April 23, 2023
Los Angeles Interfaith Leaders Statement on Al-Aqsa Mosque Desecration
As the holy season of Ramadan comes to an end, the undersigned members of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders join in deploring Israeli police violence against peaceful worshipers in the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on two occasions two weeks ago. Freedom of worship is a basic human right. Jerusalem should be a place of peaceful prayer for all who follow in the Abrahamic tradition – Jews, Christians, and Muslims. We especially deplore the desecration occurring as Passover, Holy Week, and Ramadan coincided.
As with the broader struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, the situation on al-Haram al-Sharif/the Temple Mount is tense and complex, with a history of provocation and violence on both sides. But these particular events resulted in indelible images, transmitted all over the world, of worshipers shoved and beaten while at prayer. This was the third consecutive Ramadan when Israeli police harassed Muslim worshipers, though this year’s violence was by far the worst.
Close to home, a suspect was arrested and charged with defacing the Islamic Center of Southern California on Easter Day. We deplore all such acts of hatred, including acts of antisemitism, especially when our neighbors are inflamed by events in the Middle East. No matter how intractable the problems, no matter how remote the prospects for all people in the region enjoying freedom, security, peace, and national self-determination, we resolve, as faith leaders, to continue to stand up for peace and love as the eternal, divinely ordained responses to violence and hatred.
Signed:
_____________________________________________________
March 22, 2022
Statement on the War in Ukraine
We the representatives of the diverse faith traditions in the City of Los Angeles, the most religiously diverse city in the world, unequivocally condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine and its continuing, senseless assault on civilian populations.
While our city is more than six thousand miles away from the battleground-streets of Ukraine, we are concerned that this conflict will not be limited only to Eastern Europe but will, instead, affect all of humanity. The Russian-Ukraine conflict signals a renewed cold war between East and West and should the fighting spill over into neighboring countries, we may all be at risk of a new world war.
By his statements and actions over the course of many years, the Russian leader has made it clear that he wants Russia to control and dominate nations, especially Ukraine, that won their precious freedom after the fall of the Soviet Union. He must not be permitted to bend the arc of history to his will. His aggression is an affront to all people, especially members of religious communities and organizations, who are devoted to freedom, justice, and the dignity of every human being. By raising the specter of using weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, to achieve his goals, he has put all creation at risk.
We recognize, of course, that we live in an imperfect world and that no country is free from ethnic bias or racial prejudice, as evidenced by the temporary denial of rail access to students of African descent trying to flee Ukraine. There may also be some Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens who self-identify as being Russian. But as people of faith, we believe that all thoughts of war need to be opposed by stronger thoughts of peace and, likewise, that all thoughts of hatred must be overwhelmed by more powerful thoughts of love.
Let both sides openly and honestly negotiate terms for the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and the guarantee of Ukraine’s sovereignty and autonomy. If heaven is willing to inspire us, it is little to ask that we be ready to respond. May our prayers join those of others all over the world that Divine providence may yet settle on this troubled land.
Signed:
Los Angeles Interfaith Leaders Statement on Al-Aqsa Mosque Desecration
As the holy season of Ramadan comes to an end, the undersigned members of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders join in deploring Israeli police violence against peaceful worshipers in the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on two occasions two weeks ago. Freedom of worship is a basic human right. Jerusalem should be a place of peaceful prayer for all who follow in the Abrahamic tradition – Jews, Christians, and Muslims. We especially deplore the desecration occurring as Passover, Holy Week, and Ramadan coincided.
As with the broader struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, the situation on al-Haram al-Sharif/the Temple Mount is tense and complex, with a history of provocation and violence on both sides. But these particular events resulted in indelible images, transmitted all over the world, of worshipers shoved and beaten while at prayer. This was the third consecutive Ramadan when Israeli police harassed Muslim worshipers, though this year’s violence was by far the worst.
Close to home, a suspect was arrested and charged with defacing the Islamic Center of Southern California on Easter Day. We deplore all such acts of hatred, including acts of antisemitism, especially when our neighbors are inflamed by events in the Middle East. No matter how intractable the problems, no matter how remote the prospects for all people in the region enjoying freedom, security, peace, and national self-determination, we resolve, as faith leaders, to continue to stand up for peace and love as the eternal, divinely ordained responses to violence and hatred.
Signed:
- Reverend Linda L. Culbertson -- Pacific Presbytery
- Archbishop Hovnan Derderian – Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
- Randolph Dobbs - Los Angeles Bahá’í Center
- Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker -- AME Church, Social Action Commission
- Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank -- California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church
- Grant J. Hagiya – Claremont School of Theology
- Nirinjan Singh Khalsa -- Sikh Community
- Omar Ricci – Islamic Center of Southern California
- Father Alexei R. Smith – Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- Hedab Tarifi – Islamic Center of Southern California
- Bishop John Harvey Taylor – Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
- Reverend Dr. Allen L. Williams, Sr. – AME Church
_____________________________________________________
March 22, 2022
Statement on the War in Ukraine
We the representatives of the diverse faith traditions in the City of Los Angeles, the most religiously diverse city in the world, unequivocally condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine and its continuing, senseless assault on civilian populations.
While our city is more than six thousand miles away from the battleground-streets of Ukraine, we are concerned that this conflict will not be limited only to Eastern Europe but will, instead, affect all of humanity. The Russian-Ukraine conflict signals a renewed cold war between East and West and should the fighting spill over into neighboring countries, we may all be at risk of a new world war.
By his statements and actions over the course of many years, the Russian leader has made it clear that he wants Russia to control and dominate nations, especially Ukraine, that won their precious freedom after the fall of the Soviet Union. He must not be permitted to bend the arc of history to his will. His aggression is an affront to all people, especially members of religious communities and organizations, who are devoted to freedom, justice, and the dignity of every human being. By raising the specter of using weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, to achieve his goals, he has put all creation at risk.
We recognize, of course, that we live in an imperfect world and that no country is free from ethnic bias or racial prejudice, as evidenced by the temporary denial of rail access to students of African descent trying to flee Ukraine. There may also be some Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens who self-identify as being Russian. But as people of faith, we believe that all thoughts of war need to be opposed by stronger thoughts of peace and, likewise, that all thoughts of hatred must be overwhelmed by more powerful thoughts of love.
Let both sides openly and honestly negotiate terms for the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and the guarantee of Ukraine’s sovereignty and autonomy. If heaven is willing to inspire us, it is little to ask that we be ready to respond. May our prayers join those of others all over the world that Divine providence may yet settle on this troubled land.
Signed:
- The Reverend John E. Cager III -- A.M.E. Church Ministerial Alliance
- Reverend Linda L. Culbertson, General Presbyter -- Pacific Presbytery
- Randolph Dobbs -- Los Angeles Bahá’í Center
- Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker -- A.M.E. Church, Social Action Commission
- Bishop Grant J. Hagiya -- California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church
- Rabbi Sarah Hronsky, Senior Rabbi -- Temple Beth El
- Nirinjan Singh Khalsa -- California Sikh Council
- Omar Ricci – Islamic Center of Southern California
- Father Alexei R. Smith – Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- Bishop John Harvey Taylor – Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
- Roy Weinstein, Past President -- University Synagogue
_______________________________________________________
[June 29, 2020] Even as we believe that a Christian’s eternal citizenship is in heaven, as Christians we live out our temporal lives in this world, and it is in this life—and this world—that we are called by Christ to worship God and serve our neighbor. In the branches of the Western Christian tradition our churches represent, there has always been a strong intersection between the spiritual call of the church to conduct worship and promote faithfulness and ethical conduct among believers, and our belief in the duty of temporal government to use public power and civil law to promote justice and the welfare of all.
In slightly varying ways, our churches have each taught that civic engagement—good citizenship—is the duty of every Christian. While our churches have not always approached the question in the same way, and none of our traditions has been static, in the pluralistic and democratic American context all of our churches have advocated strongly for our members to be actively engaged, and to avail themselves of the rights of citizenship, particularly by participating in elections. At the same time, for the most part our churches have avoided conscious identification with particular political parties or direct endorsement of individual candidates, maintaining respect for our members’ right to vote as their consciences direct.
That we are non-partisan, however, does not mean that we have been disengaged from the issues and policies that impact the neighborhoods where our local congregations are found. In various ways and at different times, each of our churches has advocated for measures that have improved the welfare and health of society; all of our churches have advocated for greater justice for those disadvantaged and disenfranchised by prejudice, whether religious, racial, or ethnic. We have advocated for our own members and we have fought for the rights of others. In this political engagement we feel we live out our gospel call to honor God and serve our neighbor.
Over time, each of our churches has expressed specific ideas of what our vote for the neighbor’s sake might entail: expanding civil rights and racial equity; more compassionate immigration and refugee policies; expanded health care; compassion toward those suffering homelessness—these are all issues that cut across communities and our churches, but which we have promoted to our people in the past. Our churches have used social statements, pastoral letters, action alerts, and joint statements by our bishops to define what we believe most important in each generation and in each election. We have particular issues important to each of us; we have different ways of defining our theological approaches to issues. But this we have in common: the desire to be agents for the improvement of our society to the betterment of its citizens.
As bishops and leaders of historic Christian churches in the United States of America, and for the Los Angeles area, we believe that all the people of our churches should use the privilege of the vote in national, state, and local elections. We are deeply committed to our people’s right to vote, and we believe any efforts to limit voting or make it more difficult are improper and misguided, and disadvantage the very people we feel most obligated to defend. Indeed, in the wake of events that have galvanized the nation following the May 25 death of George Floyd, it is even more important to assure that all voices are heard, especially those of the marginalized. We do this for their sake, and for everyone’s sake, in order to form a more complete and therefore more perfect union.
Further, though we want our people to vote as they believe, we want them also to understand that voting is a way of living out the principle of loving our neighbor as ourselves. We should vote not just in our self-interest, but in ways that benefit and —above all—do not harm our neighbor. For what does it profit us as a community, to benefit ourselves at our neighbors’ expense? Citizenship exercised in a Christian way considers the welfare of others as much as our own. This is not a view we often hear expressed in our political discourse, but it is central to us—and we wish to lift it up not only to our own people, but to the community as a whole.
Faithfully,
The Rev. John Cager
Pastor, Ward A.M.E. Church & President, Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders
The Rev. Linda L. Culbertson
General Presbyter, Presbytery of the Pacific
His Eminence, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
Primate, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker
Director, Social Action Commission, A.M.E. Church
Bishop R. Guy Erwin
Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop Grant Hagiya
California-Pacific Conference, United Methodist Church
Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith
Ecumenical Officer, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Bishop Andrew A. Taylor
Pacifica Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Rev. Dr. Felix C. Villanueva
Conference Minister, So. Calif. Nevada Conference, United Church of Christ
(Signatories are pictured from left to right, beginning with top row, alphabetically by surname.)
In slightly varying ways, our churches have each taught that civic engagement—good citizenship—is the duty of every Christian. While our churches have not always approached the question in the same way, and none of our traditions has been static, in the pluralistic and democratic American context all of our churches have advocated strongly for our members to be actively engaged, and to avail themselves of the rights of citizenship, particularly by participating in elections. At the same time, for the most part our churches have avoided conscious identification with particular political parties or direct endorsement of individual candidates, maintaining respect for our members’ right to vote as their consciences direct.
That we are non-partisan, however, does not mean that we have been disengaged from the issues and policies that impact the neighborhoods where our local congregations are found. In various ways and at different times, each of our churches has advocated for measures that have improved the welfare and health of society; all of our churches have advocated for greater justice for those disadvantaged and disenfranchised by prejudice, whether religious, racial, or ethnic. We have advocated for our own members and we have fought for the rights of others. In this political engagement we feel we live out our gospel call to honor God and serve our neighbor.
Over time, each of our churches has expressed specific ideas of what our vote for the neighbor’s sake might entail: expanding civil rights and racial equity; more compassionate immigration and refugee policies; expanded health care; compassion toward those suffering homelessness—these are all issues that cut across communities and our churches, but which we have promoted to our people in the past. Our churches have used social statements, pastoral letters, action alerts, and joint statements by our bishops to define what we believe most important in each generation and in each election. We have particular issues important to each of us; we have different ways of defining our theological approaches to issues. But this we have in common: the desire to be agents for the improvement of our society to the betterment of its citizens.
As bishops and leaders of historic Christian churches in the United States of America, and for the Los Angeles area, we believe that all the people of our churches should use the privilege of the vote in national, state, and local elections. We are deeply committed to our people’s right to vote, and we believe any efforts to limit voting or make it more difficult are improper and misguided, and disadvantage the very people we feel most obligated to defend. Indeed, in the wake of events that have galvanized the nation following the May 25 death of George Floyd, it is even more important to assure that all voices are heard, especially those of the marginalized. We do this for their sake, and for everyone’s sake, in order to form a more complete and therefore more perfect union.
Further, though we want our people to vote as they believe, we want them also to understand that voting is a way of living out the principle of loving our neighbor as ourselves. We should vote not just in our self-interest, but in ways that benefit and —above all—do not harm our neighbor. For what does it profit us as a community, to benefit ourselves at our neighbors’ expense? Citizenship exercised in a Christian way considers the welfare of others as much as our own. This is not a view we often hear expressed in our political discourse, but it is central to us—and we wish to lift it up not only to our own people, but to the community as a whole.
Faithfully,
The Rev. John Cager
Pastor, Ward A.M.E. Church & President, Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders
The Rev. Linda L. Culbertson
General Presbyter, Presbytery of the Pacific
His Eminence, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
Primate, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker
Director, Social Action Commission, A.M.E. Church
Bishop R. Guy Erwin
Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop Grant Hagiya
California-Pacific Conference, United Methodist Church
Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith
Ecumenical Officer, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Bishop Andrew A. Taylor
Pacifica Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Rev. Dr. Felix C. Villanueva
Conference Minister, So. Calif. Nevada Conference, United Church of Christ
(Signatories are pictured from left to right, beginning with top row, alphabetically by surname.)
| Religious Leaders call for compassionate responses to racial injustice |
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Empowering Next Generations
Thank you for attending the April 4, 2018
Interfaith Commemoration 50 Years After the Assassination of
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center of Los Angeles County
To deepen your involvement in achieving justice, visit:
Immigration & DACA: Carecen, CHIRLA, IRIS
Environment: LA Open Acres, Seeds of Hope
Health Care: Community Health Councils, The Wellness Center
Homelessness: United Way LA, Safe Parking LA, Housing Works, Venice Community Housing
Anti-Racism: Community Coalition, Kaleidoscope Institute, Human Relations Commission
Education Equality: Young Eisner Scholars, Advancement Project California, Neighborhood Youth Association
LACRL is glad to add additional links in the future!
View the Flyer
Interfaith Commemoration 50 Years After the Assassination of
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center of Los Angeles County
To deepen your involvement in achieving justice, visit:
Immigration & DACA: Carecen, CHIRLA, IRIS
Environment: LA Open Acres, Seeds of Hope
Health Care: Community Health Councils, The Wellness Center
Homelessness: United Way LA, Safe Parking LA, Housing Works, Venice Community Housing
Anti-Racism: Community Coalition, Kaleidoscope Institute, Human Relations Commission
Education Equality: Young Eisner Scholars, Advancement Project California, Neighborhood Youth Association
LACRL is glad to add additional links in the future!
View the Flyer
