As evangelicals, mainline Protestants and Catholics we are alarmed by the pending Mississippi bill that would allow virtually

anyone, including businesses, to discriminate against customers in the name of religious liberty. We call on Mississippi and all states to abandon legislation that threatens democracy, civil rights and religious freedom itself. These misguided efforts eerily echo Jim Crow laws that robbed African Americans of their basic human dignity. Businesses once barred not only blacks, but also Jews and Asians from buying homes in certain neighborhoods or eating in restaurants even after Supreme Court rulings overturned segregation laws. We must not allow faith to be used in the service of discrimination. When we seek to codify legislation that discriminates against any class of peopleno matter our diverse theological beliefs about marriagewe tarnish the treasure of religious freedom and the highest ideals of our democracy. Most of all, we are complicit in violating the Golden Rule that unites us as Christiansto love God and our neighbor as we love ourselves. Sincerely, Pastor Bruce Case Parkway Hills UMC Senior Pastor Madison, Mississippi Rev. Austin Hoyle Parkway Hills UMC Youth Minister and Associate Pastor Madison, Mississippi Rev. Michael McLaughlin First Presbyterian Church Pastor Cleveland, Mississippi Rev. James C. Perkins Progressive National Baptist Convention President elect Detroit, Michigan Rev. J. Herbert Nelson Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness Director Washington, D.C Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III Pastor Trinity United Church of Christ Chicago, Illinois Mr. James Winkler National Council of Churches President Washington, D.C.

Sr. Ann Scholz Leadership Conference of Women Religious Associate Director for Social Mission Silver Spring, Maryland Rev. Richard Cizik New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good President Oak Ridge, Tennesse Rev. Dr. Amy Butler Calvary Baptist Church Senior Pastor Washington, D.C Francis X. Doyle Associate General Secretary (retired) U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops John Sniegocki Associate Professor of Christian Ethics Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio Christopher Pramuk Associate Professor of Theology Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio Rev. Drew Christiansen, S. J. Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Global Human Development Georgetown University Washington, D.C. Dennis M. Doyle Professor of Religious Studies University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio Anthony B. Smith Associate Professor Department of Religious Studies University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio Una M. Cadegan Department of History University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio Sr. Christine Dobrowolski Louisville, Kentuck Rev. Jack Haberer The Presbyterian Outlook

Editor Richmond, VA

Rev. Chuck Currie Sunnyside and University Park Churches Minister Portland, Oregon Rev. Kendrick Curry The Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church Senior Pastor Washington, DC Dr. David P. Gushee Mercer University Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life Atlanta, Georgia Rev. Egon Cohen Temple University Department of Religion University Fellow Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rev. Kay Huggins Saint Mark Presbyterian, North Bethesda Parrish Associate North Bethesda, Maryland Rev. Michael Livingston National Public Policy Director, IWJ Trenton, New Jersey Rev. Steven Martin New Evangelical Partnership For The Common Good Executive Director Oak Ridge, Tennessee Rev. Chuck Currie Sunnyside and University Park Churches Senior Minister Portland, Oregon Rev. Jacob Simpson Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church Pastor Baltimore, Maryland Rev. Sung Moy Pawling UMC Pastor Pawling, New York Rev. Dawn Rosignol

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Burnet, Texas Rev. Doug Hagler Interim Pastor Jenkintown, Pennsylvania Rev. Deborah Vaughn Hospital Chaplain Washington, D.C. Rev. Paul Frazier Paul D. Frazier First Presbyterian Church Pastor Hardin, Illinois Rev. Ray McKinnon University City United Methodist Church Missions Director Charlotte, North Carolina Rev. Jennifer Krushas Pastor High Point, North Carolina Rev. Wayne A. Laws UCC / PC(USA) / UMC Mountain View United Church Minister of Social Justice Aurora, Colorado Rev. Richard Kidd ELCA Pastor Boardman, Ohio Rev. William Moore Bedford Christian Church Bedford, Virginia Rev. Robert Norman Pastor Leland, North Carolina Rev. Matt Gough PC(USA) First Presbyterian Corvallis Pastor Corvallis, Oregon Rev. Molly Casteel Assistant Stated Clerk Louisville, Kentucky Rev. Tricia Tedrow

First Presbyterian Church Reverend Port LaVirginiaca, Texas Rev. Mark Koenig Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Director New York, New York Rev. Ann Tiemeyer National Council of Churches, USA Assoicate General Secretary for Joint Action and Advocacy New York, New York Rev. Lynette Sparks Third Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor Rochester, New York Rev. Margaret E Howland South Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, NY Pastor Emeritus Orlando, Florida Rev. Cynthia Ruiz San Francisco de Assisi Austin, Texas Rev. Sharon Baker Clergy Gary, Indiana Rev. Nevin Werron Pastor Pennsauken, New Jersey Rev. Richard Mosley, Jr. Hemenway U.M.C. Pastor Evanston, Illinois Rev. Lyn Barrett First Congregational United Church of Christ Pastor Woodbury, Connecticut Rev. Douglas Holmes First Presbyterian Pastor Albion, New York Rev. Catherine George Minister at Large Charlotte, North Carolina

Rev. Richard Huggins ARMSS McLeod Memorial PC President Lakeland, Florida Rev. Christen Miller Peace United Church of Christ Minister Fort Wayne, Indiana Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite Chicago Theological Seminary Professor of Theology Chicago, Illinois Rev. Gary Nims Pastor Des Moines, Iowa Rev. Susan Ezell Presbyterian Church (USA) Honorably Retired, Pastor Emerita Annandale, Virginia Rev. Mary Love Mid-Kentucky Presbytery Crescent Hills Presbyterian Church Parish Associate Louisville, Kentucky Rev. Ana Wilson Senior Minister Jacksboro, Texas Rev. Susan Trigger First Presbyterian Church Pastor Rockaway, New Jersey Rev. Paul Turner Church Gentle Spirit Christian Church Senior Pastor Decatur, Georgia Rev. Tricia Dykers Koenig Covenant Network of Presbyterians Forest Hill Church National Organizer Cleveland Heights, Ohio Rev. Edward Gehres Presbyterian Church (USA) Executive Presbyter-Retired Media, Pennsylvania

Rev. John Ericson Living Water Lutheran Church Pastor Hampton, Virginia Rev. Holly Hallman Holly Hallman Chaplain Issaquah, Washington Rev. Robert Carter Pastor East Brunswick, New Jersey Rev. Lorelei Kay Westminster Presbyterian Church Designated Pastor Gallup, New Mexico Rev. Brett Kelly United Methodist Pastor Findlay, Ohio Rev. Jill Mills Pastor Sterling Heights, Michigan Rev. Robert Williams Roswell, New Mexico Rev. Patricia Lavery Church of Epiphany Deacon Grove City, Pennsylvania Rev. Janet Rhind St. Paul's UMC Prairie Village, Kansas Rev. Nancy Neal Church of the Pilgrims Parish Associate Washington, D.C. Rev. John Long Presbytery of Western New York First Presbyterian Church Ecumenical Liaison Buffalo, New York Rev. Rebecca Tollefson Executive Director Columbus, Ohio

Rev. Taryn Mattice Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell Chaplain Ithaca, New York Rev. Nathan Mahand Calvary Baptist Church College Minister Waco, Texas Rev. Terrence Tilley, SJ Fordham University Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Professor of Catholic Theology New York, New York Rev. Barbara Peter Presbyterian Church (USA) 1st Presby, Libertyville, IL Honorably Retired Lake Forest, Illinois Rev. David Pickett First Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor West Chester, Pennsylvania Rev. Mark Fischer Twelve Apostles Church Pastor Saegertown, Pennsylvania Rev. Mary Beth Konen ELCA Pastor Ironwood, Michigan Rev. Hannah Flynn Anglican Church of North America Resurrection Anglican Church Deacon/Seminarian Shalimar, Florida Rev. Brian Wharton Faith UMC Associate Pastor Spring, Texas Rev. Harry Knox Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice President and CEO Washington, D.C. Rev. John A. Coleman, SJ Saint Ignatius Parish Parochial Vicar

San Francisco, California Rev. David Harris Pastor Palmyra, Pennsylvania Rev. Scott Marrese-Wheeler Presbyterian Church (USA) McFarland, Wisconsin Rev. Douglas Mitchell Westminster Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor for Faith in Action Minneapolis, Minnesota Rev. Jerrod Lowry Presbyterian Church (USA) Community of Grace Presbyterian Church (USA) Sandy, Utah Rev. Barbara Robberson United Methodist Church Missouri City, Texas Rev. Charlotte Coyle Minister Paris, Texas Rev. Mark Wendorf Minister Sanford, Maine Rev. Bobbi Neason PC(USA) First Presbyterian Church Bandon, Oregon Rev. Rosa Lee Harden Episcopal Cathedral of All Souls Canon for Money and Meaning Asheville, North Carolina Rev. Noel Castellanos Christian Community Development Association CEO Chicago, Illinois Rev. Martha Sexton PC(USA) La Jolla, California Rev. Heather Bartlow John Calvin Presbyterian Church Pastor Tulsa, Oklahoma

Rev. Ellen Acton PC(USA) Seattle, Washington Rev. Dwyn Mounger Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Eusebia Presbyterian Knoxville, Tennessee Rev. Daryn Holdsworth Central States Synod - ELCA Chaplain Florissant, Missouri Rev. Craig Swan St. Luke's Episcopal Church Rector Camillus, New York Rev. Katherine Michael Westminster Presbyterian Associate Pastor Minneapolis, Minnesota Rev. Loren Mote Nondenominational Legacy Church Rev. Loren Mote Grand Rapids, Michigan Rev. Duane Clinker United Methodist Pastor (retired) Cranston, Rhode Island Rev. Anne Clement United Methodist Sapulpa, Oklahoma Rev. Eric Gates SpiritualityDude.com Hyde Park Christian Church Austin, Texas Rev. Emily Proctor Riverside Presbyterian Church Director of Young Adult and Global Outreach Jacksonville, Florida Rev. Brenton Thompson Crossroads Presbyterian Church Minister Limerick, PA

Rev. Lois Ann Wolff Albany Presbytery Honorably Retired Lake Luzerne, NY Rev. John Frey Cypress Creek Christian Church Teaching Pastor Spring, Texas Rev. Mark Meeks Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church Minister Denver, CO Rev. Sue Lowcock Harris First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, MD Co-Pastor Columbia, Maryland Rev. Kendrick Curry The Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church Senior Pastor Washington, DC Rev. J.F. Wickey Pastor Alva, OK Rev. Pam Watkins UMC Durham, North Carolina Rev. Dale Nixon Southern Baptist Convention Terry Parker Baptist Church Pastor Jacksonville, Florida Rev. Dan Vaughn St. John's Church Pastor Mount Aetna, PA Rev. B. Gordon Edwards Presbyterian Church USA Honorably Retired Stillwater, OK Rev. Kimberly Chastain United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton, NY Executive Pastor Binghamton, NY Rev. Phyllis Zoon Presbyterian Church (USA)

Plumsted Presbyterian, New Egypt, NJ Interim Pastor New Egypt, NJ Rev. Susan Joseph Rack Pastor Martinsville, NJ Rev. Troy Braswell Circleville Presbyterian Church Pastor Circleville, Ohio Professor David O'Brien College of Holy Cross Professor Emeritus Worcester, Massachusetts Prof. Jeannine Hill Fletcher Fordham University Professor of Theology, Department of Theology and Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice New York, New York Prof. Kathleen Maas Weigert Loyola University Chicago Carolyn Farrell, BVM, Professor of Women and Leadership Chicago, Illinois Prof. Alex Mikulich Jesuit Social Research Institute, Loyola University New Orleans Assistant Professor New Orleans, Louisiana Ms. Lisa Sharon Harper Sojourners Senior Director of Mobilizing Washington, D.C. Ms. Gail Mott Downtown Presbyterian Church Elder Rochester, New York Ms. Rita Brown First Presbyterian Church Haddonfield, NJ Elder Berlin, New Jersey Ms. Donell Seager Spiritual Director Pace, Florida Ms. Angelyn Forbes-Freeze First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, NY Deacon Cortland Manor, New York

Ms. Amy Wharton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Pastor Robinson, Illinois Ms. Nancy Horman Woodland Park Presbyterian Church retired elder Seattle, Washington Ms. Merilie Robertson Woodland Hills Presbyterian Elder Canoga Park, California Ms. Carole Eckerd First Presbyterian Elder Roseburg, Oregon Ms. Sarah Brownlee Elder Atlanta, Georgia Ms. Nancy Ellingham Newport Presbyterian Church Elder Bellevue, Washington Ms. Kaila Coo Colorado Christian university Adjunct Professor of theology Lakewood, Colorado Ms. Peri Erdmann Ruling elder Aberdeen, South Dakota Ms. Laura Hovland Mt. Washington Elder Cincinnati, Ohio Ms. Evelyn Stewart Westminster Presbyterian Church Elder Portland, Oregon Ms. Karen Wilson College Avenue Presbyterian Church Treasurer/Elder Alton, IL Ms. Sally Mackey

Lake Burien PC(USA) Burien, WA Ms. Nancy Lister-Settle Presbytery of Des Moines Moderator Dallas Center, IA Mr. Jason Redick Holy Covenant United Methodist Youth Minister Carrollton, Texas Mr. Keith Dager La Tijera UMC in Los Angeles Layman in UMC Reconciling Ministry Network Los Angeles, California Mr. David Osio Catholic Charities Diocese of Wichita Director of Immigration Services Wichita, Kansas Mr. Billy Roberts Forest Hills Presbyterian Church Youth Ministry Director Grand Rapids, Michigan Dr. Brian McLaren Author Marco Island, Florida Dr. Greg Smith LUCHA Ministries, Inc. Administrative Coordinator Fredericksburg, Virginia Dr. Layne Smith Interim Transition Specialist Hendersonville, North Carolina Dr. Todd Gile United Methodist Trinity UMC Pastor Evansville, Indiana Dr. Margaret Oget Associate Professor of New Testament Decatur, Georgia Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia Associate Professor of Homiletics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Rodney Petersen Boston Theological Institute Executive Director Newton, Massachusetts Dr. M. Shawn Copeland Boston College Professor of Systematic Theology Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Dr. Tobias Winright Saint Louis University Hubert Maeder Chair of Health Care Ethics St. Louis, Missouri Dr. Mark J. Allman Merrimack College Professor, Chair, Religious and Theological Studies Department North Andover, Massachusetts Dr. Judye Pistole First Presbyterian Church Pastor Oklahoma Dr. Connie E Cochran Paxton Presbyterian Church Director Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Dr. Tom Gregory First Presbyterian Church Wooster, Ohio Dr. Joseph J. Fahey Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice Dr. Joel wright Chair, Education Department Gillette, Wyoming Dr. Carol Lapp Covenant Presbyterian Elder Augusta, Georgia Dr. James Cogswell Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. James Cogswell, PhD Black Mountain, North Carolina Dr. Samuel Massey First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, IA Pastor Iowa City, IA

Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree Florida Conference United Church of Christ Interim Conference Minister Orlando, FL Dr. Gary Sturni Retired Episcopal Priest Pomfret, CT Dr. Stephen Schneck The Catholic University of America Director, Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies Washington, D.C. Steve Knight TransFORM Network Founder and director Charlotte, North Carolina Dolores Christie John Carroll University University Heights, Ohio