texas Conference, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Marcus Womack, Pastor / Plymouth’s Park United Methodist Church of Irving, TX
Rev. Dr. Mike Greene, Director of Black and Africana Church Studies/Perkins
Rev. Dr. Neil G Thomas, Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Robyn Michalove, PCUSA
Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman, Senior Minister University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Fort Worth, TX
Rev. Dr. Shelly Matthews, Brite Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Brite Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Tilope Eddins NorthPark CME Church
Rev. Dr. Tom Hudspeth, D.Min/Deaf Ministries, Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, Dallas
Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, Brite Divinity School
Dr. Bilal Sert
Dr. Ellen Kimbrough Alexandrakis, Justice Ministry member at Arapaho UMC
Dr. Margaret H. Rice, Wilshire Baptist Church
Dr. Susan M Baxley, social justice chair at Kessler Park United Methodist Church
Lynn Willhite, United Methodist Church Molly Raine, First Christian Church Palestine Texas
Timothy J Griffin, Community Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Monica Vaughan
Molly Shepard, Wilshire Baptist Church
Kristi Reavis, Wilshire Baptist Church
Gail S. Brookshire, Wilshire Baptist Church
John Norris, Theology Department, University of Dallas
Michael Kerber, Temple Emanu-El
Gary Hurst, Temple Emanu-El
Jaye Andrews, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church
