Over 300 Christian ethicists release statement denouncing racism

A group consisting of more than 300 Christian theologians and ethicist has released a statement condemning racism following the clash at the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month.

"White supremacy and racism deny the dignity of each human being revealed through the Incarnation. The evil of white supremacy and racism must be brought face-to-face before the figure of Jesus Christ, who cannot be confined to any one culture or nationality," the statement read, according to Sojourners.

"Through faith we proclaim that God the Creator is the origin of all human persons. In the words of Frederick Douglass, 'Between the Christianity of this land and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference,'" it continued.

The group also denounced the "America First" doctrine for fueling xenophobia and emboldening hate groups to publicly practice their supremacist and nationalist ideals.

The statement was written by Tobias Winright, Associate Professor of Theological Ethics at Saint Louis University; MT Dávila, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Andover Newton Theological School; Anna Floerke Scheid, Associate Professor of Theology at Duquesne University, and Matthew Tapie, Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University. It was released before President Donald Trump's news conference in which he blamed both protesters and counter-protesters for the violence at the Charlottesville rally.

The signers pledged to reject white supremacy and called on every Christian leader in every denomination to denounce hate-filled ideals in their congregation, reminding them that every person is created in God's image.

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and the World Evangelical Alliance have also issued public condemnations of white supremacy and racism following the Charlottesville unrest. The NAE contended that racism should be addressed in communities of faith regularly, and not only after tragic events.

The organization further noted that the evangelical movement in the U.S. is comprised of diverse ethnic groups, with evangelical beliefs being held by 44 percent of African Americans, 30 percent of Hispanics, 29 percent of whites and 17 percent of people from other ethnicities.

On Friday, about a dozen Christian leaders participated in a conference call organized by Civilitas Group president Doug Birdsall to share their thoughts on the incident.

"We want to hear of the pain and anger from African American leaders, and we want to hear the resolve and commitment from white leaders," Birdsall stated.

"We also want to hear the pain and anger from white leaders, and the resolve, commitment, and vision of African American leaders," he added.

The group suggested possible ideas for moving on, including a meeting with Trump or Vice President Mike Pence, writing to the president's religious advisers, or urging Christian educators to address individual and systemic racism.

Other participants in the conference call included Wheaton College president Philip Ryken, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church pastor John Ortberg, and Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) president Shirley Hoogstra.