Clergy and Religious Leaders for Immediate COVID Relief

Dear Legislative Leadership,Dec. 10, 2020Thank you for your leadership in these challenging times. As clergy and faith leaders in ISAIAH and Jewish Community Action, representing Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities across Minnesota, we are urging our state elected officials to support passage of an Immediate COVID Relief Package.Our communities are struggling through record unemployment, economic hardship, and an out of control COVID pandemic. Our people are sick and they are tired. We see deep spiritual, physical, and emotional exhaustion in the faces of those we love and care for on a daily basis.Essential workers, families, small business, and unemployed people need support right now.We urge you to pass a COVID relief bill for Minnesota that includes:

• Extending unemployment benefits
• Increased funding in Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Ongoing support for house-less, renters, and homeowners in Minnesota
• A robust stimulus package for small businesses and restaurants

As leaders in our communities of faith across Minnesota, we believe all people are made in the image of God and everyone - Black, White and Brown, indigenous, new-comer and long time resident, city, suburb and rural - is inherently of the highest value and deserving of ​dignity​, inclusion,​ ​equity​ and ​redemption.​ Our faith traditions and sacred texts challenge us and our elected leaders to take care of one another in times of hardship.We also need to address the inequalities that this pandemic has continued to expose. We continue to see widening racial and economic disparities, gender gaps in the workforce, and thousands of Minnesotans struggling with rising prescription drug costs and access to quality healthcare.We ask for your to create long term solutions to enable:

• Paid Family and Medical Leave
• Access to quality Healthcare for all Minnesota, including an equitable rollout of the COVID vaccines

This would go a long way to ensuring that ALL individuals and families can survive this pandemic and thrive in the future we are building together in Minnesota.Peace and Blessings to You,Deacon Kirsten Kessel, First Lutheran Church of CrystalImam Asad Zaman, Muslim American Society of MinnesotaRev. David Landt, Mills Church, MinnetonkaRev. Amy Wick Moore, United Church of Christ in New BrightonMr. Howard Bell, Mayflower Community Congregational Church, UCCPastor Nathon Roberts, First Lutheran Church of Columbia HeightsRev. Joel Gueningsman, Immanuel Lutheran, Clara CitySandy Stracy, River of Hope Lutheran ELCA, HutchinsonMichelle Lynch, Awaken West SeventhMakram El-Amin, Masjid AnNurRandall Romsdahl. St James Lutheran in CrystalRev. Fernando Ortega, St Cyril & Methodius Catholic ChurchKatie Matson-Daley, The Beloved United Methodist ChurchSister Renee DomeierFr. Dale Korogi, Church of the AscRev. Laurie BushbaumPastor James Erlandson, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. PaulRev. Grant Abbott, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Saint PaulGrace AlworthDeacon Kevin O Connor, St Joseph the Worker Catholic ChurchMatt Rohn, 1st UCC, NorthfieldRev. Jason Wahlstrom, Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, New Hope, MNRev. Eliot Howard, Linden Hills UCCRev. Penny Entringer, United Church of ChristPastor Rolland Swanson, Oak Grove Lutheran, Richfield, MN (ELCA)Rev. Jan Wiersma, Community Presbyterian Church, RochesterRev. Justin Grimm, Saint Paul Area Synod ELCAMary Koon, Oak Grove Presbyterian ChurchRev. Christine Beebe, St. John’s Episcopal ChurchRev. Bonnie Wilcox, First Lutheran, Columbia HeightsRev. Victoria Safford, White Bear UU Church, MahtomediRev. Penelope Tower, Mayflower UCC MinneapolisRev. Hans Jorgensen, St Timothy Lutheran ChurchTim MarburgerNancy StormRev. Dr. Mark WegenerRev. Joan Conroy, Lutheran Church of the RedeemerRev. Jennifer Thul, Resurrection Lutheran ChurchSister Barbara ThomallaRev. Alison Hendley, Clearwater UMCRev. Karen Larson, Zwingli United Church of ChristPatrick McCorkellMs. Jacqueline Falk, Pilgrim UCC Duluth MNKari PancoastJeffrey RonningRev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries, Edina Morningside United Church of ChristAndrew WrightMeta Herrick Carlson, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin CitiesPastor Melissa Pohlman, Central Lutheran ChurchRev. Kelli WeissRev. Mary Kay Sauter, United Church of Christ. Plymouth Congregational ChurchRichard Bridston, Retired Lutheran pastor, member Lutheran Church of PeaceRev. Sarah Campbell, Mayflower UCC churchMichael Buerke, Mercy Vineyard Church, MPLSVicar Kelly Sandin, House of Prayer Lutheran ChurchNatalia Terfa, Price of Peace Lutheran ChurchRev. Gretchen RodeMrs. Roxanne SmithDeacon Krista Anderson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaSiri Strommen, Atonement Lutheran ChurchPastor Robert HoytRev. T. Michael Rock, Robbinsdale Parkway UCCImam Mohamed Omar, Dar Alfarooq CenterRev. Miriam Samuelson-RobertsRev. Ashley Osborn, Valley of PeaceJames TriplettImam Mohammed Dukuly, Masjid Al Ansar Islamic community center, Brooklyn CenterReverend Vanessa Bradby, New Spirit United Church of ChristPastor Ben M. Sandin, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, RichfieldJanice Fitzgibbon, Retired Pastor, ELCAIman JafriLisa Lynott-Carroll, United Church of ChristRev. Rob Smith, Spirit of Life PresbyterianRev. Cj Valenti, Zion Lutheran Church, MinneapolisRev. Lisa Johnson, Presbyterian Church of OronocoCharles CurryRev. Debbie Blue, House of MercyDavid Johnston, My Bethel UMCKyle GiermannImam Sharif MohamedRev. Javen Swanson, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Saint PaulAhmad Abuatieh, MosqueRev. Trudy Cretsinger, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Saint PaulRev. Oby Ballinger, Edina Morningside Community ChurchMinister Kimi Floyd Reisch, Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of ChristRev. Dan Doering, People of Hope (ELCA)Greg Bolt, First Presbyterian Church Red WingRev. Salim KaderbhaiRev. Beth Royalty, Calvary Episcopal Church, RochesterRev. Hannah Bergstrom De Leon, Minneola Lutheran Church, Goodhue MN, ELCAMary FielPastor Patrick ZiemsRev. Kristin Maier, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of NorthfieldTammy WilkinsonRev. Ruth MacKenzieKelly Mortvedt, Mercy Vineyard ChurchRev. Maria Anderson-Lippert, Christ the King Lutheran Church, BloomingtonMs. Lauren Morse-Wendt, Edina Community Lutheran ChurchHeather PetersonJoshua Peterson, ChurchLeah Springer, Union UCC, SLPColin Maltbie, The Cathedral of Our Merciful SaviourNicole Rockne, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Rochester MNBenjamin LovenAnna Helgen, Edina Community Lutheran ChurchFather Henry DoyleMichael Tippett, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, OwatonnaJoan AndersonAscension LutheranJillian HambergAndrew Yackel, Urland Lutheran Church, ELCADr. Theresa MasonErica Cunningham, Salem Lutheran Church, Albert LeaRev. Karsten Nelson, Our Redeemer Lutheran St PaulMr. Christian Briones, Mayflower ChurchRev. Francis FriedRev. Eric Hoffer, Salem Lutheran Church -- North MinneapolisKai NilsenMartin A M Erickson III, Mayflower Community Congregational Church, UCCPeter Anderson, Peace Catalyst InternationalDr. Nan Aalborg, Mayflower United Church of Christ, Minneapolis, MinnesotaStephanie Obrien, Mill City ChurchGreg PerkinsonNickolas FoxMs. Nancy EderCassie Smith, Mercy Vineyard ChurchRev. Tim MaybeeRev. Bonnie Forsman, United Church of ChristMrs. Rebecca GambleElizabeth FeltThomas Major, Mayflower Community Congregational, UCC - MinneapolisRev. Katherine Chatelaine-SamsenBilly Frick, Mercy VineyardHelen Maddix, Mayflower UCCMarykaye Ashley, Humble Walk Lutheran, Saint PaulMark Spencer, Bridgewood Community ChurchRev. Carolyn Philstrom, Christ the King Lutheran ChurchGary Titusdahl, Mayflower UCCKat Reynolds, St Anthony Park United Church of ChristRev. Dwight Stuart Wagenius, Mayflower UCC MplsDiane Gardner, Mayflower United Church of ChristRev. Lawrence RichardsonRev. Theresa Roos, Mayflower UCC Church, MinneapolisRev. Janice Skogstrom, United Church of ChristKate Payton, United MethodistRosine Tenenbaum, I am one of the Friends (Quakers) in WinonaMrs. Shanon Nowell, First Lutheran Church-Saint PeterElizabeth HarlisOrville SauterMr. Thom Haines, Mayflower UCC MplsMs. Hanna Campbell GustafsonKay BrownMs. Theresa Dolata, Saint Joan of Arc Catholic CommunityRev. Rick King, Falcon Heights United Church of ChristSister Michelle Walka, ELCAPastor Mark Van Steenwyk, The Center for Prophetic ImaginationFr. Jim Radde, Ascension Parish, MinneapolisJessi Leclear Vachta, First Lutheran Church of Columbia HeightsRev. Jane McBride, First Congregational Church of MN, UCCMs. Margaret Thompson, MayflowerUnited Church of ChristDeWayne Hill, High Praise MinisteriesRev. Nikki FrontzGael Ziemer, Gloria DeiDr. Val MoellerLinda McCollough, Red Wing UMCRev. Jennifer Rome, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, St. PaulRev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers, Mayflower United Church of Christ, MinneapolisJodie Maruska, UCC First CongregationalRev. Mary Shaffer, Mayflower UCCSarah ClarkRev. Rory Philstrom, Christ the King Lutheran Church - Bloomington, MNJoe Orner, ELCAMelody Olson, Awaken CommunityRev. Sara MorseDavid Hahn, St Joan of Arc Catholic CommunityRev. Coqui Conkey, Associated Church, OwatonnaRev. Amanda SimonsWendy Vanderhart, First United Church of Christ, Northfield, MNRev. Carolyn Fure-SlocumMinister JaNaé Bates, Camphor Memorial United Methodist ChurchRev. Daniel Streeper, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Oakdale Mn.Rev. Cynthia Riggin, Lynnhurst Congregational United Church of ChristRev. Michael MandsagerRev. Andrew Davis, Union PresbyterianRev. David Tillman, United Church of Christ in New BrightonRev. Clark Cary, Bethel Lutheran-NorthfieldRev. Luke Roske-Metcalfe, Presbytery of the Twin Cities AreaDr. Adam Whitten, First United Methodist Church of the St Cloud RegionRev. Todd Lippert, Mayflower United Church of ChristRev. Ali Ferin, St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Roseville MNRev. Corrine Haulotte, Lutheran Campus Center of WinonaRev. Pam Stalheim-Lane, Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran ChurchRev. Laura Beth Gatzke, Living Table United Church of Christ, MinneapolisAnita Bradshaw, Mayflower United Church of ChristRev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel, Lyndale United Church of ChristCathy Kolwey, United Church of ChristRev. Luke Stevens-Royer, First Unitarian Universalist Church of RochesterRev. Chris McArdle, Anoka United Church of Christ (First Congregational)Rev. Clare Gromoll, St. Paul’s UCCVicki LambertErika Sanborne, United Church of ChristDawn Carlson Conn, Robbinsdale Parkway UCCPastor Ole Olson, United Faith Community UCC, Buffalo, MN