Phoenixville-Area Clergy Denounce Trump, Plead For Kindness

Editor’s note: The following open letter was published publicly by clergy members from Phoenixville, Royersford, and the surrounding area.

As citizens, as people of faith, and as clergy, we have watched with trepidation and concern the worsening rhetoric directed toward our Muslim sisters and brothers in national media, as well as a growing number of hostile statements and actions against Muslims throughout the country. Locally, on Sunday the 6th of December, a severed pig’s head was thrown on the front steps of the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society building in Philadelphia. Nationally, major presidential candidates have proposed disturbing actions like banning non-Christian refugees, and all Muslim immigrants, from entering the country, and even registering and tracking all Muslims living in the United States - a chilling echo of past atrocities. The President of Liberty University recently encouraged his staff and student body to arm themselves, so that they could “end those Muslims before they walked in.” Unfortunately, there are many more examples of similar statements and behavior.

We therefore take this opportunity to come together and state, as clearly as we can, that we do not in any way condone hostility, bigotry, coercion or violence directed toward any of our Muslim sisters and brothers. We do not believe that there is any place, in our country or in our congregations and communities, for hatred. Furthermore, we wish to extend an offer of hospitality to all of our Muslim sisters and brothers in particular, and to declare our support of and solidarity with them. We can certainly have different beliefs and practices while at the same time affirming our common humanity and identity as people created in God’s image. While many of the Muslims who are being threatened and mistreated are fellow citizens, we also affirm the core call present throughout Abrahamic faiths and scriptures, which is to welcome strangers, act justly, and extend hospitality to all people, whether they are citizens, resident aliens, refugees or otherwise.

Finally, we call upon our fellow people of faith to remember a core value and command that all of our traditions share in one form or another - to treat everyone as we would want to be treated. May we be known by our love, and may the light of our hospitality shine.

Respectfully, the Phoenixville Area Clergy Association

• Rev. Douglas Hagler, First Presbyterian Church
• Rev. Jack Newns, St. Ann Catholic Church
• Rev. John Bletsch, Otterbein United Methodist Church
• Rev. Dr. Stephen D. Crane, Grace Crossing Community Church
• Dennis Coleman
• Reverend Gerald Tancredi, Centennial Lutheran Church
• Pastor David A. Leiter, Green Tree Church of the Brethren
• Rev. Dr. F. Russell Mitman, Parkside United Church of Christ
• Rev. Stacey-Kyle S. Rea, St. John’s Lutheran Church
• Rev. Dr. Cynthia Krommes, St. John’s Lutheran Church
• The Very Rev. Dr. Koshy Matthews, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
• Pastor Emeritus Jack Mason, Grace Assembly of God
• Rev. Paul David Townsend, Zion Lutheran Church
• Rabbi Jeff Sultar, Congregation B’nai Jacob
• Rev. Ron Wesemann, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
• Rev. R. Mark Young, First United Methodist Church of Phoenixville
• Rev. Courtney B. Cromie, First Presbyterian Church

Image ”Donald Trump Laconia Rally, Laconia, NH 4 by Michael Vadon July 16 2015 20” by Michael Vadon - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons