- Catholic and evangelical leaders, pastors, artists and other high-profile Christians urge lawmakers to support resources for the State Department and USAID.
WASHINGTON, DC – More than 100 Christian leaders from across the United States are calling on Congress to avoid disproportionate cuts to America’s foreign assistance programs.
In a letter to the House and Senate leadership, the signers write: “It is our moral responsibility to urge you to support and protect the International Affairs Budget” noting “we cannot turn our back on those in desperate need.”
The signers – representing the Catholic and evangelical communities – include national leaders, pastors, heads of faith organizations, recording artists and authors. Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez – who spoke at the 2017 Inauguration – also are among the signers.
As the budget process moves to Capitol Hill, the leaders stress that America must remain that “shining city on a hill” that “brings hope to the poor, hungry, [and] the vulnerable.”
FULL LETTER TEXT:
The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Minority Leader Pelosi,
As Christian leaders, it’s an honor to represent dedicated and faithful citizens living in every congressional district in this country. We’re writing to share our support for the International Affairs Budget that every day brings hope to poor, hungry, vulnerable and displaced men, women and children around the world.
America is blessed with fertile land, abundant natural resources, a strong economy, and faithful citizens who value religious freedom. But beyond our borders, many countries experience unparalleled suffering and loss of life due to extreme poverty, disease, natural disasters, and conflict. Today, there are 65 million displaced people, the most since World War II, and 795 million people still go to bed hungry every night.
Matthew 25 tells us when we serve the least of these, we are serving the Lord. As people of faith, we cannot turn our back on those in desperate need. We are grateful for America’s global development and diplomacy programs that have been instrumental in saving lives, safeguarding religious liberties, and keeping America safe and secure. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have strong legacies of supporting humanitarian and development programs that enable countless people to pull themselves out of poverty and live life with dignity. It is through these diplomatic and development tools that we’ve seen countries and communities build peaceful, productive societies that do not turn to violence or terrorism.
At a time when we’re especially security conscious, the International Affairs Budget is crucial to demonstrating our values to the world, building friendships with other nations, and lowering security risks around the world.
With just 1 percent of our nation’s budget, the International Affairs Budget has helped alleviate the suffering of millions; drastically cutting the number of people living in extreme poverty in half, stopping the spread of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDs and Ebola, and nearly eliminating polio. Additionally, it promotes freedom and human rights, protecting religious freedom for millions around the world.
As followers of Christ, it is our moral responsibility to urge you to support and protect the International Affairs Budget, and avoid disproportionate cuts to these vital programs that ensure that our country continues to be the “shining city upon a hill.”
Thank you for your consideration.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Leith Anderson, President
National Association of Evangelicals
Rich Stearns, President
World Vision USA
Bishop Gregory J. Mansour, Chairman of the Board
Catholic Relief Services
Michael W. Smith
Singer/Songwriter
Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent
Assemblies of God
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, Immediate Past President
Southern Baptist Convention
Amy Grant
Singer/Songwriter
Shirley V. Hoogstra, J.D., President
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
Tom Lin, President & CEO
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Third Day
Christian Rock Band
Jonathan Reckford, CEO
Habitat for Humanity
Mark Labberton, President
Fuller Theological Seminary
Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita
The Wesleyan Church
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone
Archbishop of San Francisco
David Wilson, General Secretary
Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President
National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
Archbishop of Louisville
Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, President & CEO
Compassion International
John Crosby, Senior Pastor
Christ Presbyterian Church
Rev. Johnnie Moore
Author
Bob Bouwer, Reverend
Faith Church (8 locations)
John K. Jenkins Sr., Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Keith Stewart, Senior Pastor
Springcreek Church
Alec Hill, President Emeritus
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Scott Arbeiter, President
World Relief Corporation
Martha Newsome, President & CEO
Medical Teams International
Ron Byler, Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee
Mike Mantel, President & CEO
Living Water International
Carol Bremer-Bennett, Executive Director
World Renew
Gary Edmonds, President & CEO
Food for the Hungry
Anita Smith, President
Children’s AIDS Fund
Shepherd Smith, President
Institute for Youth Development
Bruce Wilkinson, President & CEO
Catholic Medical Mission Board
Steve Stirling, President & CEO
MAP International
Peter Vander Meulen, Coordinator in Office of Social Justice
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Joel K. Johnson, Pastor
Westwood Community Church
James H. Barnes III, President
Bethel University
Steve Moore, Board Chair
World Relief
Deborah Smith Pegues, Board of Directors
World Vision USA
Rev. Jonathan Odom, Pastor
Asbury UMC
Dr. Mark Wilbanks, Senior Pastor
Wieuca Road Baptist Church
Dr. Stephen Treash, Senior Pastor
Black Rock Church
Laura Truax, Senior Pastor
LaSalle Street Church
Jeffrey Moes, Senior Pastor
Sunnybrook Community Church
Gino Grunberg, Co-Pastor
Harbor Christian Center
Rev. Jay Madden, Pastor for Mission
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
Chris Cramer, Pastor
Orchard Grove Community Church
Chad Hayward, Executive Director
Accord Network
Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations
National Association of Evangelicals
Scott Garber, Author
Ken Wytsma, Senior Pastor
Antioch Church
William Minchin, Pastor of Business Administration
Grace Fellowship Church
Rev. Eugene Cho, Lead Pastor & Founder
Quest Church/One Day’s Wages
Bishop Horace E. Smith, MD, Senior Pastor
Apostolic Faith Church
Ted Esler, President
Missio Nexus
Rev. Dr. Michael L. Henderson, Senior Pastor
New Beginnings Church
Dr. G. Craig Williford, President
Multnomah University
Carmen Fowler Laberge, President
Presbyterian Lay Committee
Colin P. Watson, Sr., Director of Ministries and Administration
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Dr. Don Argue, Ambassador at Large
Convoy of Hope
Scott Ridout, President
Converge
Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage, Associate Pastor
Quest Church
Gregory Loewer, Pastor for Missions,
Columbia Baptist Church
Jim Lyon, General Director
Church of God Ministries
Constantine M. Triantafilou, Executive Director & CEO
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)
Alan Robinson, National Director
Brethren in Christ, U. S.
Mark S. Young, President
Denver Seminary
Craig Barnes, President
Princeton Theological Seminary
Adam Pray, Minister
theChurch.at
Dennis Hollinger, Ph.D., President
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Alan Cureton, President
University of Northwestern
Jon Middendorf, Pastor
OKC First Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Bobby Griffith, Jr., Pastor
City Presbyterian Church
Rev. David Cassidy, Pastor
Christ Community Church
Dr. Timothy J. Brooks, Lead Pastor
South Portland Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Doug Serven, Pastor
City Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dan Claire, Rector
Church of the Resurrection
Rev. Joel St. Clair, Pastor
Mosaic Community Church
Dr. O. Alan Noble, Assistant Professor of English
Oklahoma Baptist University
Rev. Dr. Irwyn Ince Jr., Pastor
City of Hope Presbyterian Church
Rev. Russ Whitfield, Pastor
Grace Mosaic Church
The Right Rev. Dr. Steven A. Breedlove, Diocese
Christ our Hope, Anglican Church in North America
Rev. Alan Cross, Executive Director
Community Development Initiatives
Montgomery Baptist Association
Rev. Dr. James C. Howell, Senior Pastor
Myers Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Don Flowers, Jr., Senior Pastor
Providence Baptist Church
The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Archbishop
Anglican Church in North America
Dr. Chris Ellis, Minister of Mission and Outreach
Second Baptist Church
Dr. Stephen Cook, Senior Pastor
Second Baptist Church
Dr. Christopher Pollock, Lead Pastor
Midtown Church
Peter Greer, CEO
HOPE International
David W. Kendall, Bishop
Free Methodist Church, USA
David T. Roller, Bishop
Free Methodist Church, USA
Matthew A. Thomas, Bishop
Free Methodist Church, USA
Justin B. Fung, Pastor of Teaching & Formation
The District Church
Jason Surratt, Pastor of Stewardship and Global Missions
Seacoast Church
Dr. Gregg Okkesson, Dean
Asbury Theological Seminary
Stephanie Summers, CEO
Center for Public Justice
Ruth Anne Reese, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament
Asbury Theological Seminary
Brandon Heath
Singer/Songwriter
Dr. Stephen Offutt, Assistant Professor of Development Studies
Asbury Theological Seminary
Matt Maher
Singer/Songwriter
Jonathan Martin
Writer and Speaker
Aaron Graham, Lead Pastor
The District Church
cc:
President Donald Trump
Vice President Mike Pence
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson