wfn.org | More Than 200 Sign "Interfaith Response to Terrorism"

[Carol Fouke <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact NCC News: 212-870-2227 (news@ncccusa.org <mailto:news@ncccusa.org>);
www.ncccusa.org <http://www.ncccusa.org>
or Erin Card, Sojourners, 202-328-8842 (ecard@sojo.net
<mailto:ecard@sojo.net>)

9/14/01 Re-Release of 9/13 Statement with
Updated List of Signers (More than 200 as of 4 p.m.)

MORE THAN 200 HAVE NOW SIGNED INTERFAITH "RESPONSE TO TERRORISM"

September 14, 2001 - Now numbering more than 200, a broad spectrum of the
U.S. religious community, including Evangelical, Roman Catholic, Orthodox
and Protestant Christians -- as well as Muslim and Jewish leaders -- have
joined their signatures to the interfaith statement "Deny Them Their
Victory: A Religious Response to Terrorism." The breadth of participation
has made the document one of the most inclusive religious statements ever
released.

Signers, who gave their personal endorsement, include the heads of
denominations, national and regional religious organizations and parachurch
groups; local pastors and rabbis; and theologians and professors from all
parts of the nation.
The statement offers words of consolation to the families of the victims,
and an appeal for "sober restraint" to citizens reeling in the wake of
Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and
the Pentagon in Washington, DC; and the related crash of a hijacked jetliner
in Pennsylvania.
"Let us deny them (the terrorists) their victory by refusing to submit to a
world created in their image," the signers argue, adding: "We must not allow
this terror to drive us away from being the people God has called us to be."
The message also warns that innocent Americans who share the terrorists'
ethnicity, national origin or religion should be protected from
indiscriminate reprisal or acts of violence.
Terming the aftermath of the attacks a "test of national character," the
statement calls for citizens to rededicate themselves to the vision of
"community, tolerance, compassion, justice, and the sacredness of human
life, which lies at the heart of all our religious traditions."
The document was developed in consultation with Jewish, Muslim and Christian
clergy, and circulated for signature by The Rev. Jim Wallis, Call to Renewal
and Sojourners; Dr. Robert W. Edgar, National Council of Churches; The
Rev.Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, Reformed Church of America; Rabbi David
Saperstein, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; and Dr. Ron Sider,
Evangelicals for Social Action.   They invited others to join them in
personally endorsing the document, and more than 100 responded within the
first 24 hours.  By 4 p.m. Friday, September 14, more than 200 had signed.

The full text and updated list of signers follows:
____________________

DENY THEM THEIR VICTORY: A RELIGIOUS RESPONSE TO TERRORISM

We, American religious leaders, share the broken hearts of our fellow
citizens.  The worst terrorist attack in history that assaulted New York
City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, has been felt in every American
community.  Each life lost was of unique and sacred value in the eyes of
God, and the connections Americans feel to those lives run very deep.  In
the face of such a cruel catastrophe, it is a time to look to God and to
each other for the strength we need and the response we will make. We must
dig deep to the roots of our faith for sustenance, solace, and wisdom.

First, we must find a word of consolation for the untold pain and suffering
of our people. Our congregations will offer their practical and pastoral
resources to bind up the wounds of the nation. We can become safe places to
weep and secure places to begin rebuilding our shattered lives and
communities. Our houses of worship should become public arenas for common
prayer, community discussion, eventual healing, and forgiveness.

Second, we offer a word of sober restraint as our nation discerns what its
response will be. We share the deep anger toward those who so callously and
massively destroy innocent lives, no matter what the grievances or
injustices invoked. In the name of God, we too demand that those responsible
for these utterly evil acts be found and brought to justice.  Those culpable
must not escape accountability.  But we must not, out of anger and
vengeance, indiscriminately retaliate in ways that bring on even more loss
of innocent life. We pray that President Bush and members of Congress will
seek the wisdom of God as they decide upon the appropriate response.

Third, we face deep and profound questions of what this attack on America
will do to us as a nation. The terrorists have offered us a stark view of
the world they would create, where the remedy to every human grievance and
injustice is a resort to the random and cowardly violence of revenge - even
against the most innocent. Having taken thousands of our lives, attacked our
national symbols, forced our political leaders to flee their chambers of
governance, disrupted our work and families, and struck fear into the hearts
of our children, the terrorists must feel victorious.

But we can deny them their victory by refusing to submit to a world created
in their image. Terrorism inflicts not only death and destruction but also
emotional oppression to further its aims.  We must not allow this terror to
drive us away from being the people God has called us to be.  We assert the
vision of community, tolerance, compassion, justice, and the sacredness of
human life, which lies at the heart of all our religious traditions. America
must be a safe place for all our citizens in all their diversity. It is
especially important that our citizens who share national origins,
ethnicity, or religion with whoever attacked us are, themselves, protected
among us.

Our American illusion of invulnerability has been shattered.  From now on,
we will look at the world in a different way, and this attack on our life as
a nation will become a test of our national character. Let us make the right
choices in this crisis - to pray, act, and unite against the bitter fruits
of division, hatred, and violence. Let us rededicate ourselves to global
peace, human dignity, and the eradication of injustice that breeds rage and
vengeance.

As we gather in our houses of worship, let us begin a process of seeking the
healing and grace of God.

Rev. Alice Martin Adkins, Pastor of Washington City Church of the Bretheren,
Washington, D.C.
Thomas J. Allio, Sr., Director, Diocesan Social Action Office, Cleveland, OH
David Alexander, Taiwan Church News, Reformed Church in America Missionary
Dr. Philip A. Amerson, President, The Claremont School of Theology
The Rev. Tom Andrews, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Bowie, MD
Rev. H. George Anderson, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America
Rev. Scott D. Anderson, Executive Director, California Council of Churches
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson, Presiding Bishop, Second Episcopal District,
African Methodist Episcopal Church, former President, World Council of
Churches
Alexis Aquaviva
Rev. A. David Argo, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Kensington, MD
Rev. Steven Baines, Senior Organizer for Religious Affairs, People For the
American Way
Gary Baldridge, Co-coordinator, Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, Atlanta, GA
Rev. David A. Barber, Pastor, First Congregational Church, United Church of
Christ, Fort Worth, TX
Bob Barnhart, Associate Director, CWSW/CROP, Lansing, MI
Rt. Rev. Allen Bartlett, Assisting Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Dr. Manfred T. Brauch, Maxwell Professor of Biblical Theology, Eastern
Baptist Theological Seminary
Sister Miriam Bauerlin, OSF
Dr. Maxine Clark Beach, Vice President and Dean, Drew Theological School
Dr. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World
Bruce Birchard, General Secretary, Friends General Conference
Sandra Bly, Portland, OR
Joshua Boettiger, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Rev. Peter Borgdorff, Executive Director of Ministries, Christian Reformed
Church
Chuck Boyer, Church of the Brethren, LaVerne, CA
Rev. Jeffrey L. Brown, Pastor, Union Baptist Church, Cambridge MA,
Co-Founder, Ten Point Coalition
Rev. Mary Lou Bowen, Executive Director, New York State Community of
Churches
Commissioner John Busby, National Commander, Salvation Army
Rev. Geneva M. Butz, Old First Reformed Church, United Church of Christ,
Philadelphia, PA
Sally Buxton
Rev. Sandra Cain, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY
Dr. Mas'ood Cajee, Muslim Peace Fellowship USA
Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Director, Department of Religion, Chautauqua
Institution
Charles Cappleman, Sr. Vice President, West Coast Operations, CBS
Corporation
The Rev. Eliezer Valentin-Castaqon, The United Methodist Church, General
Board of Church and Society
The Rev. Jonathan Chute, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, California
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, WCC Decade to Overcome Violence
Reference Group Member
Rev. Canice Connors, OFMConv., President, Conference of Major Superiors of
Men
The Rev. James W. Crawford, Senior Minister, The Old South Church in Boston
Janet Chisholm, Interim Co-Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation
Former Congressman Jon L. Christensen
Rev. Cynthia Crowner, Director of Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA
Rev. Dennis M. Davidson, Unitarian Universalist Peace Fellowship
The Rev. Dr. Susan E. Davies, Faith and Order Commission, NCCCUSA; Bangor
Theological Seminary
Rev. Clarence W. Davis, Pastor, Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church,
Reston VA
The Rev. Dr. Tim Dearborn, Seattle Pacific University
Richard Deats, Interim Co-Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation
Murray W. Dempster, President and Professor of Social Ethics, Vanguard
University of Southern California
Mary Ellen Denio, Church Women United, Rochester
Marie Dennis, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns;
Vice-president, Pax Christi International
Rev. N. Adiel A. DePano, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Oxnard, CA
Rev. Dr. Walter C. Dilg, Jr., Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church,
Ventura, CA
Rev. Dan Dixson, Coordinator of Pastoral Care, Community Medical Center,
Missoula, MT
John Taroanui Doom, former World Council of Churches Secretary for the
Pacific
Rev. Boyd Drake, United Church of Canada, Rapid City and Area Pastoral
Charge
Marj and Jorie Dugan, Philadelphia
Christian and Ralph Dull, National Council Fellowship of Reconciliation,
Englewood, OH
Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the USA
Patricia Taylor Edmisten, Pensacola,FL
Rabbi Lawrence Edwards, Associate National Director of Interreligious
Affairs, American Jewish Committee
Rev. Bruce Epperly, Ph.D., Director, Washington Institute for Spirituality
and Health
Rev. Kate Epperly, D. Min., Pastor, Palisades Community Church, Washington,
DC; International Council of Community of Churches
Bishop Christopher Epting, Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations,
The Episcopal Church
Linda M. Ervin, Japan North America Commission on Cooperative Mission
Rev. John Fanestil, Senior Pastor, Anaheim United Methodist Church, Anaheim,
CA
Rev. Patricia Adams Farmer, Pastor, Orangethorpe Christian Church,
Fullerton, CA
Mary Jo Fernandez
Rev. Diane R. Fleming, Community of Faith Church, Ann Arbor, MI
Rev. Thomas A. Fleming, Community of Faith Church, Saline, MI
Pam Folkers, Church World Service, Michigan
Rabbi Steven Foster, Congregation Emanuel, Denver, CO
Dr. Robert Franklin, President, Interdenominational Theological Center,
Atlanta, GA
Joe Franko, American Friends Service Committee, Pacific Southwest Region,
Pasadena, CA
Rev. John L. Freesemann, Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, San Jose, CA
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy,  Executive Director, The Interfaith Alliance

The Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Gallen, Executive Director, Preacher's Aid Society of
New England

Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director, United Religions
Initiative, San Francisco
Beth Glick-Rieman, Director, Human Empowerment in Religion and Society,
Spring Valley, CA
Paul Gorman, National Religious Partnership for the Environment
Rev. Carolyn N. Graham, Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth & Families,
District of Columbia, Washington, DC
The Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, Reformed Church of America
Rev. C. Franklin Granger, Minister of Education, First Baptist Church,
Athens, GA
Gloria Guard, People's Emergency Center, Philadelphia
Dr. David P. Gushee, Graves Associate Professor of Moral Philosophy, Union
University
Christine J. Guth
Rev. Dr. Maria Davis Hanlin, Light of Christ United Methodist Church,
Charlotte, NC
Rev. Patrick Cabello Hansel, New Creation Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, PA
David Hartsough, San Francisco Friends Meeting and Director of Peaceworkers
Rev. Gary L. Harke, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Herman Harmelink III, Ecumenical Officer, International Council of Community
Churches
Rev. Mark Henderson, United Methodist Church
Dr. David A. Highfield, Westminster United Methodist Church, Westminster, MD
Rev. Daphne Hoff, Associate Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Mora MN
Marvin D. Hoff, Executive Director, Foundation for Theological Education
Robert N. Hosack, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Baker Book House
Rev. L. Steve Horswill-Johnston, Associate General Secretary, United
Methodist Communications
Dr. Joseph C. Hough, Jr., President, Union Theological Seminary, New York
Debbie Hubbard, Stewardship Network from the Alberta and Northwest
Conference, United Church of Canada
Rev. Colleen Hurley-Bates
Elenie Huszagh, Esq., Incoming President, National Council of the Churches
of Christ in the USA
Rev. William C. Imes, President, Bangor Theological Seminary
Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs, Temple Kol Tikvah, Woodland Hills, CA
Thomas H. Jeavons, General Secretary of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
The Very Rev. Arthur M. Johnson, SA, Minister General, Franciscan Friars of
the Atonement, Graymoor, NY
Rev. Alan Jones, President, San Francisco Interfaith Council, Executive
Director, San Francisco United Methodist Mission
Rev. Donna Lawrence Jones, Pastor, Cookman United Methodist Church
Henry and Vi Jones, Trustees, Claremont School of Theology, Fullerton, CA
Rev. Dr. Afrie Songco Joye, Innovative Short-Term Missionary, Faculty,
Harris Memorial College
Scott Kennedy, Chair, Fellowship of Reconciliation National Council
The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly,
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky, Ecumenical Officer of the Orthodox Church in America,
Moderator of the U.S. Conference of Religions for Peace
Minister E. Terri LaVelle, Liscensed Evangelist, Church of God in Christ,
Program Director, The Faith & Politics Institute, Member of Metropolitan
Baptist Church, Washington, DC
Kathryn A. Lee, Ph.D., J.D., Chair, Department of History and Political
Science, Eastern College
Paul D. Leichty, The Goldenrod Community, Middlebury, IN
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, TIKKUN Magazine
Sr. Beth LeValley, President, The Greater Rochester Community of Churches
Rev. Dr. Eileen W. Lindner, Deputy General Secretary for Research and
Planning, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Rev. James H. Littrell, Episcopal Chaplain, The University of Pennsylvania,
Rector, The Campus Episcopal Church of St. Mary, Philadelphia
Michael E. Livingston, International Council of Community Churches
The Rev. Ted Loder, former Pastor, Germantown United Methodist Church,
Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director, Interfaith Conference of
Metropolitan Washington
Dr. JoAnne Lyon, Executive Director, World Hope International, Inc.
Jim Mannoia, President, Greenville College
The Rev. Dr. Kevin W. Mannoia, Former President, National Association of
Evangelicals
The Rev. Michael A. Mata, Professor of Urban Ministry and Director of the
Urban Leadership Institute at Claremont School of Theology
Dennis A. McAndrew, President/CEO, Lutheran Service Society of Western
Pennsylvania
Dr. Kendall K McCabe, Academic Dean, United Theological Seminary
Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director, Church World Service
Retha McCutchen, General Secretary, Friends United Meeting
Rev. James L. McDonald, Vice President of Policy and Programs, Bread for the
World
Christie McElhinney, Senior Communications Officer, The Colorado Trust
Most Rev. Finian McGinn, OFM, Provincial Minister, Franciscan Friars St.
Barbara Province
Bishop George D. McKinney, Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
Rev. William McKinney, President, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA
W. Grant McMurray, President, Community of Christ
Jim R., Jr. and Lois McQuaide and their children, Kelley, Danielle, Stacy,
Allen and Katie
Pamela Meidell, Chair, Disarmament Task Force, National Council Member,
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Mary Mikhael, Near East School of Theology
Bishop Freeman J. Miller, Mennonite Churches of Philadelphia
Marilyn Miller, Director of Outreach Ministries, Commission on Home
Ministries, General Conference Mennonite Church
Rev. Crystal Minugh-Brutscher, Ministry of Peace and Justice, Riverside
United Methodist Church, Elmira, NY
Stephen V. Monsma, Professor of Political Science, Pepperdine University
Bishop Susan M. Morrison, Albany Episcopal Area, United Methodist Church
David Neff, Executive Editor, Christianity Today Magazine
Rev. Sandra Olewine, United Methodist Liaison, Jerusalem
Rev. Phil Olson, Evangelicals for Social Action, Vice President of Church
Relations and Director of Network 9:35
Marilyn O'Rourke, RN, MSN, Rush University College of Nursing
Glenn R. Palmberg, President, The Evangelical Covenant Church
Dr. Robert Parham, Executive Director, Baptist Center for Ethics, Nashville,
TN
Minister Zina C. Pierre, Washington Linkage Group, Inc.
Dr. Peter J. Pizor, Churchwright Institute
Bishop Peter Price, Church of England
Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP, President, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Janet E. Raffel, J. E. Raffel & Associates, Baltimore, MD
The Rev. James Foster Reese, Executive Presbyter of the New York City
Presbytery, Presbyterian Church USA
The Rev. Dr. Sharon Rhodes-Wickett, Westwood United Methodist Church
Rev. Schuyler Rhodes, Temple United Methodist Church, San Francisco, CA
Rev. Dr. Bruce Robbins, General Secretary, General Commission on Christian
Unity and Interreligious Concerns of the United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Robert H. Roberts, Interim General Secretary, American Baptist
Churches, USA
Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, The
American Jewish Committee
Rev. Patrice Rosner, Director, Ministries in Christian Education, National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
The Most Rev. Metropolitan Philip Saliba, Primate, Antiochian Orthodox
Church Archdiocese of North America
Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Fr. Stuart A. Schlegel, Calvary Episcopal Church, Santa Cruz, CA
Dr. Edward Schwartz, President, Institute for the Study of Civic Values,
Philadelphia, PA
Mark Seal, Executive Vice President, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Rev. Luke J. Shank, Lititz PA
William and Marina Shaw, Crosscurrents International Institute
Rabbi John M. Sherwood, Chair of the Oxnard-Port Hueneme and Ventura
California Ministerial Associations
Rev. Frank Shields, Oregon State Senator
Amy Short, Executive Director, Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian and
Gay Concerns
Dr. Ron Sider, Evangelicals for Social Action
Jon Singletary, Pastor, Richmond Mennonite Fellowship
The Rev. Jennifer Slade, Senior Minister, The Greenville Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship, Greenville, SC
Max L. Stackhouse, Project on Public Theology, Princeton Theological
Seminary
Mark Flory Steury, District Executive Minister, Southern Ohio District
Church of the Brethren
Rev. Don R. Stevenson, Senior Minister, Christ's Reformed Church, United
Church of Christ, Hagerstown, MD
Rev. Elwood Sturtevant, Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church, Louisville KY
Susan M. Swider, Ph.D., R.N., Rush University
Dr. Sayyid M Syeed, Secretary General, The Islamic Society of North America
Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, United Methodist Church
Rev. David Tatgenhorst, Pastor, St. Luke United Methodist Church, Bryn Mawr,
PA
Rev. Candace D. Thomas, Zion United Church of Christ, Bellevue, OH
Dr. Ronald F. Thiemann, Professor of Theology, Harvard University
The Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President, United Church of
Christ
Rev. Robert W. Tiller, Director of Government Relations, Bread for the World
Tim Tucker, Athens, Alabama
Rev. Leslie Copeland Tune, Associate Minister at Metropolitan Baptist
Church, Washington, DC
Mr. Khalid Turaani, American Muslims for Jerusalem
Heidi Rolland Unruh, Associate Director, Congregations, Communities and
Leadership Development Project
The Rev. Lydia Veliko, Minister for Ecumenical Relations, United Church of
Christ
Rev. Robert Walk, Endorsed American Baptist Chaplain serving in
Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Patrick B. Walker, Executive Director, York County Council of Churches
The Rev. Jim Wallis, Call to Renewal and Sojourners

Dr. Andrew D. Walsh, Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy,
Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO

Dr. Valora Washington, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalist Service
Committee

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Director, The Shalom Center

David Waugh, Pastor and Director, Metro Baptist Church and Rauschenbusch
Metro Ministries, New York

Dr. Denny Wayman, Free Methodist Church of Santa Barbara

Rev. Dr. Robert Welsh, President, Council on Christian Church, Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)

The Rev. Doris Arnett Whitaker, Director of Admissions, United Theological
Seminary

Rev. Faith Whitmore, Senior Pastor, St. Mark's United Methodist Church,
Sacramento CA

Rev. Charles L. Wildman, Senior Pastor, Rock Spring Congregational United
Church of Christ, Arlington, VA

The Rev. Nathan D. Wilson, Executive Director, West Virginia Council of
Churches

The Rev. Dr. Walter Wink, Auburn Theological Seminary

Tobias Winright, Instructor of Religion, Simpson College

Loretta C. Witt, Philadelphia

Rev. Dr. Bertrice Wood, Vice President, National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA, United Church of Christ

Dr. Richard Wood, President, United Board for Christian Higher Education in
Asia

Ambassador Andrew Young, President, National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA

Bishop McKinley Young, Presiding Bishop, Tenth District, African Methodist
Episcopal Church

-end-