Faith Leaders Against English Only Statement
As religious leaders in Nashville/Davidson County, we have watched with interest and concern the movement to establish English as the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville. The proposed charter amendment would prohibit any kind of government service from being offered in languages other than English.
We come from a variety of religious traditions, but we are united in our opposition to the English Only amendment. We consider it to be unjust, inhospitable, and detrimental to the wellbeing of our community. We urge our fellow Nashvillians to defeat this measure once and for all.
Government representatives have already pointed out the negative effects of such an amendment on tourism, law enforcement, and economic development. Authoritative writings of many faith traditions, including the Jewish Torah, the Christian New Testament, and the Islamic Qur'an, encourage the faithful to show hospitality to strangers. We affirm that barriers of language and culture are to be overcome not by means of exclusion but by mutual concern for the wellbeing of the other.
The English Only proposal erects a wall where windows to better understanding are needed. It creates a climate of hostility and fear rather than hospitality. Nashville is a great city to live and work, to go to school or start a business, to visit and remember. Removing the possibility of government services and documents in languages other than English makes it harder to welcome friends and guests from abroad, to assimilate immigrants and their children into our community, and to provide a safe place for refugees. We want Nashville to be a city of true hospitality.
We recognize that the issue of immigration in our country is difficult, and that some in our community fear the pace of growth in our non-native population. We are aware of the many challenges we face in welcoming newcomers to this place we call home. However none of these issues will be addressed by restricting the use of other languages by city officials. Rather, the people of Nashville must continue the long and often difficult conversation about how we improve life in our community and how we grow into the future.
We care for this great city, and faithfulness to our religious traditions leads us to stand in opposition to the English Only proposal.
After you have added your name to this petition an e-mail will be sent to the given address to confirm your signature. Please make sure that your e-mail address is correct or you will not receive this e-mail and your name will not be counted.
Signatories
Jay Voorhees, Antioch United Methodist Church Pastor ,xxxxxxxx, Methodist Youth Minister ,
Matthew L. Kelley, Bethlehem United Methodist Church Pastor ,
Chris O\'Rear, Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, Inc. Executive Director for Clinical Services ,
Bradley H. Wright, West Nashville United Methodist Church ,
Rev. Dennis J. Meaker, West Nashville United Methodist Church Pastor ,
Kim Phillips, Congregation Micah teacher ,
Reverend David Lay, Saint John\\'s United Methodist Church Pastor ,
Stephen Bryant, United Methodist World Editor, Publisher ,
Linda Ray Miller, Glendale Baptist Church Minister of Music ,
Emily Hurst, Hillcrest United Methodist Lay Speaker ,
Angela Flanagan, West Nashville UMC Lay Pastor for Hispanic Ministry ,
Beth Richardson, Edgehill United Methodist Church Deacon 37212 ,
Mike Ripski, Belle Meade United Methodist Church Pastor 37221 ,
Thomas Kleinert, Vine Street Christian Church Senior Minister 37205 ,
Rev. Jay Hartley, Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Pastor 37206 ,
Viki Matson, Vanderbilt Divinity School Director of Field Education 37240 ,
Rev Hope Hodnett, Vine Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Youth Minister 37205 ,
Vern Denney, West End UMC Retired Clergy 37217 ,
Jim Kitchens, Second Presbyterian Church Pastor 37215 ,
Jeannie Hunter Dunbar, Second Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor 37215 ,
Carson L. Salyer, Westminster Presbyterian Chruch Associate Pastor for Congregational Care 37205 ,
Guy D. Griffith, Westminster Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor for Adult Education and Spiritual Nurture 37205 ,
Robert Early, Second Presbyterian Church Honorably Retired Clergy 37205 ,
Stacy Rector, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Minister at large 37204 ,
Rev. Rik Rouquie, Hillwood Presbyterian Church Pastor 37205 ,
Rev. Paul Burns, Priest Lake Presbyterian Church pastor 37217 ,
Matthew Schlageter, Presbyterian Church (USA) ,
K.C. Ptomey, Jr, Presbyterian Retired Pastor 37215 ,
Todd Jones, First Presbyterian Church Pastor 37220 ,
The Rev. Dr. W. Robert Abstein, Episcopal Retired priest 37221 ,
Annie McClure, Presbytery of Middle Tennessee Member 37205 ,
Kenneth M. Locke, The Downtown Presbyterian Church Pastor 37219 ,
Kim Maphis Early, Second Presbyterian Church 37205 ,
Annette Rogers-Vaughn, Second Presbyterian Church Pastoral Counselor @The Pastoral Center for Healing 37204 ,
Samantha Hamernik, Second Presbyterian Elder 37206 ,
Madeline Bridges, Second Presbyterian Church ,
Kate Clarke, 2nd Presbyterian member 37075 ,
Philip Beisswenger, Eastminster Presbyterian Church Pastor 37211 ,
Trice Gibbons, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37215 ,
Baird Dixon, Second Presbyterian Church Member 37215 ,
Jennifer Fouse, Second Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Campus Minister at Vanderbilt 37206 ,
Ellen Armour, Vanderbilt Divinity School Professor 37240 ,
Mary Evelyn Bedenbaugh, Hillsboro Presbyterian Church Director of Adult Education 37215 ,
Rev. Nancy Neelley, 61st Avenue UMC Deacon 37217 ,
Erin Racine, Brentwood United Methodist Church Associate Pastor of Congregational Care 37206 ,
Sue Francis, 2nd Presbyterian Church Divinity Student 37212 ,
Eugene TeSelle, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Minister 37212 ,
Benjamin Papa, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37027 ,
Dan McRight, Presbytery of Middle TN Honorably Retired 37221-3009 ,
Elisa Mineck Harris, Second Presbyterian Church Ordained pastor, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 37027 ,
Carole Kenner, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37205 ,
Susan E. Hylen, Presbyterian Church (USA) Elder 37203 ,
Ted Smith, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Minister of Word and Sacrament 37203 ,
Rodney Beard, Church Pastor 37027 ,
James A. Nichols, Presbyterian U.S.A. Retired Pastor ,
John M. Springer, Second Presbyterian Elder 37215 ,
Rev. Thomas Gildemeister, Christ UMC senior pastor 37027 ,
Ken Edwards, Belmont United Methodist Church Senior Pastor 37212 ,
Regina Proctor, Belle Meade United Methodist Assistant Pastor 37205 ,
Judi Hoffman , Edgehill UMC Clergy 37212 ,
Janet M. Kleinfelter, 2nd Presbyterian Church Elder 37215 ,
James Cole, Woodbine United Methodist Church Pastor 37211 ,
Sherry Cothran Woolsey, West Nashville United Methodist Church Associate Pastor 37209 ,
sandra griggs, Glendale UMC Pastor 37204 ,
xxxxxxxx, Second Presbyterian Member 37204 ,
Rev. Cynthia Andrews-Looper, Holy Trinity Community Church, UCC pastor 37209 ,
Herbert Lester, Blakemore UMC Pastor 37205 ,
Don Schlosser, Glendale Baptist Church Minister of Music 37204 ,
Dr. Todd L. Lake, Belmont University V.P for Spiritual Development 37212 ,
Linda Carter, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37211 ,
Thomas A. Ekman, Second Presbyterian Church 37203 ,
Bruce Carter, Second Presbyterian Church Nashville Elder 37212 ,
Jacqueline Shrago, Christian member 37215 ,
J Peter van Eys, Calvary United Methodist Church Senior Pastor 37215 ,
Kaye Harvey, Brentwood UMC Pastor, Congregational Care 370227 ,
Rev. Kennard Murray, Seay Hubbard UMC Pastor 37210 ,
Lyndsey Godwin, Glendale Baptist teacher/youth leader 37206 ,
Kyle Harris, Second Presbyterian Minister at Large -- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 37027 ,
Kris Lott, Calvary United Methodist Church Director of Youth Ministries 37215 ,
Paul Slentz, 61st Avenue United Methodist Church Pastor 37209 ,
Rev Jason Shelton, First Unitarian Universalist Church Assoc. Minister for Music 37215 ,
Rev. Clay Stauffer, Woodmont Christian Church Senior Minister 37215 ,
John McCullough, ,
xxxxxxxx, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Supply pastor 37209 ,
Eric Rhinehardt, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37221 ,
Ed Farley, UPUSA retired Professor of Religion 37215 ,
P.J. Shaffer, Scottsboro United Methodist Church Pastor 37218 ,
Lee C. Camp, Lipscomb University Assoc Prof of Theology & Ethics 37204 ,
Vincent (Vin) Walkup, Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation President 37211 ,
Gary Holloway, Church of Christ Professor/Minister 37215 ,
Bruce Rogers-Vaughn, The Pastoral Center for Healing Pastoral Counselor 37204 ,
Tessa Frohock, 37203 ,
Jessica Bridges, Calvary United Methodist Church Intern of Missions and Outreach 37215 ,
Cathy Hoop, Second Presbyterian Church Dir., Children\\'s Ministries 37215 ,
Betsy Collum, Calvary United Methodist Church Church Secretary 37215 ,
xxxxxxxx, United Methodist Pastor 37075 ,
Robert P. Richardson, Presbyterian Church Retired minister on staff 37215 ,
Rev. Carmen Gaud, United Methodist Editor 37211 ,
Gayle Ray, Second Presbyterian elder 37027 ,
Philip \"Flip\" Rice, Congregation Micah (Jewish, Reform) rabbi 37027 ,
xxxxxxxx, Otter Creek Church of Christ Associate Minister 37027 ,
Catherine Mohr, Second Presbyterian Church of Nashville (PCUSA) Community Outreach Intern 37215 ,
Rabbi Laurie Rice, Congregation Micah Rabbi 37027 ,
Robbie Pinter, 37204 ,
Leslie Higgins, 2nd Presbyterian Church Elder 37215 ,
xxxxxxxx, Kairos Community AME Church Pastor 37203 ,
Lisa Zhito, Second Presbyterian Church elder 37215 ,
Debra D. Smith, United Methodist Deacon 37214 ,
April Baker, Glendale Baptist Pastor 37204 ,
Brian Wood, United Methodist Clergy- retired 37076 ,
Revd Dr Robert Webster, United Methodist Senior Minister 372116 ,
Matthew W. Charlton, United Methodist Clergy 37220 ,
LeAnne McComb, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37214 ,
Jack Forstman, Vine Street Christian Church Prof. of Theology and Dean, Emeritus 37205 ,
Gordon Peerman, St. Augustine\\'s Episcopal Chapel Priest Associate 37205 ,
Kliel Rose, West End Synagogue Rabbi 37205 ,
M. Evelyn Graham, Vanderbilt Divinity School MDiv Student 37215 ,
Jeff Moles, Second Presbyterian Church; Spiritual Development Chaplain at Room In The Inn\\'s Campus for Human Development 37203 ,
Richmond Williams, Woodmont Christian Church Deacon and Board member 37220 ,
Donna D. Gaither, United Methodist clergy 37211 ,
Paul Gardner, Connell Memorial United Metodist Church Senior Pastor 37072 ,
Cruz E Santos, United Methodist Director 37076 ,
edwin santos, Student 37076 ,
Pat Freudenthal, Nancy Webb Kelly UMC and Community Care Fellowship Pastor 37206 ,
xxxxxxxx, UMPH Production Editor 37076 ,
Tim West, St Mark\\'s Episcopal Church 37013 ,
Candy Seagraves, 37013 ,
Brenda Weeks, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37205 ,
xxxxxxxx, Second Presbyterian member 37204 ,
Maralie Exton, Second Presbyterian Elder 37215 ,
The Rev. Rick Britton, St.Ann\\'s Episcopal Church Rector 37206-4207 ,
Ben Vos, St. Edward Parish 37216 ,
Lee Levine, Westminster Presbyterian member 37205 ,
Giselle Roche, Catholic Parishioner 37130 ,
Shana G Mackler, The Temple Rabbi 37205 ,
Catherine Link, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Lay reader, altar guild 37210 ,
Saul Strosberg, Jewish Rabbi 37205 ,
Phillip Camp, Lipscomb University/ Natchez Trace Church of Christ asst. professor of Bible/minister 37221 ,
Thomas Conner, Glendale Baptist Church Youth Minister 37204 ,
The Rev. M. K. Wilson, St. Augustine\\'s Chapel Pastoral Staff 37212 ,
Amanda Parker, Episcopalian Congregant 37204 ,
Pat Floyd, Edgehill United Methodist member 37209-4636 ,
MIke Hodge, Edgehill United Methodist Church Lay person 37217 ,
Larry Dunlap-Berg, Edgehill UMC Edgehill Justice Ministries 37211 ,
Dan McEachern, Methodist Edgehill UMC member 37204 ,
Glen Stewart, Christian Church (Disciples) Regional Minister 37221 ,
Amy Mears, 37204 ,
Sara Varnado, Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville Candidate for Ministry 37221 ,
Kirby Pate, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 37210 ,
Anne Henderson, Second Presbyterian Elder 37202 ,
Trudy Hawkins Stringer, Vanderbilt University Divinity School Associate Director of FieldEducation 37240 ,
Bette Evans Halverstadt, Second Presbyterian Church 37205 ,
Charles Parker, InterFACE Ministries Nashville Staff 37013 ,
Robert Parham, Baptist Center for Ethics Executive Director 37215 ,
The Rt.Rev William Sande, Epilscopal ,
Allen Townsend, Second Presbyterian Church Elder 37205 ,
Rev. Kay Hereford Voorhees, Cornerstone UMC Pastor 37013 ,
Thomas Madron, Trinity United Methodist Church Pastor 37207 ,
Tina Benson, Edgehill United Methodist Church member 37208 ,
Barbara P. Garcia, Hillcrest United Methodist Associate Pastor 37211 ,
The Rev. Dorothy C. Hartzog, Trinity Episcopal Church, Clarksville Associate Rector 37040 ,
Betye P. Lewis, United Methodist Connectional Ministries 37211 ,
Rev. John Collett, United Methodist TN Annual Conference District Superintendent 37211 ,
Thomas H. Nankervis, United Methodist 37211 ,
Susan Gardner, Crievewood United Methodist Church pastor 37076 ,
Beverly B. Madron, West End United Methodist Lay speaker 37212 ,
Arnold Reed, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville Church member 37072 ,
Heather Lefkowitz, West End UMC MDiv/Elder candidate 37209 ,
Karen Y. Johnson, Elected School Board Member District 6, Nashville/Davidson County, Mt. Zion Baptist Church Member 37013 ,
Pat McCoy, 37205 ,
Pastor Enoch Fuzz, Christian Pastor 37209 ,
Tanya Surawicz, First Unitarian Universalist Nashville co-chair social justuce committee 37215 ,
steven meriwether, Immanuel Baptist Church Pastor 37205 ,
The Rev. Randy Hoover-Dempsey, St. Bartholomew\\'s Episcopal Church Assistant Priest 37215 ,
David Lowes Watson, West End United Methodist Church Senior Pastor 37203 ,
Rev Patrick Kibby, Catholic Cathedral of the Incarnation Pastor 37203 ,
Mark McEntire, Immanuel Baptist Church Associate Professor of Religion at Belmont University 37212 ,
Robert Jordan, Patterson Memorial United Methodist Church Associate Pastor 37210 ,
Ann L. Cover, South End United Methodist Church Pastor 37211 ,
Fred Kirchner, 2nd Presbyterian Church Elder 37215 ,
Dot Fielder, United Methodist Retired Clergy 37013 ,
Tom Albin, UMC Dean of The Upper Room Chapel 37076 ,
Dr. L. Joseph Rosas III, Crievewood Baptist Church Pastor 37220 ,
Cliff Vaughn, EthicsDaily.com Managing Editor 37215 ,
xxxxxxxx, yes 37205 ,
Dr. Bob Byrd, Baptist Professor 37211 ,
Rev. Marie C. King, United Methodist Church 37204 ,
Cynthia Wood, First UU Church Member 37209 ,
xxxxxxxx, Eastminster Presbyterian Church Sessions 37206 ,
Tim Harbison, Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Church member 37015 ,
Jack Gilbeert, Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Pastor 37330 ,
Tee Cartwright, Brentwood United Methodist Church 37221 ,
John Feldhacker, West End United Methodist Church Minister of Congregational Care 37203 ,
Vickie Jones, First UU Nashville 37076 ,
ray sells, west end umc member 37209 ,
xxxxxxxx, Westminster Presbyterian elder 37205 ,
David Rainey, Bellevue United Methodist Church pastor 37221 ,
Keith Cole, Westminster Presbyterian Church member 37215 ,
Matt Akins, Wellspring UMC Lay Leader 75071 ,
Alan Fey, Second Presbyterian Church member 37215 ,
Rodney Beard, Living Word Community Church Pastor 37013 ,
Todd Liebergen, United Church of Christ lay leader 37115 ,
gavin richardson, United Methodist Church Director of Youth Ministries 37138 ,
xxxxxxxx, West Nashville UMC Conference delegate, Lay Speaker 37209 ,
Jane McDow, Westminster Presbyterian member 37215 ,
Kay Hall, Westminster Presbyterian member 37205 ,
Rev. Janet Wolf, United Methodist clergy American Baptist ,
Fred Linkenhoker, Baptist Member 37217 ,
Rev. Dr. Douglas N. Norfleet, Brentwood United Methodist Church Elder, The United Methodist Church (On Family Leave) 37027 ,
Anne Snider, Westminster Presbyterian member 37221 ,
Susan D. Bell, Southminster Presbyterian Church Member/Elder 37215 ,
Diane Faires, Vine Street Christian Church Young Adult Ministry Intern 37207 ,
Eric S. Greenwood, Jr., St. David\\'s Episcopal Church Rector 37205 ,
Tom Snider, Wesminster Presbyterian Church member 37221 ,
xxxxxxxx, Nations Ministry Center Board Member 37221-1308 ,
John E. Meeks, Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church Pastor 37214 ,
Cliff Steger, Gordon Memorial UMC/member Nashville District Lay Leader 37208 ,
Melissa Snarr, Vanderbilt Divinity School Asst. Prof. of Ethics and Society 37240 ,
xxxxxxxx, Presbyterian member 37215 ,
Salaad A. Nur, Al_Farooq Islamic Center Board Member 37210 ,
Janet Salyer, Trinity Presbyterian Church Parish Associate 37215 ,
Rev. Rod Murray, Christ Church Cathedral Priest Associate 37215 ,
Rev. Lane Denson, St. Ann Episcopal Church Priest Associate 37121 ,
Ali Sevilla, St. Augustine\\'s Episcopal Church MDiv Intern 37212 ,
Mike Dotson, Tusculum Church of Christ Lay Leader 37135 ,
Salah Osman, Salahadeen Center of Nashville Imam 37211 ,
Rev. Kaki Frisckis-Warren, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Activist 37206 ,
Rev. Julie Halstead, West End United Methodist Church Senior Associate Pastor 37221 ,
Dan Rosemergy, Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Minister 37220 ,
Bishop Timothy Q Lester, Pastor 37208 ,
Rev. Greg Bullard, Covenant of the Cross Church Senior Pastor 37115 ,
Jan Snider, Justice For Out Neighbors Co-Leader 37203 ,
Tiffany Kirkland, West End United Methodist Church Minister for Children & Families 37203 ,
Elizabeth Shadbolt, TN Conference of the United Methodist Church Refugee & Immigrant Rights Coordinator 37211 ,
Patty Marks, The Temple 37205 ,
Rev. Don Beisswenger, Presbyterian Church USA Minister At Large 37204 ,
Rev. Charles Strobel, Campus for Human Development Founder & Priest 37203 ,
Rev. Joseph P. Breen, St. Edward Catholic Church Pastor 37211 ,
Yusuf Abdullah, Masj\\'id Al Islam Imam 37218 ,
Rev. Diane Luton Blum, East End United Methodist Church Pastor 37206 ,
Rev. Michael O. Johnston, St. Henry Catholic Church Pastor 37205 ,
Rev. Joe McMahon, St. Joseph Catholic Church Pastor 37115 ,
Verna Fausey, Christ Church Cathedral member 37212 ,
Khette Cox, Gendale Baptist Church Pastoral Intern 37206 ,
John McClure, Vanderbilt Divinity School Charles G. Finney Professor of Homiletics 37240 ,
Betsey Heavner, United Methodist Glendale UMC 37204 ,
xxxxxxxx, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) activist 37206 ,
Linda White, Brookmeade Congregational Church, UCC pastor 37205 ,
xxxxxxxx, Kairos Community AME Church Member 37203 ,
Rev. Alicia Burton, Eastwood Christian Church Chaplain, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System 37206 ,
Jim Deming, First U nited U.C.C. Pastor 37205 ,
Mark Miller-McLemore, Disciples Divinity House Dean 37212 ,
Greg Gardner, Hillsboro Presbyterian Church Elder 37215 ,
Beth Monin Harrington, Second Presbyterian Church attend regularly 37204 ,
Amanda Fraser, Mysticism Spiritual News writer 37205 ,
