Nashville area faith leaders

Christian, Jewish, Muslim religious authorities: Orders are "untenable, immoral, and hate-filled."

The 147 signees represent congregations and universities across Nashville.

As leaders of religious and spiritual communities in mid-Tennessee, we call upon all people in our state to stand with resolve in solidarity with refugees and undocumented immigrants who have come to this country in hope for new life and freedom.

We denounce the untenable, immoral, and hate-filled executive orders proposed and signed by President Trump directed at immigrants and refugees who have come to America full of hope, but are now filled with new fear and facing new danger.

We resist and refuse to abide by orders that bring harm, invoke fear and prejudice, and threaten to divide families and communities through imposed bigotry, enforced violence, and hateful xenophobia.

As people of faith from many traditions, we are united in our commitment to do all in our power to follow the sacred texts, teachings, and intentions of our traditions that call upon us to welcome the stranger, love our neighbors, and assist any who are uprooted and threatened by discriminatory hatred.

In each of our traditions, wisdom teaches us that all human beings are bound together in deep and holy ways, and that we are created to be in sacred solidarity with the oppressed and disenfranchised. Their plight must be our own. There is no peace for any, until there is peace for all. Our shared futures and hopes are inextricably woven together.

Therefore we call to action all people of faith, spirit, and conscience, elected representatives, community leaders, and congregants of all religious and spiritual communities in Nashville and beyond to see and honor the sacred in the refugee and undocumented immigrant.

And further, we call all people to resist, and where possible, collectively work to rescind all executive orders and administrative proposals that endanger the bodies, minds, and spirits of those who seek with deep intention to find new life in this country and to live with us as neighbors and friends.

Signed by 147 Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders in congregations across Middle Tennessee and area universities.

Editor's note: The list was updated from the original 88 signees.

Rev. Dr. Pamela Hawkins

Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church

Rabbi Arthur S. Rutberg

B’nai Sholom Congregation, Bristol

Imam Ahmedulhadi Sharif

Islamic Center of Tennessee

Dr. Richard Hughes

All Saints Church of Christ

Rev. James Cole

Antioch United Methodist Church

Rev. Jennifer Bailey

Greater Bethel A.M.E Church

Rev. Dr. Ryan L. Hansen

Blakemore Church of the Nazarene

Rev. Dr. Amy Mears

Glendale Baptist Church

The Rev. Richard Britton

St. Ann’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Nancy Hawthorne Parker

West End United Methodist Church/Vanderbilt Wesley Fellowship

Rev. Ken Edwards

Belmont United Methodist Church

Aisha Lbhalla

Muslim Women's Council

Rev. Dr. Mary Louise McCullough

Second Presbyterian Church

Rev. John Hill

Blakemore United Methodist Church

Rev. Brandon Gilvin

First Christian Church, Chattanooga

Mary Murphy

St Augustine’s Chapel

Claire Brown

St. Augustine’s Chapel

Claire Davidson Frederick

Lipscomb University, All Saints Church of Christ

Dr. Mallory Wyckoff

Lipscomb University

Christy Jo Harber

Eastwood Christian Church

Rev. Mike Wilson

Downtown Presbyterian Church

Lee C. Camp

Lipscomb University

Rev. Carlos Uroza

First Hispanic United Methodist Church of Nashville

Rev. Dr. Mark Forrester

Vanderbilt University Office of Chaplain/Religious Life

Rev. John Feldhacker

Edgehill United Methodist Church

Rev. Stephen Handy

McKendree United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Joerg Rieger

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dr. Melissa Snarr

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dr. Graham Reside

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Ben Saunders

Second Presbyterian Church

Sophia Agtarap

The Village UMC

Dr. Richard Goode

Lipscomb University

Rev. Dr. Jim Hughes

Belle Meade United Methodist Church

Rev. Matthew L. Kelley

Christ United Methodist Church

Rev. Ingrid McIntyre

Glencliff United Methodist Church

Dr. Daniel Patte

Emeritus, Vanderbilt

Micky ScottBey Jones

Faith Matters Network

Kelly Blankenship

Lipscomb University

Dr. Bonnie Miller-McLemore

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Denise Gyauch

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Caldwell

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dr. Ellen T. Armour

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Jeannie Alexander

Harriet Tubman House

Rev. Mark Miller-McLemore

Disciples Divinity House, Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Autumn Dennis

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Lillian H. Lammers

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Viki Matson

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Dr. John S. McClure

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dr. Beth A. Richardson

Edgehill United Methodist Church/Lipscomb University

Rev. Tricia Dillon Thomas

Hope House-UKirk at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Rev. Allyn Maxfield-Steele

Rev. Gail S. Seavey

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville

Dave McNeely

Carson-Newman University

Rev. Dr. Peter van Eys

Crievewood United Methodist Church

Rev. Heather Harriss

Belmont United Methodist Church

Rev. Robert B. Coleman

Executive Director, Community Care Fellowship

Rev. Jin Kim

Belmont United Methodist Church

Deaconess Elizabeth Shadbolt

Open Table Nashville

Rev. Laura Becker

Northminster Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga

Dr. Peter Gathje

Memphis Theological Seminary

Emily Baird-Chrisohon

Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church

Rev. Alex Jackson

Barth Vernon United Methodist Church

Teresa Kim Pecinovsky

Second Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Neelley Hicks

61st Avenue United Methodist Church

Caleb Gendron

All Saints Church of Christ

Erin Guzmán

Scarritt Bennett Center

Rev. Dr. Daniel Rosemergy

Interfaith Alliance

Rev. Nick Baird-Chrisohon,

Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church

Ashley Gendron

All Saints Church of Christ

Margaret Anne Ernst

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Daniel Lyvers

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Tyler Coles

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Catherine Jaskey

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Austin Dey

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Cassia Noelle Kisshauer

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Angela Dillon

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Kelsey Davis

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dawn Bennett

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Anita Peebles

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Luther Young, Jr.

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Lauren Plummer

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Evan Bunch

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Scot Robinson

Vanderbilt Divinity School

John Culbertson

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dr. Mary Early-Zald

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Dr. Donna Krupkin Whitney

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Jo Kay

Vanderbilt Divinity School

M. Drew Bongiovanni

Glendale Baptist Church

Robert Jackson

Lipscomb University

Rev. Jonathan Redding

Glendale Baptist Church/Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Jay Voorhees

City Road Chapel United Methodist Church

Carly Kendrick

Lipscomb University/Ethos Church, All Saints Church of Christ

Dr. James B. Angus, Jr.

GraceWay Church of Christ

Merrilee Wineinger

Edgehill United Methodist Church

Rev. April Baker

Glendale Baptist Church

Mr. Daoud Abudiab

Faith & Culture Center

Dr. David Linge

St. James Episcopal Church, Knoxville

Rev. RJ Powell

St. James Episcopal Church, Knoxville

Rev. Sean Stanfield

Thrive Ministry

Joaquin Garcia

The United Methodist Church, Tennessee Conference

Barbara P Garcia

The United Methodist Church, Tennessee Conference

Patricia Bellingrath

Church Street United Methodist Church, Knoxville

Rev. David N. Spencer

Williamsport United Methodist Church

Rev. David M. Lay

Lawrenceburg 1st United Methodist Church

Rev. Allison Gossett

Brentwood United Methodist Church

Mike Engle

Belmont United Methodist Church

Rev. Jim Bailes

Holston Conference United Methodist Church

Rev. Emily Reeves Grammer

City Road Chapel United Methodist Church

Dr. Ed Trimmer

Fresh Start Ministries, Columbia, TN



Rev. Dr. Diana L Hynson

Edgehill UMC/ Balt-Wash Conference of United Methodist Church

Rev. Carol Cavin-Dillon

Christ United Methodist Church

Jim Sessions

United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael Williams

West End United Methodist Church

Rev. Lisa Gwock

West End United Methodist Church

John Gill

Church of the Savior, United Church of Christ, Knoxville

Tallu Schuyler Quinn

The Nashville Food Project

Rev. Stephanie Baxter Dunn

Calvary United Methodist Church

Rev. Shelby Lucas Slowey

Brentwood United Methodist Church

Rev. Adam Kelchner

Kingston Springs United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. LeNoir Culberson

United Methodist Church

Rev. Sherry Cothran

United Methodist Church

Rev. Shirley Renee Franklin

United Methodist Church

Josh Riedel

Belmont University

Rev. Dr. Janet Wolf

Children’s Defense Fund, United Methodist

Kathryn Spry

Hillcrest United Methodist

Rev. Vicki Tucker Burgess

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

Gerald and Susan Kirksey

Belmont United Methodist Church

Rev. Kelli X

The Village Church (PCUSA)

Dr. Emily Askew

Lexington Theological Seminary

Rev. Ann Cover

South End United Methodist Church

Rev. Stephanie Dodge

Crievewood United Methodist Church

Juan Reyes

Yulitsa Reyes

Mrs. Laurie McNeece

Madisonville FUMC Holston Conference

Mr. Dave Daniels

Edgehill UMC

Tennessee Conference

Bishop Melvin Talbert

United Methodist Church

Kyle Frohock

Dalewood United Methodist Church

Rev. David Ssebulime

Brentwood United Methodist Church

Mr. Herman Lawson

Rehoboth United Methodist Church

Rev. Debra Tyree

Bellevue United Methodist Church

Rev. Dave McIntyre

Retired, TN United Methodist Church

Rev. Erica Allen

Grace United Methodist Church

Rev. Chris Allen

West End United Methodist Church

Keller Hawkins

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Rev. Cherie Parker

Hillcrest United Methodist Church

Will Acuff

Rev Jacob Armstrong

Providence United Methodist Church