Letter to President-elect Trump from the Diocese of Pennsylvania

Posted Nov 16, 2016

[Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania]

Dear President Elect Trump,

We are the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. We value our commonwealth’s heritage as the birthplace of the United States of America founded on the principles of equality and justice for all. As our new President Elect, we want you to know that we are now praying and will continue to pray for you. We will pray for you in our liturgy, churches and homes. We are the Bishop, Clergy, and Laity of the Diocese. We are Republicans, Democrats, Independents and other “political” parties. We comprise a cross section of America; we are a variety of political beliefs and opinions. We are those who voted for you and those who did not. Although we are diverse, we share in an unshakable common faith in the transformative and life-giving power of Jesus Christ.

As you are a professed follower of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we believe you have empathy in your heart and want the best for our nation and the people of the United States. Thus, we ask that you affirmatively and unequivocally condemn any instance of hate, violence, intimidation, harassment, aggression against any of our brothers and sisters with whom we share this country. We are asking that this be done through a public pronouncement.

President Elect Trump, we want you to publicly condemn violence, acts of hate or aggression against women, minorities, the poor, disabled, veterans, the unemployed, immigrants, those of different religions and beliefs, those who are gay, transgender, or the working poor. While the words of division used during this campaign caused deep angst and pain, we believe in redemption and goodness. Thus, we seek your voice. This is not policy pronouncement nor a political statement. It is a covenant with the people of our nation.

We are Christians that recite a baptismal covenant to pray, resist evil, repent and return to the Lord. We proclaim by word and example the Good News of Jesus Christ and seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. We strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being. As our President, we ask you do the same.

As followers of Jesus Christ in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, we will pray for you. We will pray that God will bless you, protect you, and give you wisdom, patience, discernment, health, and love. We will pray for each member of your family. We will pray for your cabinet and your administration. We also need your voice. Stand against hate and discrimination.

This is who we are as Americans of whom you are the President-Elect. Each day we will pray for you; and if the declaration we have hopefully asked of you has not been made, we will continue to pray for you and for our country. However, we will seek the voices of our brothers and sisters of all races, religions, and belief to join us in this request. We will pray daily and write to you daily until hatred or hate-filled violence no longer exists.

President-Elect Trump the time is now and while we pray, we await your voice.

The Rt. Revd. Daniel G. P. Gutierrez
XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

The Rev. Canon Shawn Wamsley
Deborah Stambaugh
James Stambaugh
The Rev. Deacon Karen Kamaskis
Fr. Ian Montgomery
Suzanne Gutierrez
The Rev. Timothy Safford
The Rev. Michael Ruk
The Rev. Jon Clodfelter
The Rev. Mariclair Partee
The Rev. Samuel Murangi
The Rev. Michael Rau
The Rev. Dean Judith Sullivan
The Rev. Deacon Phil Geliebter
The Rev. Kirk Berlenbach
The Rev. Anne Thatcher
The Rev. Frank Allen
The Rev. Dr. Martini Shaw
Patricia Smith
Aaron Skrypski
The Rev. Catherine D. Kerr
The Rev. Deacon Ken McCaslin
The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining
The Rev. Maryjo Melberger
The Rev. Deacon Pat Rubenstein
Eric Rabe
Norm McCausland

The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutierrez
XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania


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