Bishop Miller's Statement on Standing with our Interfaith neighbors against the rise of hate crimes
All Christians are called to take to heart Jesus’ teaching on Hebrew scripture, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:34–40, NRSV). It is with alarm and concern that I observe the rise of hate crimes and speech rendered against our interfaith neighbors in the Muslim, Jewish and other communities.
Noting in particular the recent multiple recent threats against the Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee, we should recall the resolution of the World Council of Churches in 1948, “to denounce anti-semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith. Antisemitism is sin against God and human life.”
I, therefore, call upon people and clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee to stand with our interfaith neighbors who are concerned about their persons, property and place in American society. I strongly encourage our members and parishes to reach out to non-Christian congregations and interfaith organizations to strengthen the bonds of friendship and express our solidarity against hate in any form. I encourage action in the form of presence at rallies and press conferences, and assistance in cases where it is welcomed by our interfaith neighbors.
Our legacy as 21st Century Christians in America may well be measured by how we respond to this rise in hate. It is my prayer that we will be remembered as ones who, in the name of Jesus, took seriously the promise of our baptismal promise to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305)
The Rt. Rev. Steven Miller, Bishop of Milwaukee
March 13, 2017