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THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER | A message for our black neighbors

BY CHARLOTTE CLERGY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

By The Charlotte Observer

June 01, 2020

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER | BY CHARLOTTE CLERGY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

 

In the wake of yet one more unjust killing of an unarmed African American, we clergy and community leaders who are white say to our Black neighbors:

 

We feel outrage, grief, disgust and remorse.

We stand with you in horror, lament and weariness.

We’re fed up. It’s time.

We confess our complicity, inertia and timidity.

We own our responsibility right now.

With God’s help, we will change ourselves.

With you, we’ll change our institutions and our community.

 

CLERGY

Megan Argabrite, Amity Presbyterian

Nathan Arledge, Myers Park United Methodist

Taylor Pryde Barefoot, Myers Park United Methodist

Robert Blumer, Sharon Presbyterian Church

Richard Boyce, Dean, Union Theological Seminary

Jim Brookshire, Sedgefield United Methodist

Greg Brown, Holy Comforter Episcopal

Matt Brown, South Meck. Presbyterian

Lee Canipe, Providence Baptist Church

R.J. Caswell, New City Church

Michelle Chappell, Dilworth United Methodist

John Cleghorn, Caldwell Presbyterian

Joe Clifford, Myers Park Presbyterian

Casey Crimmins, Multiply Church

Russ & Amy Jacks Dean, Park Road Baptist

David Docusen, Docusen Ministries

Chip Edens, Christ Episcopal

John Ederer, Muslim Community Center

Jan Edmiston, Charlotte Presbytery

Jim Ewing, Avondale Presbyterian

Leighton Ford, Leighton Ford Ministries

Susan Heafner-Heun, The Vine United Methodist

Bob Henderson, Covenant Presbyterian

Ivan Hinrichs, HFCB

James Howell, Myers Park United Methodist

Jeffrey Ingold, St. Luke’s Lutheran

Brent Jones, StoneBridge Church

Rob Kelly, For Charlotte

Alex Kennedy, Carmel Baptist

Uiyeon Kim, Myers Park United Methodist

Dusty Klass, Temple Beth El

Asher Knight, Temple Beth El

John Kuykendall, former president Davidson College

Paul Leeland, Charlotte area United Methodist bishop

Steve Lindsley, Trinity Presbyterian

Luke Mabry, Matthews Presbyterian

Leslie Marsicano, Queens University

Joe Martin, Sardis Presbyterian

Luke Maybry, Matthews Presbyterian

Dan McClintock, Park Road Baptist

Mike Moses, Lake Forest Church

Kate Murphy, The Grove Presbyterian

Chris Payne, New City Church

Pen Peery, First Presbyterian

LeDayne McLeese Polaski, MeckMIN

Lori Raible, Selwyn Presbyterian

Amanda Robertson, Holy Comforter Episcopal

Judith Schindler, Stan Greenspon Center, Queens

Nancy Watson, Myers Park United Methodist

 

COMMUNITY LEADERS

Johnny Belk, member, Myers Park Presbyterian

Tim Belk, member, Myers Park Presbyterian

Jennie Buckner, former editor, Charlotte Observer

Ann Caulkins, former publisher and president, Charlotte Observer

John Clarkson, Dean Emeritus, Univ. of Miami School of Medicine

Liz Clasen-Kelly, Roof Above

Brian Collier, Foundation for the Carolinas

Pamela Davies, President Emerita, Queens University

Elyse Dashew, chairperson, school board

Larken Egleston, Charlotte City Council

Julie Eiselt, Charlotte City Council, Mayor pro-tem

Tom Hanchett, community historian

Carol Hardison, Crisis Assistance

Suzanne Watts Henderson, Dean of Belk Chapel, Queens University

Jeff Jackson, N.C. senator

Gene Johnson, FairPoint Communications

Mary and Pete Kelly, Equitable Communities CLT

Ron Knape, retired marketing executive

K. Liles, SouthEnd ARTS

Michael Marsicano, Foundation For The Carolinas

Rex Marvel, judge

Hugh McColl, Chairman and CEO, Bank of America, retired

Meg McElwain, Founder of Mitchell’s Fund

Jamie McLawhorn, Marsh Properties

Laura Meier, Charlotte Women’s Movement

George Miles, member of Park Road Baptist Church, CMS volunteer

Stacy Nicholson, Levine Children’s Hospital

Dee O’Dell, member, First Presbyterian

Jennifer Roberts, former mayor of Charlotte

Carol Sawyer, school board

Kenneth Schorr, Charlotte Legal Advocacy

Kirsten Sikkelee, YWCA Central Carolinas

Alison Summerville, Ally Bank

Vicki Sutton, member, First Presbyterian

John Tate, member, First Presbyterian

Todd Tibbits, YMCA of Greater Charlotte