A diverse group of Christian leaders — including Bishop Claude Alexander, Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Rev. Joel Hunter, Rev. Traci Blackmon, Dr. Leith Anderson, Jim Wallis, and dozens more— issued a statement this afternoon calling for the presidential candidates and all Americans to respect the process and outcome of today’s elections. The statement was authored by Bishop Claude Alexander, who is the senior pastor at The Park Church in Charlotte, N.C. In issuing this statement, dozens of signers from across the theological, racial, and political spectrum have come together — before the election results are known — to support the integrity of the election process and call for Congress as a body to “… put partisan politics aside and end the toxic gridlock.”
The statement reads, in part:
Having a common commitment to our Christian Faith, as well as a shared love for our country, we, the undersigned recognizing the deeply divisive nature of this election cycle, seek the beginning of the healing of our nation.
... We are grateful for the democracy in which we live. Once again, our nation endeavors to elect our next president through the democratic process. We affirm the legitimacy of the process, and therefore, call for the nation to unite around the election of the new President in recognition, acceptance, and support of the [democratic process] ... It is time for men and women of goodwill to work together towards finding solutions to the many challenges that confront the American people.
The full statement can be found as a petition on change.org, which gives readers who agree with the principles articulated by these leaders the opportunity to add their voices in support.
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