Interfaith Statement of Opposition to the Death Penalty

Interfaith Statement of Opposition to the Death Penalty Dear Governor Abbott, Members of the 84th Texas Legislature, and Other Elected Officials, We, the undersigned 556 faith leaders, reflecting the rich diversity of faith traditions observed in this great state, stand together in expressing our deep concerns about the death penalty in Texas. Our concerns are both moral and practical and are rooted in our religious traditions. We write to you today to call for the end of the death penalty in Texas in the belief that this practice is not in the best interest of our State, our justice system, or the safety of our people. We join with many Texans in questioning our state’s death penalty system, which has consistently been shown to be unfair and inaccurate. Texas leads the nation in the number of executions carried out each year. In fact, our state is a significant outlier in this regard, accounting for more than one third of all executions nationwide since 1976. Well- documented evidence suggests that often it has not been the crime itself but rather such factors as race, socioeconomics, geography, or politics that have determined the application of the death penalty. Another grave concern is the number of individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and spent years on death row for crimes they did not commit. As faith leaders, we are greatly disturbed by the presence of violence in our communities. We believe that instead of allocating scarce resources to fund an irrevocably flawed capital punishment system, the State of Texas should invest in victim support services, effective law enforcement, drug treatment programs, child and family services, and mental healthcare – all measures that hold potential for preventing future acts of violence. We should do all we can to make sure our state’s resources are directed towards the improvement of life, not its destruction. We firmly believe that those who commit terrible crimes should be held accountable for their actions and we advocate for a justice system that is both humane and restorative. It is particularly important to us to support the victims of violent crimes and their family members in their grief and suffering and promote measures that will facilitate their healing. In responding to one of our greatest societal problems, we believe the state must consider solutions to violent crime that address our communities’ need for safety and healing, not retribution. As people of faith, we take this opportunity to reaffirm our opposition to the death penalty and to express our belief in the sacredness of human life and in the human capacity for redemption. It is this respect for all life that prompts us to join the diversity of voices across the state calling for repeal. We urge you, our elected officials, to take a closer look at the reality of capital punishment in Texas and ask that you seek alternative ways to achieve healing and justice for all those who suffer in the wake of violent crimes. We thank you for your leadership and we pray for the time when our state is led away from this unnecessary, arbitrary, and outmoded form of punishment. Sincerely, Bishop Michael McKee Bishop Janice Riggle Huie Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Bishop of the North Texas Conference, United Methodist Bishop Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston The United Methodist Church Houston Episcopal Area Houston, Texas Plano, Texas Houston, Texas Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez Bishop J. Michael Lowry Bishop James E. Dorff Bishop of Austin The Central Texas Conference of the United Rio Texas Conference Austin, Texas Methodist Church United Methodist Church Fort Worth, Texas San Antonio, Texas Bishop Ray Tiemann Southwestern Texas Synod Bishop Earl Bledsoe Bishop Michael Rinehart Evangelical Lutheran Church in America New Mexico/Northwest Texas Annual Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod San Antonio, Texas Conferences, The United Methodist Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Lubbock, Texas Houston, Texas Rev. Mike Cole New Covenant Presbytery Houston, Texas *Religious traditions and faith community names listed for identification purposes. Bishop Joe Wilson Rev. Alice Coder Co-Pastor Isabel Marquez Retired, The United Methodist Church First United Methodist - Plano Cathedral of Hope Georgetown, Texas Plano, Texas Lewisville, Texas Bishop Joel Martinez Rabbi Benjamin Sternman Pastor Nancy DeStefano Retired, The United Methodist Church Adat Chaverim St. Stephen United Methodist San Antonio, Texas Plano, Texas Little Elm, Texas Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn Rev. Debbie Chapman Dr. Thomas Brumett Retired, The United Methodist Church Holy Covenant United Methodist Church of First United Methodist McKinney Galveston, Texas Carrollton McKinney, Texas Plano, Texas Ann Sherer-Simpson Rev. Clay Horton Retired Bishop, United Methodist Church Rev. Frank Denner III Christ United Methodist Church Trinity, Texas Custer Road United Methodist McKinney, Texas Plano, Texas Bishop John Russell Deacon Victor Machiano Retired, The United Methodist Church Rev. Wally Butts St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church Fort Worth, Texas Cornerstone United Methodist McKinney, Texas Plano, Texas Bishop Ben Chamness Rev. Woodrow Weilage Retired, The United Methodist Church Deacon Art Tiongson Retired, The United Methodist Church Huntsville, Texas St. Gabriel Catholic Church McKinney, Texas Frisco, Texas Bishop Dan Solomon Rev. Don Zeiler Retired, The United Methodist Church Pastor Charles Harrison St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church Abilene, Texas Kessler Park United Methodist Church McKinney, Texas Garland, Texas Bishop D. Max Whitfield Rev. Terry Heislen Retired, The United Methodist Church Rev. James Minor First United Methodist - Sachse Richardson, Texas Axe Memorial United Methodist Church Plano, Texas Garland, Texas Bishop Robert Hibbs Pastor Thomas Downing Retired, West Texas Episcopal Diocese Pastor John Schelter First United Methodist Dallas San Antonio, Texas Our Savior Lutheran Church Richardson, Texas Garland, Texas Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Rev. Alan Clark Incarnate Word Rev. Brian Dierolf First United Methodist Church - Rockwall San Antonio, Texas First United Methodist - Grand Prairie Rockwall, Texas Grand Prairie, Texas Father Eugene Okoli Rev. Chris Dowd St. Jude Catholic Church Pastor Sarah Roberts First United Methodist Church Sherman Allen, Texas Schreiber United Methodist Church Sherman, Texas The Colony, Texas Rev. James Guest Pastor Chuck Hubbard Retired, The United Methodist Church Pastor Preston Weaver Gloria Dei Lutheran Church - Garland Carrollton, Texas Kirkwood United Methodist Church Wylie, Texas Irving, Texas Rev. Jonathan Grace Rev. Donald Brown II City Square Lama Duojom Dorjee First United Methodist Church Carrollton, Texas Karma Thegsum Choling Dallas Grand Saline, Texas Irving, Texas Rev. Jason Redick Rev. Charles Kimble Holy Covenant United Methodist Church Rev. Gregory Neal First United Methodist Church Malakoff Carrollton, Texas Northgate United Methdodist Church Malakoff, Texas Irving, Texas Rev. Carol Sparks Rev. Charles Aaron Holy Covenant United Methodist Church Pastor Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch First United Methodist - Terrell Carrollton, Texas Vista Ridge United Methodist Church Terrell, Texas Lewisville, Texas Rev. J.D. Allen Rev. Dana Russell First United Methodist - Carrollton Rev. Andy Lewis Mesquite, Texas Carrollton, Texas First United Methodist Lewisville Lewisville, Texas 2 Rev. David Weber Rev. S. Dianna Masters Pastor Alejandro De La Torre First United Methodist - Mesquite St. Luke Community Cathedral of Hope Mesquite, Texas United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Pastor Michael Baughman Rev. Shelley A. Hamilton Union Rev. Wes Magruder Cathedral of Hope Sunnyvale, Texas Kessler Park United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Larry James Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson CitySquare Rabbi Adam M. Allenberg Extravagance United Church of Christ (UCC) Dallas, Texas Temple Emanu-El Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Terry P. Jones Rev. Dawson B. Taylor Highland Park United Methodist Rabbi Asher Knight Cathedral of Hope Dallas, Texas Temple Emanu-El Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Dr. Timothy McLemore Rev. Robert Cooper Perkins School of Theology, SMU Deacon Tim Muldoon Retired, The United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Christ the King Catholic Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Kerry Smith Rev. Bruce Theunissen Greenland Hills United Methodist Church Fr. Tim Gollob Retired, Presbyterian Church USA Dallas, Texas Pastor, Holy Cross Catholic Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Connie Millsap Rabbi Andrew Paley Kessler Park United Methodist Church Pastor Les Chandler Temple Shalom Dallas, Texas Grace United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Dr. R. Ben Marshall Rev. Russell Floyd Northhaven United Methodist Church Venerable Tashi Nyima First United Methodist - Irving Dallas, Texas New Jonang Buddhist Community Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. John Hardt Pastor Ryan Koch Retired, The United Methodist Church Bodhisattva Monk Rinchen Tsultrim Peace Mennonite Church Dallas, Texas New Jonang Buddhist Community Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Connie Nelson Pastor Joaquim Nascimento The United Methodist Church Licensed Practitioner Veronica Valles, RScP Spring Valley United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Centers for Spiritual Living Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Clerk Elizabeth Wolff Rev. George Battle Dallas Friends Meeting Rabbi Nancy Ann Kasten Oaklawn United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Reform Judaism Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Sister Patricia

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