Joint Clergy Statement on the Embrace of Religious Diversity

Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion, or prohibiting the

free exercise thereof...

— Amendment I to the Constitution of the United States of America

1We, the undersigned clergy of greater Kansas City, with common purpose and unified voice, bear witness to and embrace religious diversity as a primary strength and foundational value of our American democracy.

2 This cherished diversity, born in mutual respect for the dignity God inheres in each human being, and which is foundational to our Constitution, promises freedom to worship and serve God as we see fit.

3 We further believe that the God who created us all loves all human beings equally, those of faith and those of no religious faith.

4 We urge all Kansas Citians to join in recognition of the sacred image in each human being.

5 We pledge to one another, and to our community, and we ask you to join us in conviction and practice, that no governmental body should ever preference any single religion’s principles or convictions above another.

6 While each of the undersigned is devoted to the Holy One as we understand the Holy One to be, we urge the complete separation between the powers of government and religion, affirming for each of us the absolute freedom to worship and practice as we understand the Sacred to require of us, and as guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

7 We declare that no single religion, group of religions or abstention from religion claims superiority to the law of the United States; and regardless of the individual religious convictions of the Founders, we acknowledge and promulgate that all religions have and shall by right possess, now and in the future, an equal status before the government of the United States and all other jurisdictions of this great nation.

Rabbi Doug Alpert

Congregation Kol Ami, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Dr. Cathleen Burnett

Rev. Sharon S. Cantrell

Christian Church (DOC)

Rabbi Javier E. Cattapan

Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, KS

The Rev. Jeffrey C. Clayton

Pastor, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS

The Crescent Peace Society

Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn

Temple Israel, Overland Park, KS

Rev. Thomas Curran, S.J.

Rockhurst University

Rabbi Dr. Stuart E. Davis, Ph.D.

Rev. Jean Renée DeTar

Unity Ministries

Pastor Lloyd Fields Sr.

Greater Gilgal Baptist Bible Fellowship, Kansas City, MO

Rabbi David M. Glickman

Congregation Beth Shalom, Overland Park, KS

Rabbi Moshe Grussgott

Kehilath Israel Synagogue, Overland Park, KS

Rev. Dr. Wallace Hartsfield II

Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Denise Hill

United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Hill

Rev. Dr. Jane Fisler Hoffman

United Church of Christ

Rabbi Dr. Mark H. Levin

Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, KS

Rabbi Alan D. Londy, D.Min.

Fr. Chas Marks

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall

Central Seminary, KS

Venerable John H. McCann

Episcopal Priest

Rev. Susan G. McCann

Board President, Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO)

Rev. Holly McKissick

Peace Christian Church, UCC, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Tom Minges

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Chase Peeples

Kansas City United Church of Christ

Rev. Roxanne R. Pendleton

Southwood UCC, Raytown, MO

Rev. Heidi A. Peterson

Central Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Michael Roach

St. James Catholic Church, Liberty, MO

The Rev. Dr. R. Stan Runnels

Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church & Day School, Kansas City, MO

Imam Sulaiman Z. and Antoinette Salaam

Al Haqq Islamic Center, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Dr. Tex Sample

Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Robin Sandbothe

Co-Pastor, Englewood Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO

Rev. Dr. Dane R. Sommer

Valley Center United Church of Christ

Rabbi Linda Steigman

Rev. Michael L. Stephens

Southwood United Church of Christ

Rabbi Debbie Stiel

Temple Beth Sholom, Topeka, KS

Rev. Elizabeth M. Strobel

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Jennifer Thomas

ELCA

Rev. Stevie Wakes, M.Div.

Pastor, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Kansas City, KS

Rev. Gerald Waris

Rev. Kimi Yokoyama

Pastor, Zion UCC, St. Joseph, MO