Racism is what is breaking our community.

As Christian leaders in Grand Rapids, we want to stand together to name the painful moment we are in. Our hearts were again traumatized as we witnessed the murder of yet another black male. This man had a name: George Floyd. We heard bystanders pleading with the police officers to stop pressing against his neck.  We heard the emotional, helpless cry of a man dying under the knee of  police officers. And of those who witnessed his death. 

We are moved to respond. We must respond individually, to search our hearts for how God is calling us to change the racism that we have internalized. We must respond as a community here in Grand Rapids, to hold our police officers and city officials accountable to policies which protect the dignity of black and brown people. And we must respond nationally to the overwhelming injustice of racism and the failure of those in power to lead with justice. Our Scriptures tell us that all people of faith are required by God “to act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The pain of this moment is palpable—we see it, we hear it, and we experience it. Our compassionate God, who dwells among us, feels this pain. The anger, rage, and violence that has broken out in our city is part of this pain. We want destruction to stop. Violence begets violence. And we need the root of this to be faced. Racism is what is breaking our community. 

Each of us as religious and civic leaders must work to right this wrong. In Scripture, it is called repentance -- turning from our wicked ways, and resolving to walk in a new direction. We must speak out and be visible, amplify the voices of those who are most impacted and who are leading us toward a more just community.  

We, the clergy of Grand Rapids, believe that God is able to work in this community, to make a way out of no way. We believe that God can reconcile us one to another, that God can heal our city and heal our nation. And we recognize that pain is always a part of true healing. We resolve to work together, across the lines that have divided us. We resolve to use our power and platforms to name the legacy of systemic racism that has traumatized people of color. 

We love Grand Rapids. We pray for its peace. We know that peace comes with justice.
"May justice roll down like a mighty water, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream."

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If you are a member of the clergy in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
​and would like to add your name to this statement, please go here.

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Rev. Kate Kooyman, Grace Christian Reformed Church
Christopher Hall, Elevation Church
Rev. Chris DeBlaay, The Branch
President Jul Medenblik, Calvin Theological Seminary
Dr. Reginald Smith, Director of Diversity , Christian Reformed Church in North America
Pastor Eric Cook, Remembrance Church
Dr. John D. Witvliet, Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Laurie Hartzell, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Pastor Mike Gafa, Reformed Church in America
The Rev. Nurya Love Parish, Plainsong Farm / Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Belmont
Rev. Steve De Vries, Plymouth Heights CRC
Rev. Dr. Willie A. Gholston II, pastor, First Community AME Church
Rev. Colleen Squires, All Souls Community Church UU
Rev. Dr. W. Frederick Wooden, Fountain Street Church (retired)
Amanda Benckhuysen, Professor of Old Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Jay Blankespoor, Boston Square Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Scott Hoezee, Calvin Theological Seminary
Lyle Bierma, Calvin Theological Seminary
Pastor Amy Schenkel, Resonate Global Mission
Rev. Dr. Geoff Vandemolen - Director of Vocational Formation/ Co-Director of Doctor of Ministry, Calvin Seminary
Rev. Paul DeVries, Brookside Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Jen Porter, Westminster Presbyterian
Rev. Dr. David Rylaarsdam, Calvin Seminary
Pastor Nathaniel Moody Sr., Brown Hutcherson Ministries
Rev. Les Wiseman, Knapp St Reformed Church
Pastor Jesus Velez, President, Association Hispanics Pastors / President of Asociacion de pastores hipanos y lideres.
Rev. Benjamin Bruins, Trinity Reformed Church
Rev. Sarah Van Zetten Bruins, Trinity Reformed Church
Rev. Deborah J. McCreary, Eastminster Presbyterian Church
Rev. Jim Boer, Monroe Community Church
Rev. Emmett A. Harrison, Christian Reformed Church
Artie M Lindsay, Sr., Tabernacle Community Church
Rev. Ruth Bell Olsson, Mayflower Congregational Church
Pastor Dale Dalman, Esperanza Covenant Church
Rev. Stedford Sims, New Beginning Church Intl. Ministries
The Rev. Michael Alan Wernick, Two Churches (Holy Cross Episcopal and Ascension Lutheran)
The Rev. Canon Valerie Ambrose, Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan
The Rev. Hugh Dickinson, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids, MI
Rev. Jeremy Bork, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Rev. Kent Rottman, Lee Street Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Elizabeth Vander Haagen, Boston Square Christian Reformed Church
Very Rev. René Constanza, CSP (Rector/Pastor), Cathedral of Saint Andrew (Roman Catholic)
Rev. Jack Kooreman, Grace Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Dr. Brian White, Seymour Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Katherine Lee Baker, Metro Health
Rev. John M Matias, Brown-Hutcherson Ministries
Rev.Gil Suh, CRCNA/Resonate Global Mission
Rev. Susan York, St. Marks Episcopal Church
The Rev. Molly Bosscher, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Margarita Solis-Deal, Dominican Center at Marywood
Rev. Dr. Jessica Bratt Carle, Spectrum Health/Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. David Beelen, Madison Church (CRC)
Rev. Adam Lipscomb, City Life Church
Prof. Ronald Feenstra, Calvin Theological Seminary
Pastor Timothy Mark Harris, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Chase R. Stancle, Unison Christian Church
Mandy Fowler, Director of Faith Development, Cornerstone Church
Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans, Oakdale Park Church
Pastor James Jones, Oakdale Park Church
Pastor Randy Buursma, First Christian Reformed Church
The Rev. William Whiting, The Episcopal Church
Pastor Andrew Vanover
Pastor Brad Knetsch, Madison Church: Ford Campus
Rev. Tim Wilson, Harbor Churches - South Harbor Church
Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith, Harbor Churches
Wally Harrison, Pastor, Walker Harbor (Harbor churches)
Darrell Delaney, Campus Pastor, Madison Church, Square Campus
Tom Elenbaas, Senior Pastor, Harbor Churches
Marcia Van Poolen, Deacon, Madison Church at Ford
Dr. Joy Bonnema, Pastor, Madison Church: North Campus
Rev. Dr. Mara Joy Norden, The Community Church in Ada
The Rev. Jan Gockerman, Deacon, St.Mark”s Episcopal Church
Reverend Ryan Scott Schreiber, Grace Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Steven Koster, Grace CRC
Rev. Brent Kladder, Harbor Life
Rev. John A Rozeboom, Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church
Greg VanderMeer, Lead Pastor, Fair Haven Church
Rev. Jeremy Kreuze, Harbor Churches
Min. Christy Knetsch, Madison Square Church
Rachel Reinink, Pastor, Harbor Churches
The Rev. Molly Bosscher, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Sarah Schreiber, Grace Christian Reformed Church & Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Cindy Nawrocki, St. Andrews Episcopal Church
Pastor Jordan Stonehouse, Wyoming Harbor Church (a part of Harbor Churches)
Rob Housman, South Harbor Church
Rev. Jeff Sajdak, D.Min., Dean of Students, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Michael Hoogeboom, LaGrave CRC
Pastor Russell D. Atherton, Lifestream Free Methodist Church
Rev. Elaine May, Mayfair Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Deb Koster, CRCNA
Rev. Andrew Mead, Church of the Servant CRC
Rev. Steven D. Cron, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church
Rev. Adam Rodeheaver-Van Gelder, Pastor of Congregational Life & Youth Ministry, First CRC
Rev. Joe Graham, Harbor Churches
Dr. Mary L. Vanden Berg, Calvin Seminary
Cory Willson, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Carl Kammeraad, Grace Christian Reformed Church, associate pastor
Bishop Eric L. Barnes Sr., Royal Priesthood Ministries PDFI
Dr. Lisa Marie Barnes, Royal Priesthood Ministries PDFI
Al Heystek United Church of Christ Clergy, East Congregational Church
Rev. Peter Homeyer, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
The Rev. Alan C. James, Grace Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids
The Rev. Dr. Duane E. VanderBrug, , pastor emeritus, Grace Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Karsten Voskuil, Bethlehem Church
Rev. Brian P. Madison, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Dr. David Wheeler, East Congregational Church, UCC
Rev. Al Mulder, Stated Clerk to Classis Grand Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Rebecca Jordan Heys, Calvin Christian Reformed Church
Archbishop Michael J. Hillis, Reconciliation Old Catholic Church
The Rt. Rev. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr., Bishop, The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan
Rev. Troy Bierma, Church of the Servant
Rev. Dr. Julián Guzmán, Iglesia Vida Plena
Dallas Lenear, Journey Church
Tom Elenbaas, Senior Pastor, Harbor Churches
Rachel Reinink, Pastor, Harbor Churches
Rev Scott Stark, Campus Ministry at GVSU
Pastor Karen Campbell, Church of the Servant CRC
Rev. Joshua Wall, First Reformed
Daniel Parker - Lead Pastor, Kingdom Life Ministries
Rev. Sean Baker, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Pastor Stanley Couch, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Sheldon Thomas, Davis Memorial Church of God In Christ
Moses Mares (Worship Pastor), Fair Haven Church
Rev. Howard C. Earle Jr., D.Min., New Hope Baptist Church
Pastor Ron Carter, Kings Bible Church
Rev. Dr. James C. Stokes, New Life Tabernacle COGIC
Ben Post, Campus Ministry @ GVSU
Wally Harrison, Pastor, Walker Harbor (Harbor churches)
Rev. Howard C. Earle Jr., D.Min., New Hope Baptist Church
Rev. Terrence Dudley, Pastor, New Covenant Community Church of God
Rev. Cody Zuiderveen, Campus Ministry at GVSU
Pastor Rich Rienstra, Church of the Servant
Rev. Christopher Roe, Fountain Street Church
Pastor Nygil Likely
Pastor JR Pittman
Pastor Roy L Hampton
Kim Hoop
Samuel Rijfkogel
Rev. Sarah Albers
Rev. Cindy de Jong, Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church
Moses Mares, Worship Pastor, Fair Haven Church
Samuel Rijfkogel, Grand Rapids First
Matthew J Tuininga, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Ruth Boven, LaGrave Ave Christian Reformed Church

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Rev. Peter Jonker, LaGrave Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Jen Holmes Curran, Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Tony Holmes Curran, Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church
Pastor Ellen Jeltema, Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church
​Rev. Al Gelder, Pastor to Pastors, Classis GR East, CRC
Rev. Nate DeJong McCarron, Fuller Ave. Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Erika Plunkett, Faith Church of Grand Rapids
​Pastor Ronald Radcliffe, City Chapel
Pastor Craig Van Hill, First Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Izzy Rhodes
Rev. Cindy Nawrocki, St. Andrews Episcopal Church
Rev. Duane Kelderman, Neland Ave. Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Jen Porter, Westminster Presbyterian
Rev. Mark Bennink, Christian Reformed Church Pastor
Rev Nola Opperwall Galluch, emeritus, Church of the Servant
Rev. Kristen Meyer, Exalta Health
Rev. Dr. Bernard Ayoola, African Resource Center of West Michigan
Prof. David B. Kennedy, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Dr. Rev. Mariano Avila, Christian Reformed Church
Rev. Nancy Boote, Madison North
Dr. Jeff Fisher, Kuyper College
Rev. Kim DeLong, Wyoming Park and Courtland Oakfield United Methodist Churches
Pastor AJ Gretz, South Grandville Church

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