November 16, 2017

An Open Letter From Alabama Pastors About Roy Moore

Under ordinary circumstances, we clergy refrain from speaking directly about political
candidates, and only speak to issues. But these are not ordinary circumstances.

Even before the recent allegations of sexual abuse, Roy Moore demonstrated that he was not fit
for office, and that his extremist values and actions are not consistent with traditional Christian
values or good Christian character. He and politicians like him have cynically used Christianity
for their own goals. But Roy Moore does not speak for Christianity, and he acts in ways that are
contrary to our faith.

Christianity affirms Gods love for the neighbor and care for the most vulnerable in
society: the widow, the foreigner, and the orphan. But he has denigrated people from other
countries and other faiths. He opposes the expansion of Medicaid which would provide basic
healthcare for over 400,000 poor and working poor Alabamians. He seeks to deny the most
basic civil rights of our fellow citizens. He has used racial slurs and casually referred to
state-sponsored violence against lesbian and gay families. He has sought to deny children
without parents access to loving families on the basis of sexual orientation. Kindness and justice
toward widows, orphans, and foreigners are priorities in the Bible but they are not priorities for
him.

Christianity thrives in religious freedom from government interference, and a government

impartial toward people of all faith traditions. But instead he has sought to entangle
government with religion. He has preached vehemently against Islamic religious law but he has
sought government affirmation of his religious extremism and nationalism. He has claimed civil
rights only apply to Christians.

Christianity rejoices in the truth and affirms the rights of abuse survivors to tell their
stories without silencing. Christianity abhors sexual coercion and violence. We
acknowledge that many people have been victims of sexual assault and abuse in our own
places of worship. Clergy misconduct has done real and lasting harm, both physically and
spiritually. We repudiate the actions of religious and political leaders like Roy Moore who
have sought to silence, to cover up, and to be complicit in the sexual abuse.These actions
reopen the wounds of anyone who has been abused by leaders who should have been
committed to compassion, to justice, and to healing Gods world.

We clergy write and sign this letter not as representatives of our own congregations but as
individual faith leaders compelled by conscience to speak. Our intent is not to tell anyone how to
vote, but to urge the people of Alabama to vote their conscience, regardless of political
affiliation. It is our belief that in light of Roy Moores extremist beliefs, his patterns of behavior,
and the recent allegations against him, no person of faith can, in good conscience, support him

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or his religious nationalism. He has done harm to our government; he has done harm to our
Christian witness; and he has done harm to vulnerable people.

We do not make this statement lightly. We do so with much prayer and discernment. We believe
no follower of Jesus Christ should be silent while the words of our Lord and Savior are perverted
for partisan power, while our Bible is appropriated as a weapon for a false culture war, and
while the name of our God is blasphemed by the hypocrisy of those who claim the name of
Christ.

Signed,
(Signatures last updated 11-17, at 6:25 PM)

To sign this letter, click here (for Alabama Christian clergy only)

(If you are not from Alabama, or not Christian clergy, we invite you to s ign here instead in
solidarity with your friends in Alabama)

Alabama Pastors
Title and name Denomination or faith tradition City

Dr. Dave Barnhart United Methodist Birmingham

Rev Angie Wright United Church of Christ Birmingham
Rev. Matt Lacey United Methodist BIRMINGHAM
Rev. Jennifer Sanders United Church of Christ Birmingham
Rev. Ramone R. Billingsley Baptist Birmingham
Rev. Cat Goodrich Presbyterian Church (USA) Birmingham
Minister Cara McClure Non Denomination Birmingham
Rev. Jaime Pangman United Methodist Cullman
Rev. Eva R. Melton Baptist Birmingham
The Rev Tyler C Richards Episcopalian Birmingham
Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Baptist Northport
Rev. Sally G. Harris Lutheran ( ELCA) Bessemer
Rev. Wayne McLaughlin Presbyterian Homewood
Rev. Matt Reed United Methodist Northport
Rev. Emily Freeman Penfield United Methodist Birmingham
The Rev. Kelley Hudlow,
Deacon Episcopal Church Birmingham
Pastor Adam Mixon Baptist Birmingham

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Rev. Eric Hall Baptist Birmingham
Rev. Carolyn Foster Episcopal Birmingham
Rev. Raul Dominguez United Methodist Cullman
Rev. R.G. Wilson-Lyons United Methodist Birmingham
Rev. Dr. R. Lawton Higgs Sr United Methodist Hueytown
Rev. E. Tramaine Solomon Baptist Lineville
Rev Steven W. Barber United Methodist Church Haleyville
Rev. Paul Eknes-Tucker United Church of Christ Birmingham
Rev. Sonya Gravlee United Church of Christ Trussville
Rev. Daniel Stallings Baptist Montevallo
Rev. Malcolm Marler Episcopal Birmingham
The Reverend Pamela A.
Canzater United Church of Christ Birmingham
Rev. Horace Blount United Methodist Birmingham
Bishop Antwon B. Womack Non-Demonational Birmingham
Rev. Charles Perry Unity Birmingham
Rev. Dollie Howell Pankey Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Birmingham
Joe Elmore United Methodist Vestavia Hills
United Methodist/United Church of
Rev Bud Precise Christ Birmingham al
Herb Williamson United Methodist Bagley
The Rev. Louie Skipper The Episcopal Church Hoover, Alabama
Dr. Everett B. Kelley Baptist Lincoln
Dr. Kevin Higgs United Methodist Birmingham
Rev. Stephanie York Arnold United Methodist Birmingham
The Rev. Tom Duley United Methodist Vestavia Hills
John Gregory, Chaplain Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Leeds, Al.
Pastor Marcus Singleton United Methodist Church Huntsville
Rev. Katy Smith Episcopal Church Birmingham, AL
Rev. Tommy Morgan Christian Church (DOC) Alabaster, Al
Rev. Joe Genau Presbyterian Church (USA) Homewood
Ava Rozelle, Associate Pastor United Methodist Pell City
The Reverend Lawrence
Willson, PhD United Methodist Birmingham
Rev. Thomas Osborne Episcopal Florence

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Rev. Elizabeth Cole Goodrich Presbyterian Birmingham, AL
The Reverend Mikah Hudson United Methodist Birmingham
Rev. Baxter Chism United Methodist Pinson
Carolyn Garner Christian Philadelphia
Rev. Deborah Gibson Epley United Methodist Birmingham, Alabama
Rev. Lydia Casey Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Birmingham, AL
Rev. Dale Capron United Methodist Gurley
Rev. J. Shannon Webster Presbyterian Birmingham
Shelaine Bird Presbyterian (USA) Mountain Brook, AL
Rev. Cathy C. Hoop Presbyterian Church (USA) Tuscaloosa
Rev. Doreen McGoldrick Duley United Methodist Vestavia
Rev. Dr. Mark LaGory Episcopal Birmingham
Rev. Ellin Jimmerson Baptist Huntsville
Rev. J. Scott Coats United Methodist Florence
Rev. Dr. Oliver Clark United Methodist Birmingham, AL
Dr. Ronald E. Gonia United Methodist Pleasant Grove, AL
Rev. Terri Byrd Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Birmingham
Rev. Alan L. Ballentine United Church of Christ Huntsville, AL
Lay Pastor - Winfield Burks Seventh-day Adventist Leeds Al
Rev. Rachel Winter Presbyterian Church (USA) Birmingham

Rev. Leanne Pearce Reed Presbyterian Church (USA) Birmingham

Rev. Susan A. Clayton Presbyterian Church (USA) Birmingham, AL
John Harrison CLP PC(USA) Birmingham, AL
Rev. Lynn Dimon United Methodist Birmingham, AL
Youth Pastor Al Garrett Presbyterian Madison
The Rev. Bill Blackerby Episcopal Church Birmingham
Rev. Jeanne Randall Episcopal Huntsville
Rev. John Carl Hastings United Methodist Church Birmingham

Friends from outside Alabama or who are not Christian clergy

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Ms Angela Barnhart United Methodist Birmingham Alabama
Mary Tunison San Carlos, CA
Dr. Joseph M. Openshaw United Methodist Bessemer, AL
Mr. Chris Chandler United Methodist Birmingham alabama
Teresa Chandler United Methodist Irondale, AL
Denese Bramblette Episcopalian Jasper, AL
Cynthia Griffin Aetheist Pioneeer, CA
Susan T. Baird Christian Birmingham
Rev. Majadi Baruti Divine Afrikan Feminine Birmingham, Alabama
Mr. John H. Alexander
,Chairperson, Elmore Advisory
Council, Kairos Prison Ministry
International Saint Junia United Methodist Birmingham, Alabama
Rev. Max Blalock United Methodist Williamsburg, VA
Dana Ellis Christian Birmingham, AL
Linda C. Thacker, R.N. United Methodist Birmingham, Alabama
Shelly Ann Edge McDonald United Methodist Birmingham
Daniel Schwartz Jewish Mountain Brook AL
Dr. John Katopodis Catholic Boston, MA
Marti Slay United Church of Christ Trussville, AL
Carl Carter Episcopal Church of the Ascension Moody, AL
Madhura Hallman Christian - Non-denominational Memphis, TN
Kevin Thornthwaite Episcopalian Birmingham, AL
Kathleen Goddard Methodist Seymour, Tennessee
T. Shane Smith Christian Birmingham, Alabama
Kelly Ross-Davis Christian Birmingham, AL
Mr. Fred Brockman Christian Bessemer, AL
Cantor Jessica Roskin Jewish Birmingham, AL
Decatur, MS (Formerly
Cydney M. Foster United Methodist Pine Hill, AL)
Burke Williamson None Brandon, MS
Chris Akins Methodist Birmingham, AL
Caroline Bundy United Methodist Birmingham, AL
Chuck Petty United Methodist Hanceville, AL

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Mary P. Bega Episcopalian Vinemont, AL

Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles Episcopal Dallas, TX

Liam Youngblood Presbyterian (USA) Hoover, Alabama
Talitha Bailey Episcopal Birmingham, AL
Gladys Turner Presbyterian Alabaster, AL
Kayla J. Smith Baptist Memphis, TN
Ellen H. Harris United Methodist Birmingham, AL
Mrs. Gail Garner Tuckerman Christian Coker, AL
Kelsey McClure Methodist Irondale, AL

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