Georgia Faith Leaders Unite Against Discrimination

As clergy and civil rights leaders, we are concerned to hear that some elected Georgia
officials plan to introduce a Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a bill that
could result in discrimination and have many unintended consequences.
As faith leaders from diverse traditions, we believe freedom of religion is one of our
most fundamental rights as Americans, but religious freedom does not give any of us
the right to harm or exclude others.
We oppose this proposed legislation. First, it would put an individuals religious beliefs
ahead of the common good. Second, it could unleash a wave of costly lawsuits that will
add burdens to both the courts and taxpayers alike. Third, it is unnecessary because
our freedom of religion is already guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution
and Georgias State Constitution.
Fourth, a state RFRA could legalize discrimination by allowing businesses to refuse to
serve customers based on religious objections. We believe that businesses that are
open to the public should be open to everyone on the same terms. We strongly oppose
giving for-profit corporations religious rights that could allow them to discriminate
against employees based on any characteristicfrom their religious practices to their
sexual orientation. This principle harkens back to the civil rights movement and our
nations core values of equality and justice.
We all have different views on the issue of marriage for same-sex couples, but we are
united in condemnation of discrimination and in firm support of equal protection under
the law.
We caution our elected leaders against supporting this unnecessary RFRA, which
opens wide the door for exclusion and division. Instead, they must preserve the current
protections already afforded to us through the Constitution.
Rev. Dr. James Lamkin
Pastor, Northside Drive Baptist Church, Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale
Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur
Rev. William Flippin, Jr.
Pastor, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Atlanta
Rev. Pamela Driesell
Senior Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
Rabbi Peter Berg

Senior Rabbi, The Temple, Atlanta

Rev. Dr. Anne Burkholder
Associate Dean of Methodist Studies, Candler School of Theology; Glenn Memorial
UMC, Atlanta
Rev. Brent Huckaby
Hope Church, Dallas
Rev. Stacey Rushing
Senior Pastor, University Heights UMC, Decatur
Rev. Andrew Harwood
Pastor, Wesley Chapel UMC, Dahlonega
Rev. Kimberly Jackson
Episcopal Chaplain to the Atlanta University Center, Absalom Jones Episcopal Center,
Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Jason Haddox
St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Augusta
Rev. Dr. Ellen Francis Poisson
Order of Saint Helena, Augusta
Sr. Mary Priniski
Chapter Prioress, Dominicans of Adrian, Alpharetta
Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell
First Baptist Church, Decatur
Rev. Peter Wallace
Day 1, Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Beth LaRocca-Pitts
Senior Pastor, Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson
Georgia NAACP State President, Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Statesboro
Rev. Lisa Caine
Oconee St. UMC, Athens
Rev. John Turlington
Associate Pastor, Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta

Rev. Jordan Thrasher

Chaplain, Reinhardt University UMC, Waleska
Rev. Dr. Don Saliers
Druid Hills UMC, Atlanta
Rev. Lee Fullerton
Senior Pastor, Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta
Rev. Byron Thomas
Senior Pastor, Ben Hill United Methodist Church, Atlanta
Rev. Joseph McBrayer
Campus Minister and Director, Emory Wesley Fellowship, United Methodist Campus
Ministry at Emory University, Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Bernice Kirkland
District Superintendent, Atlanta, East Point, College Park
Rev. Larry Fryer
Pastor, Hudson Memorial CME Church, Augusta
Rev. Dalton Rushing
Senior Pastor, North Decatur United Methodist Church, Decatur
Dr. Ron Grizzle
Director, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Atlanta
Rev. Dale Sillik
Pastor of Outreach, Trinity Lutheran, Lilburn
Rev. Dr. David Bartlett
Theologian in Residence, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
Rev. Jan Taddeo
UU Congregation of Gwinnett, Lawrenceville
Rev. Dr. Gaye Ortiz
Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta, Augusta
Rev. Dr. Donald Randall
Affiliated Community Minister, UU Fellowship of Athens, GA, Watkinsville
Rev. Duncan E. Teague
Unitarian Universalist, Decatur

Rev. Alison Eskildsen

Parish Minister, UU Fellowship of Athens, GA, Athens
Rev. Roy Reynolds
Consulting Minister, UU (Retired Accredited Interim Minister), Atlanta
Rev. Terry Davis
Northwest UUC, Sandy Springs
Rev. Cynthia Prescott
UU Metro Atlanta North, Roswell
Rev. Patricia Palmer
Community Minister
Alpharetta
Pat Kahn
Director of Children and Family Programs, Unitarian Universalist Association Faith
Development Office, Atlanta
Rev. Cassandra Howe
Minister, High Street Unitarian Universalist Church, Macon
Rev. Jonathan Rogers
UU Congregation of Atlanta, Clarkston
Kimberly Broerman
Spiritual Director, Deep Waters, Atlanta
Rev. Marti Keller
Minister, UU Women's Federation, Decatur
Rev. Jeff Jones
Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Marietta
Elizabeth Hickman
Director of Religious Education, Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
Sandy Springs, Sandy Springs
Rabbi Analia Bortz
Congregation Or Hadash, Sandy Springs
Rabbi Elana Perry
Temple Sinai, Sandy Springs
Rabbi Bradley Levenberg

Temple Sinai, Sandy Springs

Rabbi David Baylinson
The Temple, Atlanta
Rabbi Fred Greene
Temple Beth Tikvah, Roswell
Rabbi Ron Segal
Temple Sinai, Sandy Springs
Rev. Dr. Jane Page
Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro and UU's of Coastal Georgia,
Statesboro and Brunswick
Imam Mohamad Jamal Daoudi
Islamic Society of Augusta
Rev. Gary Charles
Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus
The Temple, Atlanta
Rabbi Stephen Rau
The Temple, Atlanta
Rabbi Lydia B. Medwin
Director of Congregational Engagement, The Temple, Atlanta
Rev. David Lewicki
Co-Pastor, North Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur
Rev. Matthew Ruffner
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
Rabbi Judith Beiner
Rabbi, Jewish Family and Career Services, Atlanta
Carole Maddux
Archdeacon, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Roswell