Community Corner

Unitarian Universalist Ministers Protest Troy Davis Execution

The pastors, in a joint statement, said Georgia killed "a jailed, unarmed man and called it justice."

Pastors with area Unitarian Universalist churches, including the , joined together to protest the execution of Troy Davis last week. It's a strong statement. After you read it, tell us what your thoughts are.

Our hearts are torn.  We are proud to live in a nation where Officer Macphail was willing to put his life in danger in order to protect a homeless person.  And we are ashamed to live a nation where Troy Davis was executed in the face of so much doubt.  With spirits worn low, we offer the following prayer:

Spirit of Life and Love,

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forgive us for not having the strength or wisdom to stop the state of Georgia from committing premeditated killing in our names;

forgive us for permitting our society to kill a jailed unarmed man and call it justice;

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forgive us for tolerating a judicial system that, at all levels, renders decisions that are neither reasonable nor merciful;

forgive us for allowing the voices of Jesus Christ, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elie Wiesel, Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, and others to be drowned out by grief, vengeance, ideology and political pandering;

forgive us for sacrificing the life of Troy Davis in the hope that our communities, our state, and our nation will find the resolve to say “never again.”

With broken hearts, but with resurgent spirits that we shall overcome,

Rev. Jeff Jones, Unitarian Universalist Minister, Marietta, GA

Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister, UU Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Rev. Dr. Barry T. Whittemore, Minister, Georgia Mountains UU Church, Dahlonega, GA

Rev. Marti Keller, Minister, UU Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Rev. Paul D. Daniel, Minister, UU Metro Atlanta North Congregation, Roswell, GA

Rev. Jeff Briere, Minister, UU Church of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN

Rev. Dr. Morris Hudgins, Interim Minister, Northwest UU Congregation, Sandy Springs, GA

Rev. Rhett D. Baird, Minister, High Street UU Church, Macon, GA

Rev. Dr. Edward Frost, Senior Minister Emeritus, UU Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Norm Horofker, Candidate for Ministry, UU Fellowship of Columbus, Columbus, GA


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