The following was the interfaith statement read at yesterday’s gathering. Dozens of clergy from all traditions stood with us, as this statement was read.

An Interfaith Statement

We have gathered here today out of our mutual concern over vitriolic language and protests last weekend in our community. We were deeply disturbed by images and video of hateful rhetoric aimed at peaceful Muslim brothers and sisters; who are our neighbors, our friends, and our coworkers in the Dallas community.

So today, we choose to make this united stand, in love, peace, mutual support, and respect. We reject all forms of animosity or discrimination against any of our faith communities here in the DFW area.  We recognize the right of all faiths to worship God, to love and serve their faith-communities, and to serve the greater Dallas community. And we recognize their right to do so without fear of the threats of violence from others.

Collectively, we represent men and women who are Christian, Jewish,  Muslim, Buddhists, Jains, Hindus and Sikhs, and other faith communities.

Our common message today is to stand united as neighbors and citizens, and to bear witness to the values of this nation; values that makes no room for bigotry based on race and religion. We recall that many of the founders of this nation came here to avoid religious persecution. They founded a nation where all faiths would be free to worship and serve their God freely.

We recognize that extremism is a danger in all religious faiths, as it is in all political systems. We reject violence in the name of religion. At the same time, we also reject the idea that faithful Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others are responsible for extremists in their own faith. It is wrong to paint the whole of any religion as responsible for those who commit violence in the name of religion. To the contrary, we stand here today unified in our desire for the peaceful coexistence of all human beings.

We are all the beneficiaries of this great American democracy. However, in our generation, we must continue to be people of tolerance and respect, making room for traditions different from our own, and remembering that each religious person has just as much right to their faith tradition as do we. That is the beauty and power of American society, and it is what still makes us a beacon of hope for the world.

We recall how the Jewish Scripture tell us the Lord requires us to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

The Quran reminds us, “stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God (Allah), even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God (Allah) can best protect both.” [Quran 4:135]

And the Christian faith, along with Judaism, reminds us to, …”Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and  “your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:29-30

The specific concern of our day is the threat of rising Islamophobia, both here and around the nation. We invite all lovers of democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion to stand with us. With the hope of our great nation, and mutual respect for all, we stand for religious freedom, tolerance, and the freedom of all religious persons to worship God and serve the community.

Interfaith Religious Gathering
Northaven United Methodist Church
January 25, 2015