Clergy Open Letter: Our Future Includes All of Us - Faith in Minnesota Skip to content

OPEN LETTER

Our Future Includes All Of Us:

Minnesota Religious Leaders Sign Letter Condemning Immigrant Hate Speech in Election Messages

November 1, 2024

We are pastors, priests, deacons, imams, rabbis, cantors, and sangha leaders representing Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist faith communities throughout Minnesota. Across our different traditions, we affirm many of the same values: each person, no matter our skin color or where we are born, has inherent dignity and value. We are called to love our neighbor, care for those in need, and show compassion to all. Our well being is tied to one another as an interdependent human family. We are at our best when we bring the most benefit to others.

We also share deep alarm about a specific trend in political messaging this election season: Demonizing our neighbors.

Some politicians and political speakers are using this election season to spread fear, hate, and division rooted in the idea that our neighbors who are immigrants are somehow to blame for the real concerns we face. When asked about their vision to help Americans afford our homes, the healthcare we need, childcare, or even just our groceries, some of the answers that follow encourage us to blame our neighbors who are Muslim or Latino or Somali. It is happening in local and national campaigns in rallies, flyers, and ads. This attitude of fear and hate toward immigrants is even promoted by some who claim to share our faith traditions, but we reject any version of our faith that does not include welcoming and loving all our neighbors no matter what country they were born in.

This hateful rhetoric all comes at a cost.

Similar anti-immigrant messaging fueled the hate that led to one of our mosques being bombed in 2017. It fuels the hate of mass shootings, like at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018. It fuels hateful comments and divisions between neighbors. And amidst all this additional hate, we still cannot afford our healthcare, housing, childcare, and groceries.

We dare to believe in a different future.

We believe our world is an abundant place where we can care for one another. We affirm our call to look after the strangers among us, since we were once strangers in a foreign land. We pray for the well being of everyone, regardless of their skin color or country of birth. We organize for public policies and budgets that help to heal the sick, clothe the naked, and look after the marginalized in our communities.

We – not candidates or political parties but us – can create a better politics together. Recognize and call out the hate and division when you see or hear it. Cast a more positive vision of what is possible for our communities. Dare to hope.

After we’ve all cast our votes, we will keep dedicating ourselves to the practice of caring for our neighbors and organizing alongside them. We invite you to do the same.

Signed By: 

Rev. Andrew Davis (Saint Peter)

Imam Mohamed Omar (Bloomington)

Rabbi Jill Avrin (Hopkins)

Pastor Brian Herron (Minneapolis)

Rev. Ben Connelly, Zen priest (Minneapolis)

The Rev. Deacon Vicki Lambert (Red Wing)

Rev. Schuyler Vogel, Chaplain (Northfield)

Pastor Juli Thompson (St Anthony)

Rev. Jane McBride (Minneapolis)

Rosemary Taylor, Zen Buddhist priest (Minneapolis )

Zen Priest Onryu Kennedy  (Minneapolis )

Rev. Abigail Henderson (Minneapolis)

Rev. Busshō Lahn (Eden Prairie)

Pastor Mike Peterson (St Paul)

Rev. David Landt (Minnetonka)

The Reverend David Bjorklund (North St. Paul)

Rev. Keidō Thotland, Zen priest (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Norman Cohen (Edina)

Pastor James Erlandson (St. Paul)

Rabbi Ricky Kamil (Minneapolis )

Rev. Dr. Sandra K. Johnson (Minneapolis )

The Rev. Rex McKee (Minneapolis)

Rev. Martha Bardwell (Minneapolis)

Rev. Kirkland Reynolds (Rochester)

Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer (Rochester)

Pastor Marla Rotman (Rochester)

Rev. Dokai Georgesen (Eitzen)

Rev. Todd Lippert (Northfield)

Rev. Doug Donley (Minneapolis)

Rev. Beth Royalty  (Rochester)

Rev. Maria Anderson-Lippert (Bloomington)

Pastor Melissa Pohlman (Minneapolis )

Pastor Rob Nelson (Rochester)

Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis (Minneapolis)

Rev. Dan Adolphson (Minneapolis)

Rev. Jenny Cannon (Rochester)

Rev. Carol L Shaffer (Rochester)

Rev. Seth Patterson (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Sammy Seid (Minnetonka)

The Rev. Cody J. Sanders, PhD  (St Paul)

Rev. Lisa Janke (Rochester)

Pastor Gretchen Rode (New Hope)

Chaplain Justin Griffiths  (Mounds View )

Rev. James Muske (Shoreview)

Sosan Theresa Flynn, Buddhist Priest/Guiding Teacher (Saint Paul)

Rev. Marc W Blakesley (Alexandria)

Rev. Meta Herrick Carlson (Minneapolis and Minnetonka)

Pastor Craig Pederson (Minneapolis)

Pastor Ole Olson (Buffalo)

Rev. Susie Hayward (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman (St. Paul)

Rev. Beth Hoffman Copenhaver (Minneapolis)

Rev. Mark Tranvik (Robbinsdale)

Rev. Tracey Walen (Eitzen)

Rev. Danielle Bartz (Winona)

Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis (St. Paul)

Rev. Daphne D. Hamborg (Albert Lea)

Rev. Natalia Terfa  (Minneapolis )

The Rev. Joseph Crippen (Minneapolis)

Mary Reimann-Perez, Associate Chaplain (Northfield)

Rev. Jennifer Sung (Inver Grove Heights)

Monica Reede, Zen Priest  (Minneapolis )

Rev. John Rohde Schwehn (Minneapolis)

Rev. Babette Chatman (Minneapolis)

Rev. Rachel Rosendahl (Winona)

Rev. Michael Krenik (Minneapolis)

Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders (Alexandria)

Ruzan J, Zen Priest (Minneapolis)

Rev. Glen N. Herrington-Hall (St. Paul)

Rev. Dr. Justin Lind-Ayres (St. Louis Park)

Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker (St. Paul)

Rev. Amy Courts Koopman (Minneapolis)

Rev. Angela Denker (Minneapolis )

Rev. Dr. Carl-Eric Gentes (Rochester)

Rabbi Barbara L. Block (St Paul)

Rev. Myo On Susan Hagler, Zen Buddhist Priest (Minneapolis)

Rev. Holly Johnson (Minneapolis)

Rev. Oby Ballinger (Edina)

Rabbi David Locketz (Minnetonka)

Meredith Seaborn, Buddhist Teacher (Edina)

Pastor Kristen Capel (Minneapolis)

Rev. Vanessa Bradby (Minneapolis)

Rev. Ingrid C. A. Rasmussen (Minneapolis)

Hazzan Joanna Dulkin (Minnetonka )

Pastor Jill Rode (St. Paul)

Rev. David Larson-Martínez (Minneapolis)

The Rev. Hierald E. Osorto, Pastor (Minneapolis)

Rev. Ali Ferin (Roseville)

Rev. Rhonda Hlavinka (Blaine)

Rev. Doug Mitchell (Minneapolis)

Rev. Laurie A. Eaton (Plymouth)

Jey Ehrenhalt, Zen Priest (Minneapolis)

Rev. Amanda Larsen (Rochester)

Cantor Tamar H.Havilio  (Plymouth)

Pastor Lisa Hawe (Rochester)

The Rev. Pastor Daniel Tallon Ruen (St. Paul)

Rev. Adam Blons (St. Paul)

Rev. David Berg (Rochester)

Evan Britzius, Zen Priest (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Aaron Weininger (Minnetonka)

Rev. Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy (Minneapolis)

The Rev. Katherine Lewis (Minneapolis)

Reverend Eliot N Howard (Edina)

Rev. Matthias Peterson-Brandt (St. Paul)

The Rev. Dr. Tim Hart-Andersen (Minneapolis)

The Rev. Beth Hart-Andersen (Minneapolis)

Rev. Clare Gromoll (Bayport)

Rabbi Debra Rappaport (Minneapolis)

Jen Bach, Lay Minister (Minneapolis, St. Paul)

Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown (Minneapolis)

Taizan Alford, Priest in Training (St. Paul)

Shari Seifert, Faith Leader (Minneapolis)

Rev. Susan Weaver (Eden Prairie)

Rev. Corinne Freedman Ellis (Duluth)

Rev. Luke Hollander (Cannon Falls)

The Rev. Kristie Hennig (Minneapolis )

Myoshin Diane Benjamin, Dharma Teacher (St. Paul)

Pastor Joel Erickson (Albert Lea)

Rev. Daniel J. Streeper; Pastor  (Roseville)

Reverend Micah Pearson (Richfield)

The Rev. Deb Bergstrand (Minneapolis)

Pastor Ashley Osborn (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Harold J Kravitz (Minnetonka)

Rav Michaela Brown (Northfield)

Patrice Koelsch, Buddhist Chaplain (Minneapolis)

Rev. David H. McCarty (Maple Grove)

Rev Eric J Luedtke (Richfield)

Rev. Shawn Brooks (St. Charles/Eyota)

Rev. Jonathan Buuck (Burnsville)

Deacon Kirsten Kessel (Brooklyn Park)

Pastor Kyle Hanson (Minneapolis)

Rev. Brad Froslee (Roseville)

Rev. Myo-O Habermas-Scher (Minneapolis)

Rev. Sheri Nelson (St. Paul)

The Rev. Daniel Ruth (Minneapolis)

Rev. Ian Coen-Frei (Minneapolis)

Pastor Neal Cannon (Richfield)

Deacon Lauren Morse-Wendt (Roseville)

Rev. Tami L. Groth (Eyota)

Rev. Liesl Spitz (Minneapolis)

Rev. Amber Ingalsbe (New Hope)

Reverend Susie Modrow (Circle Pines)

Pastor Kate Reuer Welton (Minneapolis)

Rev. Margaret Kelly (Minneapolis)

Rev. Mary Kay Sauter (Maple Grove)

Rev. Doug Mork, Associate Pastor (Minneapolis)

Rev. Rick King  (Saint Paul )

Tori Kraus, Pastor (Roseville)

Rev. Hannah Campbell Gustafson (Minneapolis)

Rev. Benjamin A. Loven (Rochester)

Rev. Melissa Melnick Gonzalez (Richfield)

Rev. Lisa Friedman (Minneapolis)

Rev. Dr. Laurie Pound Feille (Minneapolis)

Rev. John D. F. Nelson (Hopkins)

Rev. Justin A Grimm (Shoreview)

Rev. Peter Christ (Roseville)

Rev. Kristin Maier (Saint Paul)

Rev. Kate Taber (Minneapolis)

Rev. Sarah Campbell (Minneapolis)

Rev. Julie Stoneberg (Minneapolis)

Rev. Charlotte Frantz (Duluth)

Rev. Krista Weber Huang (New Brighton)

Kris Sauter, Pastor (Duluth)

Rev. Rick King (Saint Paul)

Reverend Mark Kuether (Minneapolis)

Rev. Kaitlyn Forster (Maple Grove)

Rev. Cindy Maddox (Northfield)

Cantor Heather Seid (Minnetonka)

Tim Burkett Ph.D. Senior Zen Teacher (Minneapolis)

Dr. Karen Wills, Unitarian Universalist Organizer (Minneapolis)

Rev. Jonathan Davis (Northfield)

Rev. Andrew Greenhaw (Rochester)

Rev. Karen Wight Hoogheem (Fridley)

Rev. Dr. Joel Wight Hoogheem (Fridley)

Rev. Todd Tsuchiya, Buddhist Priest (Minneapolis)

Pastor Quinlan Koch (Red Wing)

Rev. Paul Graham (Dennison)

Rev. Chiemi Onikura Bly (MInneapolis)

Rabbi Yosi Gordon (Mendota Heights)

The Rev. Richard Jorgensen (Faribault)

Rev. Leslie Mills (St. Paul)

Fr. James R. DeBruycker (Minneapolis)

Rev. Michelle J. T. Lewis (Minneapolis)

Pastor Sue Leibnitz (Lonsdale)

Rev. Lauren Baske Davis (Northfield)

Pastor Leah Rosso (St. Cloud)

Zach Jūken Fehst, Buddhist teacher (Saint Paul)

Rev. Terri Burnor (St. Paul)

Pastor Bradley E Schmeling (St. Paul)

Pastor Eric Hanson (Goodhue)

Pastor Drew Yackel (Faribault)

Sr. Marlys Jax (Rochester)

Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker (St. Paul)

Reverend Hannah Bergstrom de Leon (Goodbye)

Deacon Elizabeth Pedersen (Brooklyn Park)

Rev. Dana Neuhauser (Minneapolis)

Rev. Heather E Klason  (Herman)

Rev. Nancy W. Handlon (Rochester)

Pastor Sara Spohr (Minneapolis)

Pastor Joe Orner (Bloomington)

Rev. Dr. Meghan Gage-Finn (Minneapolis)

Pastor Chris Bellefeuille (Stillwater)

Chris Bohnhoff, MDiv (Minneapolis)

Rev. Timothy J. Maybee (Cannon Falls)

Pastor Lois Pallmeyer (St. Paul)

Rev. Julie Mall (Minnetonka)

Rev. Christopher Miller  (Rochester)

Rev. Jen Rome (St. Paul)

Rabbi Shosh Dworsky (St. Paul)

Pastor Joy Knoppel (Lakeville)

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Sartain (Saint Paul)

Rev. Katto Laura Phillips (Stillwater)

Rev. Mary Fiel (North Branch)

Rev. Debra Ting (Minneapolis)

Kris Hertsgaard Kincaid, Pastor (Preston)

Rev. Kevin I Clinton (Montgomery)

Reverend Erin Koster (Brooklyn Park)

Rev. Oliver White  (White Bear Lake)

Pastor W. Bruce Benson (Northfield)

Rev. Marty Wyatt (Roseville)

Rabbi Sharon Stiefel (Minneapolis)

Pastor Dustin Haider (Hastings)

Pastor Harry Mueller (Eagan)

Deacon Erica Larson (Brooklyn Park)

Pastor William R. Chadwick (Minnetonka)

Minister JaNaé Bates (Saint Paul)

The Reverend Nathan Black, Deacon (Owatonna)

Rev. Dr. B. Charvez Russell (Minneapolis )

Rev. David Weeks (Northfield)

Rev. Dr. Chad L. Christensen (West Concord)

Deacon Dr. Amy Blumenshine  (Minneapolis)

Pastor Judy Thompson-Reitz (Northfield)

Rev. Dr. Deborah Kielsmeier (Falcon Heights)

Apostle DeWayne Hill  (Minneapolis)

The Rev. Jason Bryan-Wegner (Eagan)

Rev. Frenchye Magee (Edina)

Rev. Dan Doering (Rochester)

Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg (Minneapolis)

Rev. Miriam Samuelson-Roberts (Minneapolis)

The Rev. Pam Fickenscher (Northfield)

Rev. Peg A. Marose (Bricelyn)

Sister Martha Mathew (Rochester)

Pastor Hans Jorgensen  (St Paul)

Rev. Heather Roth Johnson (Minneapolis)

Reverend Mary Koon (Mendota Heights)

Rev. Neil Ellingson (Saint Peter)

Rev. Ian McConnell (Minneapolis)

Rev. Matthew P. Sipe (Mankato)

Rabbi Joey Glick (Minneapolis)

Rev. Jay Carlson (Minneapolis)

Pastor Andre Crockett (Rochester)

Pastor Arthur Murray (Minneapolis )

Rev. Paul H. Moore (Blaine)

Rev. Ali Tranvik  (Brooklyn Center)

Pastor Jenna Daniels  (St. Paul)

Rev. Bryan Odeen (Minneapolis)

Rev. Jen Nagel (Minneapolis)

Pastor Ben Schori (Northfield)

Nicole Benjamin  (Northfield)

The Rev. Michael Mandsager (Northfield)

Rev. Roger Wolsey (Mankato)

Rev. John Odegard (Mankato)

Rev. Diana McLean (Minneapolis)

Rev. Ava Adams-Morris (Madison Lake)

Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair (St. Paul)

Rev. Kirsten Fryer (St. Paul)

Rev. KP Hong (St. Paul)

Rev. Lara Cowtan (St. Paul)

Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel (Minneapolis)

Rev. Eric Garner (Mankato)

Rev. Susan Olson (Isanti)

Pastor John Hulden (Minneapolis)

The Reverend Mark Boorsma (Albert Lea)

Rev. Jeanne Kumbalek (Kasota)

Rev. Alanna Simone Tyler  (Minneapolis)

Pastor Sara Jensen (Minneapolis)

Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm (Saint Paul)

Imam Mohamed Sheikhabdi  (Rochester)

Rev. Carrie Binnie (Minnetonka)

Imam Abdirahman Kariye (Bloomington)

Yusuf Abdulle, Executive Director  (Minneapolis)

Imam Mohamed Mursal  (Roseville)

Imam Mohamed Mukhtar  (Bloomington)

Pastor Joseph Webb IV (Saint Paul)

Imam Dr. Waleed Meneese (Burnsville)