A group of Houston clergy members has signed a letter objecting to recent anti-gay sentiment “espoused by those who co-opt religion as a cover for hatred.”
The letter reads as follows:
We the undersigned religious leaders have gathered our names here to make clear our strong objection to the recent swell in anti-gay sentiment espoused by those who co-opt religion as a cover for hatred. Our diverse traditions are unified in their care and concern for all persons and we firmly believe that our respective religious traditions are weakened by the hate-filled language touted by some as the word of God.
As religious leaders we recognize and respect the dignity and worth of all persons regardless of race, class, gender, or sexual orientation. Therefore, we strongly rebuke those who insist on misusing religious texts and traditions to vilify those whose differences have made them most vulnerable. As a diverse group of religious leaders we are unified in our objection to the slander of any one of God’s creation.
We the undersigned state here our belief that those who manipulate tenets of faith to support secular, political discrimination against those who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or transgender in the name of sacred faith weaken the very faith they claim to bolster. Religion is weakened by the hypocrisy that lies at the core of homophobia.
Our religions champion the dignity of all persons and we are compelled to set the record straight: our houses of worship, schools, and meeting rooms are inhabited by the diversity that is human kind. While our faiths take differing positions on what human sexuality means before God, we are united in our belief that anti-gay rhetoric in the name of the God for secular, political purposes undermines faith and weakens the bonds between people that make communal life and faith meaningful. Fear and hatred of some diminishes the freedom of all. We deplore the assumption played out in public statements that says that to be religious means to be intolerant.
Religiously based bigotry against gays and lesbians does not represent the core beliefs of our respective faiths. Inflammatory and hateful remarks do not reflect the feelings of most individuals who fill our houses of worship and affiliate with our movements. The language of faith is not the language of fear and hatred. The language of faith is love and respect for all people.
The Reverend Douglas Anders, Conference Minister, South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ
Mr. Burton Bagby-Grose, American Baptist Churches, USA Licensed Minister
The Reverend Carissa Baldwin, Assistant Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
The Reverend Ginny Brown, Daniel Plymouth United Church
The Reverend Dr. Becky Edmiston-Lange and The Reverend Mark Edmiston-Lange Emerson, Unitarian Universalist Church, A “Welcoming Congregation”
Mr. Mark Eggleston, Director of Outreach Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
The Reverend Dr. Millard F. Eiland Member, Covenant Baptist Church, an ecumenical liberal Baptist congregation, former board member of Alliance of Baptists
The Reverend Rick Elliott, Presbyterian minister
The Reverend Elder Darlene Garner Regional Elder for Southern Texas Region of Metropolitan Community Churches
The Reverend Lura N. Groen, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Minister Freedom K.D. Gulley, Th.M., Senior Pastor of Progressive Open Door Christian Center-A Fellowship Church
The Reverend Teddy Hardy, St. John United Church of Christ, Campus Minister at Houston Community College Central
The Reverend Lisa Hunt, Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Lori Keaton, United Church of Christ Houston Association
The Reverend Dr. David Keyes. Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
The Rev. Kristen Klein-Cechettini, Director of Life Development, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
The Reverend Ralph Lasher, United Church of Christ, Ordained Minister
Rabbi David A. Lyon, Congregation Beth Israel
The Reverend Timothy Marquez, Clergy-Office Manager, South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ
The Reverend Laura Mayo, Covenant Church: an ecumenical, liberal, Baptist congregation (American Baptist Churches/Alliance of Baptists)
Rabbi Mark J. Miller, Congregation Beth Israel
The Reverend David Pantermuehl, Grace United Church of Christ
The Reverend Adam J. Robinson, Affiliate Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
The Reverend Jeremy Rutledge, Covenant Church: an ecumenical, liberal, Baptist congregation, (American Baptist Churches/Alliance of Baptists)
The Rev Seido, head priest, St. Nichiren Buddhist Temple
Rabbi Laura Sheinkopf, Houston
Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle, Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry, Brite Divinity School
The Reverend Les Switzer, Acting Minister for Christian Education, First Congregational Church of Houston
The Reverend Ernie Turney, Senior Pastor, Bering Memorial United Methodist Church
The Reverend Timothy B. Tutt, Senior Pastor, United Christian Church Austin
Rabbi Roy A. Walter, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Emanu El
Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston
As Martha says, these ministers speak for me.
Me, too. Proud that our ministers at Covenant Church, Jeremy Rutledge and Laura Mayo, and friend, Millard Eiland, signed this letter.
I’m a disheartened that none of the “major” churches and synagogues who claim the same belief in “diversity” did not sign this.
Only the rabbis from Emanuel and Beth Israel signed it. Lots of hypocrisy everywhere it seems in this.
Amen….