BATAVIA/Local Clergy release letter delivered to Cornerstone Church after 90-minute meeting on Saturday

According to Pastor Jim Morasco, from Morganville United Church of Christ in Stafford, the group met for about an hour and a half.  He says they were cordial with each of them, explaining their sides.

After the meeting on Saturday, it appears there has been no change.

“The pastor made it clear that he wasn’t going to cancel the event,” says Morasco.  Morasco says an associate pastor from Cornerstone Church and his wife were also involved in the meeting with Pastor Doyle.

————————————————-Provided letter——————————————-

Dear Pastor Doyle, July 30, 2022
We come to you in the Spirit of Christian love trusting the bond that we share in Jesus Christ. We are
appealing to you to withdraw your invitation to host the Reawaken America Tour at your church in Batavia.
Here are some of our concerns about this:

1. Inciting Violence and Hatred: The speakers for this event mix militant language with religious imagery while speaking of life-and-death stakes, building an implicit permission structure for audience members to commit political violence in the name of God. Although few speakers have exposed themselves to prosecution by explicitly calling for violence – strategically leaving themselves room for plausible deniability – they allow their audience to connect the dots by downplaying past political violence committed in God’s name, demonizing their political opponents as “Team Satan,” and urging supporters to win the battle for God against their fellow Americans. At least seven of the tour’s top speakers have ties to the Proud Boys or were involved in planning and executing the January 6th insurrection, which wounded more than 140 police officers yet is defended at
   most tour stops. Batavia is a small, peaceful community, and it is our moral responsibility to protect it from any potential for violence.
2. Dividing Americans: The false claims of the speakers of this tour about the 2020 election, the stated vision for only one religion in our nation of religious freedom, the demonization of political opponents, and the continued attacks on our democracy are all attempts to divide Americans, pitting us against us each other. This kind of division and hate hurts communities and makes us vulnerable to more violence. We do not have to share political views to reject the hateful rhetoric and divisive language of this event and its speakers. As Jesus says, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.” Luke 17:11b
3. Distorting Christianity with Nationalism: We are so concerned that the name of Jesus is used by this
   tour’s speakers to advance an exclusivist vision of our country as a “Christian nation,” even to the point of one prominent speaker urging pastors to preach the Constitution more than we do the Bible. Seeking political power and domination of others is the opposite of what Jesus taught us about loving our neighbors. Christianity is a global religion, and America is a place that cherishes religious freedom for all people. We are patriots who love our country, yet we cannot let patriotism become a false idol. We have an American identity and a Christian identity, but they are separate.
   We prayerfully urge you to cancel hosting this tour to protect our town from having to deal with division, hate, and violence in the name of Christ. Please let us know by Tuesday, August 2 what your intentions are about this event. We are holding you in our prayers as you discern.
   
   

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Roula Alkhouri (Presbyterian -Batavia)
Ruth E. Andes, Racial Justice Working Group, Genesee Valley Presbytery and Byron Presbyterian Church
Rev. Joy Bergfalk
Rev. David R. Glassmire, (Roman Catholic, Pastor Ascension Parish -Batavia)
Rev. Bob Kaiser (Presbyterian -Rochester)
Deacon Diana Leiker (Episcopalian -Akron)
Rev. Dr. Shiela McCullough (Chaplain -Batavia)
Rev. James Morasco (American Baptist and United Church of Christ – Batavia)
Rev. Laurel Nelson (Presbyterian -Dansville)
Rev. Elaine Page (Chaplain -Batavia)
Rev. Jimmy Reader
Rev. Chava Redonnet (Chaplain -Rochester)
Rev. Jim Renfrew (Presbyterian -Byron)
Pastor Mark Ross (Presbyterian -Batavia)
Pastor Brad Smith and the Attica First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Michael Stuart (Presbyterian -Batavia)
Jim Tappon (Elder – Irondequoit Presbyterian Church)
Lucia VerTseeg (Presbyterian -Rochester)
Rev. Evan Wildhack (Presbyterian -Corfu)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The group also sent along written illustration from the ReAwaken America Tour with the letter to back up their above claims.