Grounded in a belief in the fundamental dignity of all people, Executive Secretary Diane Randall and representatives of over a dozen other faith communities wrote President-elect Trump expressing their hope that he will uphold human rights and the principles of democracy throughout his time in office.
In a letter sent to President-elect Trump on January 10th, faith leaders called on him not only to reject torture, genocide, and other human rights violations, but also to do everything in his power to protect vulnerable people around the world from these abuses.
“We live in an era when fear and anger have eroded the common concern for human life and human dignity,” they wrote, but President-elect Trump has a duty to work against this trend.
“As you begin your presidency,” they wrote, “we pray that you will stand to protect American values like democracy, freedom of religion, and rule of law.”
January 10, 2017
President-elect Donald Trump
Trump Tower
735 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Dear President-elect Trump,
As representatives of many different faith communities, we are writing to convey our hope and prayers that you will robustly defend the dignity of all people and strive to advance democracy, human rights, and rule of law both here at home and around the world.
We live in an era when fear and anger have eroded the common concern for human life and human dignity. Too often lines are drawn between people of different ethnicities, religions, and cultures, and some use those lines in an attempt to justify killing, torture, and other immoral acts of brutality.
While we represent a diversity of faith traditions, we stand together in a shared belief in the God-given dignity of each person and the conviction that America should reject the forces that divide people and should protect those who are at risk of torture, rape, genocide, and other violations of human dignity. Our faith traditions teach us that standing up for the vulnerable and those in need is at integral to the well-being of our shared community. We believe that our country should champion democracy and rule of law both here and abroad.
As you begin your presidency, we pray that you will stand to protect American values like democracy, freedom of religion, and rule of law, and that you will defend people from torture, genocide, and other assaults on human dignity.
Please know that our prayers are with you. As you shoulder the burdens of the presidency, you can always reach out to any of us for counsel and prayer.
Sincerely,
Bishop Bruce R. Ough
President, The Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Director
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Kavneet Singh
President
American Sikh Council (ASC)
Colin P. Watson, Sr.
Director of Ministries and Administration
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Sr. Simone Campbell
Executive Director
NETWORK: A Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Rev. Paula Clayton Dempsey
Director of Partnership Relations
Alliance of Baptists
Ervin R. Stutzman
Executive Director
Mennonite Church USA
Patrick Carolan
Executive Director
Franciscan Action Network
Diane Randall
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
National Director of Interfaith & Community Alliances
Islamic Society of North America
Dr. Susan E. Gillies
Interim General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA
Jim Winkler
President and General Secretary
National Council of the Churches
Rev. David Steele
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren
Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Ron Stief
Executive Director
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
Executive Director
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Gerry Lee
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concern
Sr. Patricia J. Chappell
Executive Director
Pax Christi USA
Hon. Thomas H. Andrews
President & CEO
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
cc: Members of the 115th Congress
