Published in the Seattle Times and Seattle Medium on May 20, 2020 is the following letter signed by 192 pastors expressing repentance after the devastating killing of Ahmaud Arbery, including our Senior Pastor, David Richmon, and Associate Pastors Luke Morton and Michael Kelly.
The unjustifiable killing of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man in Georgia, has shocked the conscience of millions across America. As White, Evangelical Christian pastors and leaders who seek to emulate Jesus Christ in love for people of all nations, tongues and tribes (Revelation 7:9), we stand beside African Americans to lament this interracial violence and all expressions of hate, and we call for justice for Ahmaud Arbery and all people of color.
We recognize the special suffering of African Americans, as such atrocities represent an unconscionable continuation of a long litany of injustice that stretches back to the origins of slavery in America and seems to have no end in sight.
Further, we repent of the silence of evangelical leaders on this issue, and we commit ourselves to continuing and increasing our efforts to put an end to this original stain on our nation’s history in Gospel, hope for a better future for all Americans. Jesus is our peace and he has destroyed the dividing walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14), and we are called to work toward that better day.
To every African American man, woman, boy, and girl, we express our deep pain and sorrow and join you in this time of grief. We add our prayers to yours for the achievement of true community, love, justice, and reconciliation, and for the salvation of our beloved country. May God shed his grace on us all.
SIGNED BY
Dr. Scott Dudley, Senior Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Dr. Joseph Castleberry, President, Northwest University, Kirkland, WA
Scott Scruggs, Senior Pastor, Northshore Community Church, Kirkland, WA
Richard Dahlstrom, Senior Pastor, Bethany Community Church, Seattle WA
George Hinman, Senior Pastor, University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA
Annie Duncan, Executive Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Jeff Lincicome, Senior Pastor, Sammamish Presbyterian Church, Sammamish, WA
Troy Jones, Lead Pastor, New Life Church, Renton, WA
Nik Baumgart, Lead Pastor, Grove Church, Marysville, WA
Dave Veach, District Supervisor, Northwest Foursquare District, Tacoma, WA
Chris Manginelli, Lead Pastor, Mill Creek Foursquare Church, Mill Creek, WA
Cheryl Ann Manginelli, Pastor, Mill Creek Foursquare Church, Mill Creek, WA
Jeff Vanderstelt, Lead Teaching Pastor, Doxa Church, Bellevue, WA
Michael Vederoff, Pastor, Hope Bible Fellowship, Seattle, WA
Alec Rowlands, Pastor, Westgate Chapel, Edmonds, WA
Rich Leatherberry, Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Colin Robeson, Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Rich Gingrich, Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Rosalind Renshaw, Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Scott Mann, Pastor, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA
Robin Porter, Lead Pastor, Eastgate Bible Fellowship, Bellevue, WA
Dan Neary, Pastor, Northshore Church, Kenmore, WA
Laurence Guisinger, Lead Pastor, Granger Assembly of God, Granger, WA
Jeff Neuenschwander, Lead Pastor, Central Community Church, Seattle, WA
Brian Dolleman, NWLife Church, Renton, WA
Phil Rasmussen, Northwest University, Kirkland, WA
Scott Harris, Lead Pastor, Brooklake Church, Federal Way, WA
Bill Walles, Pastor, Hope Church, Everett, WA
Steve Jamison, Lead Pastor, Eastridge Church, Issaquah, WA
Bill Berger, Lead Pastor, All Saints Church, Puyallup, WA
Eric Irwin, Senior Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Issaquah, WA
Christian Lindbeck, Lead Pastor, Hillcrest Church, Bellingham, WA
Vince Armfield, Pastor, Lakeside Christian Church, Kirkland, WA
Dr. Kent Mankins, Lead Pastor,Valley Assembly, Spokane Valley, WA
Russell Schlecht, Senior Pastor, Eastside Church, Bothell, WA
Ryan Falls, Senior Pastor, Westminster Chapel, Bellevue, WA
Todd Puckett, Pastor, Revive Church, Redmond, WA
Keith Carpenter, Senior Pastor, Kent Covenant Church, Kent, WA
Dan Hamer, Senior Associate Pastor, Overlake Christian Church, Redmond, WA
Aaron Thompson, Lead Pastor, Marysville Foursquare Church, Marysville, WA
Dwayne Smith, Lead Pastor, Shoreline Community Church, Shoreline, WA
Rick Vinther, Pastor, Woodinville Community Church, Woodinville, WA
Andrea Austin, Seattle Hill Community, Seattle, WA
Kendy Easley, Executive Pastor, Bethany Community Church, Seattle, WA
Doug Kelly, Pastor, Bethany Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA
Dan Laurenzo, Lead Pastor, Lake Church, Lake Stevens, WA
Gordon Terpstra, Interim Pastor, Bellevue Christian Reformed Church, Bellevue, WA
Don Ross, Superintendent, Northwest Ministry Network, Assembly of God, Snoqualmie, WA
Don Detrick, Assoc. Network Leader, Northwest Ministry Network, Assembly of God, Snoqualmie, WA
Zack Cash,Youth Ministries Director, Northwest Ministry Network, Assembly of God, Snoqualmie, WA
Dr. Jesse Campbell, Lead Pastor, Highlands Community Church, Renton, WA
Peter Degon, Pastor,True Grace Church, Lacey, WA
Andrew Arthur, Lead Pastor,The Hallows Church, Seattle, WA
David Richmon, Senior Pastor,Trinity Church Seattle, Seattle, WA
David Parker, Pastor, Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church, Oak Harbor, WA
Matt Poole, Lead Pastor, First Free Methodist Church, Seattle, WA
Phil Maulding, Pastor of Congregational Life, Bethany Community Church, Seattle, WA
Chris Peppler, Lead Pastor, South Everett Foursquare, Everett, WA
Thad Huff, Lead Pastor, Open Life Church, Bonney Lake, WA
Jeff Horton, Pastor, Shoreline Free Methodist Church, Shoreline, WA
Kaj Martin, Pastor, Seattle Foursquare Church Seattle, WA
Tom Duchemin, Lead Pastor, Gateway Church, Poulsbo, WA
Brian North, Senior Pastor, Rose Hill Church, Kirkland, WA
Aaron Burt, Pastor, Advent Anglican, Kirkland, WA
Jimmy Reed,Teaching Pastor, Northside Church, Lynnwood, WA
Sean Boyd, Lead Pastor, Hope City Church,Tumwater, WA
Perry Burkholder, Lead Pastor, Every Nation Church, Seattle, WA
Janine Brown, Pastor, New Life Christian Fellowship of Puget Sound, Woodinville, WA
Scott Sund, Executive Lead Pastor, Bethany Community Church, Seattle, WA
Danielle Merseles, Associate Pastor, Bethany Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA
Brian McCormack, Lead Pastor, Reach Church, Kirkland, WA
Tyler Sollie, Senior Pastor, Life Center,Tacoma, WA
Shawn Roberts, Lead Pastor,The Father’s House Foursquare Church, Granite Falls, WA
Travis Fletcher, Lead Pastor Bethany Community Church, Eastside, Kirkland, WA
MJ Walsh, Northwest Community Church, Lakewood, WA
Mike Meade, Pastor, North Church, Spokane, WA
Tracy Laas, Pastor, New Life Church, Everett, WA
Doug Marks, Lead Pastor, Life Fellowship, Aberdeen, WA
Wayne Farris, Lead Pastor, Journey Foursquare Church, Nine Mile Falls, WA
Kari Ahearn, Executive Pastor, Puget Sound Foursquare,Tacoma, WA
Randy Ford, Pastor, Lifespring Foursquare, Federal Way, WA
Charity Curnutt, Pastor, Heights Church,Yakima, WA
Ben Dixon, Pastor, Northwest Church, Federal Way, WA
Josh Schiel, NW Leadership College, Life Center, Spokane, WA
Mark Grange, Lead Pastor, Heights Church,Yakima, WA
Dr. Jim Hayford Sr., Sequim, WA
Don Cain, Associate Pastor, Mill Creek Foursquare Church, Mill Creek, WA
Kevin LaRoche, Lead Pastor, Renton Christian Center, Renton, WA
Elanor Freiheit, Lead Pastor, Hope Community Church, University Place, WA
Tim Johnson, Executive Pastor, Life Center, Spokane, WA
Pat Swanson, Community Pastor, Overlake Christian Church, Redmond, WA
Bubba Jennings, Lead Pastor, Resurrection Church,Tacoma, WA
Neely McQueen, Student Ministries Pastor, Overlake Christian Church, Redmond, WA
Chris Allen, Pastor, South Sound Foursquare Church,Tumwater, WA
Jared Hunt, Christian Education, Northwest Church, Federal Way, WA
Trevor Loya, Lead Pastor,Terrace Foursquare Church, Mountlake Terrace, WA
Myron Ness, Lead Pastor, Christian Center, Grayland, WA
Michael Kelly, Executive Director, Northwest Church Planting Network, Seattle, WA
Dennis Cummins, Lead Pastor, ExperienceChurch.TV
Jeffrey Portmann, Pastor, New Hope Church, Puyallup, WA
Bill Reynolds, Lead Pastor, CATALYSTCHURCH, Colfax, WA
Jacob Powers, Pastor, Heights Church, Spokane, WA
Drew Barnhart, Lead Pastor, Living Word Church, Oak Harbor, WA
Steve Purdue, Associate Pastor, Church of Living Water, Olympia, WA
Trena Garrett, Care Pastor, Summit Church NW, Spokane, WA
Gina Erickson, Pastor, New Life Church, University Place, WA
Jeremy Daniel Walker, Pastor, Foothills Foursquare Church, Wenatchee, WA
Zac Bogar, Youth Pastor,Yakima Foursquare Church,Yakima, WA
Grant Bruscoe, Lead Pastor, Summit Church NW, Spokane, WA
Lori Snyder, Pastor Summit Church NW, Wenatchee, WA
Lance Powers, Lead Pastor, Puget Sound Foursquare,Tacoma, WA
Tim Poetzl, Pastor, Stanwood Foursquare Church, Stanwood, WA
James Stalker, Lead Pastor, Roots Church, Seattle, WA
Phillip Masters, Pastor, Gateway Fellowship, Anaconda, MT
Anton and Cindi Boggio, Marriage and Family Pastors, Mukilteo Foursquare, Mukilteo, WA
Samuel Hill, Pastor,Vashon Foursquare,Vashon Island, WA
Tamara Krantz, Senior Pastor, Fairhaven Foursquare Church, Bellingham, WA
Jake Broady, Lead Pastor, Grace Community Church, Oak Harbor, WA
Josh Potts, Pastor, Living Hope Foursquare Church, Coupeville, WA
Brandon Beals, Senior Pastor,Venture Church, Mill Creek, WA
Jimmy Skeen, Lead Pastor, Aurora Community Church, Shoreline, WA
Terry Fisher, Senior Pastor, Crossroads Foursquare Church, Rochester, WA
Steve Luten, Lead Pastor, Ellensburg Foursquare Church, Ellensburg, WA
Dr. Bill Starr, Pastor (ret),Yakima Foursquare Church,Yakima, WA
Nathan Lewellyn, Worship Pastor, Summit Church NW, Spokane, WA
Merrick Kingman, Pastor, Motion Church South Hill, Puyallup, WA
Ellen Heck, Pastor, Horizon Church, Seattle, WA
Robert Holden, Pastor, Northwest Foursquare Church, Federal Way, WA
Glenn Erichsen, Pastor, Foursquare Northwest District and New Life Church, Everett, WA
Lynne Ellis-Gray, Pastor, Overlake Christian Church, Redmond, WA
Shawn Schertzer, Chaplain, Jesus Revisited.org, Gig Harbor, WA
James and Tammy Ludlow, Pastors, Eastpointe Church, Bonney Lake, WA
Andrew Richardson, Associate Pastor, West Valley Foursquare Church,Yakima, WA
Pam Durham, Pastor, Lake Church, Lake Stevens, WA
Elisha and Kari Ahearn, Pastors, Puget Sound Foursquare Church,Tacoma, WA
Nick Hawkins, Lead Pastor, Redemption Church, Medical Lake, WA
Olyvia Babinski, Pastor, North Church, Spokane, WA
Heather Wait, Pastor, Puget Sound Foursquare Church,Tacoma, WA
Jacob and Chantal Edler, Pastors,Yakima Foursquare Church,Yakima, WA
Curt Rosen, Pastor, Family Christian Center, Ellensburg, WA
William McKibben, Senior Pastor, Apostolic Faith Church, Seattle, WA
Josh Dunahoo, Pastor, Eastside Church, Bothell, WA
Krista Lack, Pastor, Life Center Foursquare Church, Spokane, WA
Rich Sclafani and Greg Di Loreto, Co-Lead Pastors, OneLife Community Church, Seattle, WA
Lex Breckinridge, Rector, St.Thomas Episcopal Church, Medina, WA
Curt Brunk, Former Lead Pastor, Lake Samm Foursquare, Bellevue, WA
Britney McCartin, Pastor, Motion Church, Bonney Lake, WA
Kelly and Diane Bradley, Pastors, Northwest Foursquare District,Tacoma, WA
Keith Hopkins, Senior Pastor, Grace Foursquare Church, Centralia, WA
Laurel Hopkins, Co-Pastor, Grace Foursquare Church, Centralia, WA
Terry Fisher, Senior Pastor, Crossroads Foursquare Church, Rochester, WA
Nicole Stilley, Pastor,The Father’s House, Granite Falls, WA
Ben Breeden, Lead Pastor, Everett Foursquare Lowell, Everett, WA
Janell Martin, Pastor, Seattle Foursquare Church, Seattle, WA
Andrew Ferguson, Senior Pastor, Hope Foursquare Church, Snohomish, WA
Luke Morton, Pastor,Trinity Church, Seattle, WA
Pamela Ohlsen, Pastor, Renton Christian Center, Renton, WA
Joseph Butcher, Lead Pastor,Valley Foursquare Church, Duvall, WA
James Pagels, Lead Pastor, Pullman Foursquare Church, Pullman, WA
Shelbi Starr, Serve Director Life Center, Spokane, WA
David Norcross, Senior Pastor, One Hope Foursquare Church, Kent, WA
Joseph Duvo, Associate Pastor, One Hope Foursquare Church, Kent, WA
Ron Swor, Senior Pastor, Canby Foursquare Church, Canby, OR
Seth and Sarah Middlebrook, Pastors, Faith Bible Chapel, Salmon, ID
Ray Noah, Lead Pastor, Portland Christian Center, Portland, OR
Dave Phillips, Superintendent, Montana Ministry Network, Billings, MT
Dr. William Wilson, Lead Pastor, Oregon Ministry Network, Keizer, OR
Rulon Combs, Pastor, Living Faith Assembly, Cottage Grove, OR
Ken Van Vliet, Senior Pastor, Monte Vista Chapel,Turlock, CA
Jeff Coon, Pastor, Gods Lighthouse Church, Garibaldi, OR
Keith Cookson, Pastor, Cornerstone Worship Center, Nampa, ID
Matt Lang, Lead Pastor, Christian Assembly Foursquare Church, Missoula, MT
Gwyneth Lang, Lead Pastor, Christian Assembly Foursquare Church, Missoula, MT
Blake Folden, Pastor (ret),The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Dwayne Betsill, Pastor, New Hope Maui, Wailuku, HA
Laura Dodson, Assisting Pastor, New Life Christian Center, Emmett, ID
Damon Cain, Assisting Pastor, G4CHURCH, Gillette, WY
Kurt Chaffee, Pastor, New Song Church, Bismarck, ND
Molly DuQue, Lead Pastor, Mosaic Chapel, Bozeman, MT
Michael McGovern, Pastor (ret), Missoula, MT
Evan Cook, Pastor, Faith Chapel, Billings, MT
Dave Benson, Lead Pastor, Family Life Church, Newberg, OR
Joshua Vonjentzen, Associate Pastor, The Fathers House Foursquare Church, Granite Falls, WA
Jesse Bradley, Lead Pastor, Grace Community Church, Auburn, WA
Jonathan Parisot, Pastor, Stanwood Foursquare Church, Stanwood, WA
Jon Cobler, Pastor,The Church of Living Water, Olympia, WA
Rich Halterman, Pastor, Foursquare Praise Center, Wenatchee, WA
Daniel Johnson, Pastor, Westside Foursquare Church, Burien, WA
Benjamin Torkelson, Pastor, New Life Foursquare Church, Leavenworth, WA
John Kitterman, Pastor, Restoration Church, Lacey, WA
Caleb and Deanna Kytonen, Pastors, Open Home Church, Seattle, WA
Mariwyn Tinsley, Pastor, Abundant Life Foursquare Church, Bremerton, WA