To the editor:

As clergy leaders living and working in Brown County, we are writing to thank those in our community who are leading the way in speaking out for racial equality.

Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan tells us that we are called to be neighbors — not to choose our neighbors, but to be good neighbors to those who are hurting and strive to understand their suffering.

The Book of Revelation reminds us that God is concerned for people from every nation, tribe, people and language which calls us to respect the dignity of all and seek to love the person in front of us.

We believe that all of us can play an important role in confronting the evils of racism. We are thankful to see signs of movement in this deep problem in our society, and we pledge ourselves as Christian leaders to be allies in this process.

Sincerely,

Rev. Mary Bargiel, St. Davids Episcopal Church; Rev. Mary W. Cartwright, Nashville United Methodist Church; Rev. Michael G. Cartwright, Nashville United Methodist Church; Rev. David Hayes, Hospice Chaplain; Rev. Eric Johnson, Sacramental Minister, St. Agnes Catholic Church; Cory Joy, Encounter Life Ministries; Thom Miller, BCSO Chaplain; Rev. Jason Riggle, Parkview Church of the Nazarene; Mary C. Schaffner, Parish Life Coordinator, St. Agnes Catholic Church

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