Interfaith Statement of Opposition to the Death Penalty Dear Governor Abbott, Members of the 84th Texas Legislature, and other elected officials, We, the undersigned 551 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, Houston Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston The United Methodist Church EpiscopalArea Houston, Texas Plano, Texas Houston, Texas Bishop Ray Tiemann Bishop J. Michael Lowry Bishop James E. Dorff Southwestern Texas Synod Evangelical The Central Texas Conference of the United Rio Texas Conference Lutheran Church in America Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas San Antonio, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Bishop Michael Rinehart Rev. Mike Cole Bishop Earl Bledsoe Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod New Covenant Presbytery New Mexico/Northwest Texas Annual Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Houston, Texas Conferences, The United Methodist Church Houston, Texas Lubbock, Texas *Religious traditions and faith community names listed for identification purposes. 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 Joe Wilson Rev. Debbie Chapman Dr. Thomas Brumett Retired, The United Methodist Church Holy Covenant United Methodist Church of First United Methodist McKinney Georgetown, Texas Carrollton McKinney, Texas Plano, Texas Bishop J .Woodrow Hearn Rev. Clay Horton Retired, The United Methodist Church Rev. Frank Denner III Christ United Methodist Church Galveston, Texas Custer Road United Methodist McKinney, Texas Plano, Texas Ann Sherer-Simpson Deacon Victor Machiano Retired Bishop, United Methodist Church Rev. Wally Butts St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church Trinity, Texas Cornerstone United Methodist McKinney, Texas Plano, Texas Bishop John Russell Rev. Woodrow Weilage Retired, The United Methodist Church Deacon Art Tiongson Retired, The United Methodist Church Fort Worth, Texas St. Gabriel Catholic Church McKinney, Texas Frisco, Texas Bishop Ben Chamness Rev. Don Zeiler Retired, The United Methodist Church Pastor Charles Harrison St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church Huntsville, Texas Kessler Park United Methodist Church McKinney, Texas Garland, Texas Bishop Dan Solomon Rev. Terry Heislen Retired, The United Methodist Church Rev. James Minor First United Methodist - Sachse Abilene, 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 Rev. David Weber Rev. Alice Coder First United Methodist - Mesquite First United Methodist - Plano Co-Pastor Isabel Marquez Mesquite, Texas Plano, Texas Cathedral of Hope Lewisville, Texas 2 Pastor Michael Baughman Rev. Wes Magruder Rev. Shelley A. Hamilton Union Kessler Park United Methodist Church Cathedral of Hope Sunnyvale, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Larry James Rabbi Adam M. Allenberg Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson CitySquare Temple Emanu-El Extravagance United Church of Christ (UCC) Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Terry P. Jones Rabbi Asher Knight Rev. Dawson B. Taylor Highland Park United Methodist Temple Emanu-El Cathedral of Hope Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Dr. Timothy McLemore Deacon Tim Muldoon Rev. Robert Cooper Perkins School of Theology, SMU Christ the King Catholic Church Retired, The United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Kerry Smith Fr. Tim Gollob Rev. Bruce Theunissen Greenland Hills United Methodist Church Pastor, Holy Cross Catholic Church Retired, Presbyterian Church USA Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Connie Millsap Pastor Les Chandler Rabbi Andrew Paley Kessler Park United Methodist Church Grace United Methodist Church Temple Shalom Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Dr. R. Ben Marshall Venerable Tashi Nyima Rev. Russell Floyd Northhaven United Methodist Church New Jonang Buddhist Community First United Methodist - Irving Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. John Hardt Bodhisattva Monk Rinchen Tsultrim Pastor Ryan Koch Retired, The United Methodist Church New Jonang Buddhist Community Peace Mennonite Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Rev. Connie Nelson Licensed Practitioner Veronica Valles, RScP Pastor Joaquim Nascimento The United Methodist Church Centers for Spiritual Living Spring Valley United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Clerk Elizabeth Wolff Rabbi Nancy Ann Kasten Rev. George Battle Dallas Friends Meeting Reform Judaism Oaklawn United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Sister Patricia Ridgley Pastor Arthur Stewart Rev. Rachel Baughman Sisters of St. Mary of Namur Midway Hills Christian Church University Park United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Pastor Dawn Anderson Rev. Eric Folkerth Rabbi Ana Bonnheim Highland Park United Methodist Church Northaven