Columbus Religious Leaders Launch We Believe

United in dialogue and action, religious leaders announce aggressive and coordinated effort to advocate for social justice

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

March 14, 2006 (Columbus, OH) – Religious leaders today joined together in the sanctuary of The First A.M.E. Zion Church to launch We Believe. Committed to uniting diverse religious voices to achieve social justice, more than 100 pastors, priests, rabbis, cantors and active lay leaders from Roman Catholicism, two traditions of Judaism, and more than fifteen Protestant denominations, have committed to the movement.

“We Believe participants are black and white, men and women, conservative, moderate and liberal. We represent a wide range of theological diversity and serve urban, suburban and rural people in our houses of worship. We hold in common a deep and abiding love of the God whom we serve,� said Rev. Tim Ahrens, Sr. Minister of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Columbus and co-convener of We Believe. “Our diversity is our strength. Our diversity is the American way. We are speaking out today to ensure that the voice of religion in Ohio reflects our American diversity, and is not co-opted by intolerant voices,� Ahrens said.

We Believe co-convener Rev. Eric Brown, Sr. Pastor of the Woodland Christian Church in Columbus presented the group’s powerful mission statement, which proclaims a commitment to justice, diverse religious expression and the common good. The organization considers the inclusion of religious traditions and perspectives critical to the creation of informed public policy, while respecting the Constitutionally-mandated separation of church and state.

We Believe is committed to acting and speaking in public ways on behalf of the poor, the voiceless, and the unrepresented. Cantor Jack Chomsky, of Tifereth Israel in Columbus, outlined the group’s six action steps:
o Informing and engaging members in the electoral process, with a goal of clergy reaching 80% of members through voter turn-out and absentee ballot initiatives.
o Giving children, poor and homeless people a voice that is heard in the electoral process.
o Preaching from the pulpit about God's call to work toward social justice for all.
o Promoting We Believe and its social justice mission by establishing a website.
o Promoting We Believe and its social justice mission by hosting public events.
o Publishing a Book of Sermons focusing on faith and social justice.

“God is calling us to reconcile people of faith. God calls us to unite and heal not to demonize our neighbors,� Rev. Ahrens said.

Other participants at the event included We Believe Administrative Director Rev. Colleen Ogle (Trinity United Methodist Church), who opened the event with prayer, We Believe Events Chair Rev. Vincent T. Frosh (First A.M.E. Zion), who served as host pastor for the event, and Rev. Mark W. Diemer (Grace of God Lutheran Church).