Arkansas Faith Letter Against Stand Your Ground
Dear Governor Hutchinson and Honorable Members of the Arkansas Legislature:
We, the undersigned, informed by our faith, write in opposition to SB24, a dangerous Stand Your Ground bill.
As people of faith, we take seriously our commitment to love God and to love our neighbors not just with our words, but with our actions. We are called to seek justice, lead with compassion, and serve with humility. As faith leaders, we have a moral obligation not just to preach and teach within our own congregations, but also to seek the welfare of the communities where we serve.
Faith leaders in Arkansas have been at the forefront of resisting gun violence. The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas has passed a resolution urging its churches to be agents for gun safety. The Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church encouraged congregations to keep guns out of churches, after the state of Arkansas passed an “enhanced concealed carry” law. Churches have been affected by gun violence, and faith communities have hosted rallies and vigils against gun violence and promoting nonviolent conflict resolution.
Stand Your Ground is fundamentally opposed to these beliefs. It is always better to avoid taking a life if there is a clear and safe way to do so, but Stand Your Ground encourages people to resolve issues with violence. These laws are associated with increases in homicides and injuries, while disproportionately impacting communities of color. In states with Stand Your Ground, we have seen the senseless loss of life. Shootings in movie theaters because a bag of popcorn was thrown, arguments over parking spaces that turn deadly, arguments over loud music that lead to the death of a teenager. In addition to the everyday impacts, this proposal that promotes violence couldn’t come at a worse time, with violent anti-government extremism and white supremacy on the rise across our country.
The incident at the U.S. Capitol is only one example of the increasing violent rhetoric that should concern us all as Americans. In the aftermath of the election, we’ve seen the armed intimidation of election officials and the public in multiple states. The need to reject radical policies which would likely embolden extremists and vigilantes has never been more evident. Stand Your Ground is not only associated with clear increases in homicide, but too often used by those who already have violent backgrounds.
It is our hope that as elected leaders of our state, and people of faith, you will do whatever it takes to reduce the loss of life. We urge you to reject SB24 and any other attempts to enact Stand Your Ground. We look forward to working with you to promote a culture of peace and love.
Rev. Sara Milford, Vicar
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
Bentonville
Matt Bussell, Minister
First Presbyterian Church
Jonesboro
Don Morrow, Senior Minister
First Christian Church & WaterWay
Bentonville
Viola Turner
Licensed minister of the state of Arkansas
Christ the Rock Outreach church
Ashleigh Givens, Associate Pastor
Compass Church
Jonesboro
Elijah Walker, Pastor
Highland Drive Christian Church and Solomon’s Porch
Jonesboro
Rev. Maxine Allen, Senior Pastor
St. Paul Maumelle UMC
Little Rock
Rev Dr Charles Coleman
Methodist
Jonesboro
Anika Whitfield, Assistant Minister
The Church Without Walls Global Reach Ministries
Little Rock
Preston Clegg, Pastor
Second Baptist Church
Little Rock
Britt Skarda, Retired clergy
The United Methodist Church
Little Rock
Carol-Ann Blow, Deacon
San Damiano Ecumenical Catholic Church
Little Rock
Barry Block, Rabbi
Congregation B’nai Israel
Little Rock
Rev Chris Ellis
Second Baptist Downtown
Little Rock
Charlie McAdoo, Retired
United Methodist
Little Rock
Brittany Stillwell
Minister with Students and Families
Second Baptist Church
Little Rock
Suzanne Cain, Minister of Worship
Second Baptist Church
Little Rock
Jeremy Jones, Pastor
St. Paul AME Church
Jonesboro
Chestine Sims, Pastor
Union AME Church
Little Rock
Perry Jackson, Pastor
Saint Paul Missionary Baptist
Jonesboro
Peggy Cromwell, Associate Priest
Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church
Conway
Rob Leacock, Priest
Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Rev. Joyce Campbell, Senior Pastor
Greater Ward Chapel AME
Pine Bluff
Rob Leacock, Priest
Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Bishop Mitchell
AME Church
Little Rock
Sara Tariq, Board Member
Madina Institute
Little Rock
Michael Scroggins, Pastor
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Bigelow
Rev. Barbara A. Butler, Pastor
Moody Chapel AME Church
Little Rock
Tom W Scott, Pastor
St Paul AME Church
Arkadelphia
Batesville Unity Group (Paul C. Bube, Acting Chairperson)
Reconciling United Methodists
First United Methodist Church
Batesville
Ed Wills, Reverend
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Elizabeth Henry-McKeever, Priest
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Kate Alexander, Rector
Christ Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Rev. Marie Mainard-O’Connell, Minister
Park Hill Presbyterian Church
North Little Rock
Elizabeth Henry-McKeever, Priest
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Jason Alexander, Priest
The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
Little Rock
Samuel Loudenslager, Reverend
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Little Rock
Cameron Highsmith, Chaplain (Reverend)
Presbytery of Arkansas
Little Rock
Sarah Argue, Lay Leader
Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
Little Rock
Justin Bryant, Pastor
Allen Chapel A.M.E
Atkins
Clint Schnekloth, Pastor
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Fayetteville
Terry M. Gosnell, Reverend
Trinity United Methodist
Fayetteville
Melissa Ehrhardt, Reverend
Peace Lutheran Church
Rogers
Toby Klein, Co-President
Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas
Fayetteville
Julia Kilbourne-Bailey, Junior Warden
All Saints Episcopal Church
Bentonville
David C. Freeman, Pastor
First United Methodist Church
Little Rock
Rev. Jim Parrish, Minister
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Fayetteville
Steve Evans, Reverend
Bringing Peace and Hope
Fort Smith
David Ayres, Minister
Southside Church of Christ
Rogers
Issa Abboud, President
Bentonville Islamic Center
Bentonville
Rev.Jason Tyler, Pastor
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Fayetteville
Kathleen Trotter, Lay leader
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Fayetteville
Stanley McKinnon, Rector
Grace Episcopal Church
Siloam Springs
Reverend Roy Lenington, Associate Pastor
Spirit of Peace NWA
Fayetteville
Reverend Mark Williams, Senior Pastor
Spirit of Peace NWA
Fayetteville
Rev. Pam Morgan, Rector
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Springdale
Myers David J., Deacon
St.Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Rogers
Rev. Craig Gavin, Priest-In-Charge
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Rogers
Evan D. Garner, Rector
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Fayetteville
Curtis Wilson, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Jonesboro
Vanessa Ryerse, Reverend
Vintage Fellowship
Fayetteville
Susan Gray, Pastor
Vaughn Presbyterian Church
Bentonville
Melanie Tubbs, Pastor
United Methodist Church
Augusta and Bald Knob
Cheryl Felder-Stuart, State Director of Christian Education
National Baptist
Lewisville
Robert Wetherington, Reverend
St Mary’s Episcopal Church
El Dorado
Chris Seawood, Executive Pastor
The Historic St James Missionary Baptist Church
Fayetteville
Curtiss Smith, Pastor
The Historic St. James Missionary Baptist Church
Fayetteville
Donna Hankins, Pastor
United Methodist Church
Little Rock
Jessica Durand, Pastor/Director
Manchester United Methodist Church, Wesley campus ministry
Arkadelphia
The Rev’d Kevin Gore, Priest-in-Charge
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Mountain Home
David LeSieur, Pastor
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Rogers
Lowell Grisham, Interim Supply Priest
St. Theodore’s Episcopal Church
Bella Vista
Rev. Guillermo Castillo, Reverend
Misionero hispano Episcopal church in Arkansas
Rogers
Kenneth Parks, Assisting Priest
At.Thomas Episcopal Church
Springdale
Suzanne Stoner, Associate Rector
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Fayetteville
Dr. Jeff Flanigan , Pastor
Carter Temple CME Church
Blytheville
Rev. Mark Snodgrass, Pastor
Bentonville Community Church of the Nazarene
Bentonville
Philip W. Butin, Co-Pastor
First United Presbyterian Church
Fayetteville
Kathleen, Reverend
Episcopal Church
Fayetteville
