November 23, 2015

Dear Muslim brothers and sisters,

At this time, when messages of hate are spreading throughout our country and the world, we
reach out our arms to your communities and lift our voices in prayer for the well being and safety
of you and your loved ones. Our hearts are breaking as yours are, over the tragic events of the
past months and we abhor the disrespectful rhetoric that is being misguidedly directed towards
Muslims. The seed of disrespect often blossoms into hatred and violence. Scapegoating has no
place in our society. Instead of facing real wrongs, people are maddened by imaginary ones. As
people of faith, we affirm that we all belong to one another, and that the pain inflicted on one of
us is felt by us all.
Our own voices echo the prayer of Imam Mohammed Mehtar of the Khadeeja Mosque in Salt
Lake City, written on November 14th, 2015, that cycles of violence come to an end. Violence
and hatred is eating nations and peoples up alive, and the path to peace cannot be paved with
blood. We hope for wisdom and love for humanity to prevail upon all people, so that we may all
know the blessings of harmony.
We stand by you and your families and pray that together we can help turn this atmosphere of
fear to love.
In faith and hope,
Reverend Patty Willis, South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society
Reverend Tom Goldsmith, First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
The Reverend Libby Hunter, Deacon, the Cathedral Church of St. Mark
Reverend Jerrod B. Lowry, Community of Grace Lutheran Church
Anna Jige Zumwalt, Soto Zen Buddhist Priest
Reverend Matthew Cockrum, First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
Reverend Vinnetta Golphin-Wilkerson, Granger Community Christian Church (DOC)
Pastor France A. Davis, Calvary Baptist Church
Reverend David Nichols, Mount Tabor Lutheran Church, ELCA
Diane Musho Hamilton Sensei, co-founder, teacher, Two Arrows Zen
Michael Mugaku Zimmerman Sensei, co-founder, teacher, Two Arrows Zen
Reverend Fr. Elias Koucos, Priest, Greek Orthodox Church
Reverend C. Dennis Shaw, Pastor, Hilltop UMC
Lama Thupten Rinpoche, Urgyen Samten Ling Gonpa (Temple), Salt Lake City, Utah
Reverend Shelley Page, Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden
Reverend Gage Church, Congregational United Church of Christ, Ogden
Reverend Kim James, Ogden First United Methodist Church
Reverend Monica Hall, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ogden
Reverend Gary Haddock, Community United Methodist Church, Ogden
Reverend Clare Julian Carbone, ARCWP
Reverend Jerry Kyosei Hirano, Salt Lake Buddhist Temple
Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Congregation Kol Ami

Cantor Bat-Sarah, Congregation Kol Ami

The Rev. Canon Caryl Marsh, Episcopal Diocese of Utah
Rev. Steve Klemz, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Rev. Myrna D. Hirst, Senior Minister, Layton Center for Spiritual Living
Rev. Marty Bacher, Minister, Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living
Indra Neelameggham, Hindu Community of Utah
Neale Neelameggham, Hindu Community of Utah
Marhsa Pilgeram, United Religions Initiative CC Utah
Reverend Curtis Price, First Baptist Church