Last week, on the holiest day in the Jewish year, a murderous attack took place at a small synagogue in Halle, Germany. Two people unconnected to the synagogue lost their lives in a senseless shooting, one that had as its intended target the faithful gathered for Yom Kippur.

As Episcopalians, we write to express our outrage and our grief at this attack, and our commitment to continue teaching within our churches about the dangers of intolerance and the evils of extremism and racism in all its forms.

We follow the teachings of a man who was a Jewish teacher and preacher. In the calendar of our year, we mark events in the life of that man reflecting his Jewish upbringing and piety.

We are also keenly aware of the long and grievous history of the church in denying its historic connection to the Jewish people, and in failing to speak with moral clarity when Jewish communities have been singled out for discrimination and violence.

We condemn all violence perpetrated against people and communities of faith, and we stand unalterably in support of the rights of all people to exercise the dictates of their conscience without fear. We will not fail to remind our communities of the profound errors of the past, when the church made easy alliance with the evils of white supremacy and nationalism. And we assure our Jewish neighbors and friends of our prayers, our support, and our assistance.

The Reverend Dr. Lutz Ackermann

Vicar, Mission of Saint Boniface, Augsburg

The Reverend Christopher Easthill

Rector, Church of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Wiesbaden

The Reverend Hanns Engelhardt

Mission of Saint Columban, Karlsruhe

The Reverend Scott A. Moore

Vicar, Mission of Saint James the Less, Nürnberg

The Reverend Allan Sandlin

Interim Rector, Church of the Ascension, Munich

The Reverend. Dr. Edda Wolff

Interim Rector, Church of Christ the King, Frankfurt

The Venerable Walter J. Baer

Archdeacon

The Convocation Episcopal Churches in Europe

The Right Reverend Mark D. W. Edington

Bishop in Charge

The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe