Dear Editor:
As servants of local Christian congregations, we denounce in the strongest possible terms the hateful speech and ensuing violence which was recently unleashed in Charlottesville, Virginia, against persons of color, Muslims, Jews and others. Each person on this earth is created by God and is endowed with infinite value. Any teaching, therefore, which denigrates one race, ethnicity, religion or nationality is patently false and is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we choose to stand exactly where Jesus of Nazareth stood - in solidarity with those who are targets of bigotry and evil. We invite all citizens of good will to stand with us against the poisonous heresies spawned by white supremacist groups, neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan.
We pledge to pray for victims of oppression and hatred. We also promise to pray for the misguided, hate-filled perpetrators of these terrorist acts. We believe that the only answer to hate is love, not more hate. Violence will never be extinguished by retaliation. We urge our community to find ways to work for justice locally and to walk with us in ways of mutual respect, peace and good will.
As scripture reminds us, "let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)
Harnessing our own prejudices
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