Seattle Presbytery Statement

Our airwaves and screens are saturated with disturbing images and rhetoric in the wake of the upcoming election.  The name-calling, racism, Islamophobia, and exclusion, some of it in the name of Christianity, is damaging our witness to a hurting city and world.  We are working to undo the damage in our local congregations and neighborhoods, with our ministry partners and seekers. The Presbytery of Seattle voted to publish an official statement for our use in reaching out to our communities:

"The Seattle Presbytery is disheartened by the hate speech and rhetoric that has characterized this election season.  As a body, we cannot and do not endorse a political party or a political candidate, but we strongly urge our members to speak publicly against the dehumanizing of individuals.  We affirm that all are made in the image of God. We are called to be peacemakers in our homes, our communities, our country, and our world. Language of hate, division, racism, elitism and violence fly in the face of the message of God which is a message of love, reconciliation, and unity.  We urge the congregations, ministers, and members within Seattle Presbytery to speak and proclaim again that love casts out fear.”