Below is an open letter signed by more than 100 faith leaders across Georgia. This joint letter was composed by the collective group of faith leaders to lend their collective support for Reverend Raphael Warnock’s historic bid for the U.S. Senate. Last Tuesday, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant hosted a conference call to galvanize clergy from all corners of the state on behalf of Rev. Warnock.
The record-breaking turnout during the first few days of early voting has shown that voters in Georgia are engaged, excited, and ready to make their voices heard in the 2020 election. It also shows that many Georgians are concerned with the direction of our state and our country and that there is a desire for new, audacious, and progressive leadership. We know what’s at stake because we are living in the surreality of a year unrivaled by anything we’ve ever experienced. The COVID-19 global pandemic has proven the fragility of so much that we take for granted and has affirmed that without question — leadership matters.
As bishops, pastors and faith leaders, many of us have been stretched beyond our perceived capacity to lead families and communities through the unprecedented chaos and calamity of 2020. We have endeavored to stay positive, encouraging, and hopeful even as so many who look to us for guidance and assurance find themselves closer to the brink of financial, emotional, and mental ruin. Indeed, these are perilous times, but our faith teaches us that hope and optimism are always available to us if we earnestly and actively pursue it. A glimmer of hope can present itself in many forms but for this state and in this season, hope is personified by the opportunity to elect a transformational leader like Dr. Raphael Warnock to the United States Senate.
We stand united behind Raphael Warnock because he is the principled and progressive leader that Georgia and this country needs. He will be an authentic and effective voice in the Senate. He will be uncompromising in the fight to protect the interest of working families in our state and he will bring civility and grace to our politics which is too often divisive and vitriolic at the expense of progress. He competently wields the spirit of an activist with the heart of a bridge-builder. He is steeped in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr., Congressman John Lewis, and Fannie Lou Hamer to organize, strategize and mobilize those of goodwill in the pursuit of fairness, equity, and justice for those too often marginalized and unseen by our decision-makers. As a pastor, he understands who and what he is fighting for; and he realizes that to achieve transformative progress for communities in need, it will take all of us working together and pulling together in one direction.
As Georgians from every corner of the state head to the polls in this election, we are blessed to have Raphael Warnock fighting for us. A Morehouse man, rooted in good Savannah soil, Warnock represents the next best opportunity to make real the promise of what Henry Grady and Maynard Jackson called the New South, ripe with opportunity and prosperity for all God’s children. This is our moment to forge a new path, to illuminate a new perspective, and to turn up the volume with a new voice in D.C. by supporting Raphael Warnock.
-Collectively signed and united in faith for Rev. Raphael Warnock:
Alonia Jones, Dream to Destiny Ministries, Inc.
Bishop Frances V. Mills, Tabernacle of Faith Christian Church
Bishop Johnathan Alvarado, D.min, Senior Pastor of Grace Church International and Dean, The Joint
College of African American Pentecostal Bishops
Bishop Kent Branch, Pilgrim Cathedral
Bishop Ruth W. Smith, Light of the World Covenant Fellowship Worldwide, Stockbridge, Ga.
Bishop William H. Murphy, III, The dReam Center Church of Atlanta
Dr. Brian Keith Hodges, Gathering of Champions Church, Marietta, Ga.
Dr. Craig L. Oliver, Pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church
Dr. Francys Georgia, Pastor in Statesboro, Georgia
Dr. Francys Johnson, Magnolia Baptist Church, Statesboro, Ga.
Dr. Grace C. Washington, Pastor of Love Life Christian Fellowship Church
Dr. I. E. Mack, Pastor of Unionville Baptist Church
Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, Senior Pastor, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. Martha Simmons
Hud J.A. Nation of Islam, Columbus, Georgia
Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Ordained minister
Ms. Armelia Cartier, Faith Leader Activist Hosea Williams feed the homeless
Pastor Bob Thompson, Founder Compassionate Atlanta
Pastor Charles Hamilton, Pastor of New Morning Light Baptist Church
Pastor Christine Chavis, Atlanta, Georgia
Pastor Emeritus Gerald Durley, Providence Missionary Baptist
Pastor Karl D. Moore, Clarkston First Baptist Church
Pastor Le’Zaire D. Reese, Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church
Pastor Tyler Joshua Green, Founder/President of The United Churches of America
Pastor Wanda Ackles, Senior Pastor of New Directions Ministries
Pastor Will D. Hayes, Pastor Atlanta, Georgia
Rabbi Edward Harwitz, Head of school, Weber School
Rabbi Peter Berg, The Temple Atlanta
Reverend Adrian Burgess, St. Mary’s Rd. United Methodist, Columbus, Georgia
Reverend Adrian Chester, Greater Beallwood Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga.
Reverend Adrienne Fenner, clergy Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Alan Jenkins, Social activist and humanist Atlanta
Reverend Allen Hollie, Green Forest Baptist Church, Atlanta
Reverend Allison Henderson-Brooks, MDiv.
Reverend Andre Osbourne, Savannah
Reverend Andrea Franklin True Vine Worship and Deliverance Center, Columbus, Georgia
Reverend Annika Culbreath, Associate Pastor Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
Reverend Antonio Grissom, Sr. Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Atlanta
Reverend Basean Jackson, Lead Pastor of Fellowship of Love Church
Reverend Bernard Clark, African Methodist Episcopal Church clergy
Reverend Brady Radford, Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Decatur, Ga.
Reverend Brandon Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia
Reverend Brian Tillman
Reverend Brittany Powell, Pastor and activist
Reverend Burrell Billingslea, Seminarian ITC
Reverend Candace White, Seminary graduate of ITC 2020
Reverend Cassandry Redmond Keys, CME District Superintendent Greenville, SC
Reverend Charles Fischer, III, Episcopal clergy former Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal, Atlanta
Reverend Chaz Gipson, Associate Pastor Beulah Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Cherry Devore, Clergy in Atlanta
Reverend Chester Ellis, St. Paul Baptist Church, Savannah
Reverend Christi Jackson, associate Pastor Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church
Reverend CJ White (President Emerita), Morehouse School of Religion Baptist Fellowship
Reverend Clarence “Teddy” Williams Pilgrim Baptist Church, Savannah
Reverend Curtis Crocker, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia
Reverend Damon Byrd, clergy in Atlanta
Reverend Danielle Brown, young activist and Pastor in Atlanta, Georgia
Reverend Deewoine Davis, seminarian Atlanta
Reverend Dennis Patterson, Jr., Priest-in-Charge at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, Decatur, Ga.
Reverend Dr. Andrew J. Young, II
Reverend Dr. Antoinette G. Alvarado, Pastor of Grace Church International
Reverend Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight, Professor Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Reverend Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr. Senior Pastor Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga.
Reverend Dr. Clarence “Teddy” Williams, Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church
Reverend Dr. Cynthia Hale, Pastor, Ray of Hope Disciples of Christ
Reverend Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr. Senior Pastor Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church (House of Hope)
Reverend Dr. Eric Wendel Lee, Sr., D.min. Pastor of Springfield Baptist Church of Conyers, Georgia
Reverend Dr. Joseph Williams, Senior Pastor of Salem Bible Church
Reverend Dr. Joshua M. Noblitt, Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Dr. Kevin Murriel
Reverend Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr., Founding Dean of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. International
Chapel
Reverend Dr. Michael D. Stinson, Lead Pastor of East Point First Mallalieu UMC
Reverend Dr. Olu Brown, Impact United Methodist, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Dr. Robert Brown, Savannah
Reverend Dr. Steven N. Dial Sr., Rainbow Park Baptist Church
Reverend Dr. T. DeWitt Smith, Jr. Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of Metro Atlanta.
Reverend Dr. William E. Flippin, Jr., Lutheran Pastor (ELCA) and Social Activist
Reverend Dr. William E. Flippin, Sr., Senior Pastor of Greater Piney Grove
Reverend Elisha Browder Gray, Evangelist Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Emmitt Anniton, Friendship Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia
Reverend Eric Carswell, President of the Baptist Minister’s Union Laurens and surrounding counties
Reverend Evita L. Smith, Pastor in Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Fred Douglass Taylor, Associate Pastor Trinity Baptist Church, Metro Atlanta.
Reverend George Moore, clergy African Methodist Episcopal
Reverend J. H. Flakes, III Fourth Street Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia
Reverend Jennifer Watley, Maxell, Smyrna, Ga.
Reverend Jermaine A. Smith, Pastor in Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Joy Ricart Brown, retired United Methodist Pastor
Reverend Kimberly Jackson, Associate Rector of All Saints Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Kristie Roberts-Lewis, pastor in Atlanta, Georgia
Reverend Ladonna Williams, pastor in Atlanta, Georgia
Reverend Leela Brown Waller, AME Pastor
Reverend Marco George, First African Baptist Savannah
Reverend Marion Brooks, Savannah
Reverend Mark Lawrence, Mt. Olive Baptist Church (Fortson, Ga.)
Reverend Markel Hutchins, Human & Civil Rights Activist
Reverend Matthew Jenkins, pastor of Greater Elizabeth Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Matthew Southall Brown, Jr.
Reverend Matthew Southall Brown, Sr. Pastor Emeritus St. John’s “Mighty Fortress” Savannah, Georgia
Reverend Matthew Williams, President Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta
Reverend Nancy Christensen, Senior Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA), Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Norman Thomas, Jr., Pastor of First Baptist Gresham Road.
Reverend Portia Wills Lee, Senior Pastor Trinity Tabernacle Baptist Church, Smyrna, Georgia
Reverend R.L. White, Jr. Pastor, Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Reggie Williams, South Columbus UMC, Columbus, Ga.
Reverend Reginald Jackson, Bishop A.M.E. Church
Reverend Richard C. Flippin Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
Reverend Ronald Bonner, Associate Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Reverend Senegal, Savannah, Ga.
Reverend T. DeWitt Smith, Jr. Pastor Trinity Baptist Church, Atlanta
Reverend T. Renee Crutcher
Reverend Terrie Patterson MPA, M Div.
Reverend Thaddeus Spencer, New Providence Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia
Reverend Thomas L. Hart, Associate Pastor Brownsville Baptist Church, Savannah
Reverend Thurmond Neil Tillman, First African Baptist Church, Savannah
Reverend Timothy McDonald, Senior Pastor First Iconium Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Reverend Torey C. Fountain, Pastor of Sandy Ford Baptist Church, Dublin, Ga.
Reverend Vincent Bell, The Edge Church, Columbus, Ga.
Reverend Vinton Copeland, Powell Baptist Church, Talbotton, Ga.
Reverend Waylon Knight, West Mount Sinai Baptist Church, Barnesville, Ga.
Reverend Wendell Dandridge, Jr., Clergy Atlanta
Reverend Wesley Snell, Jr. Clergy Atlanta
Reverend William E. Flippin, Sr. Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
Reverend William M. Townsend, IV, Founding and Managing Director Preachers for the People
Reverend Xavier Creekmur, Second African Baptist Church, Savannah
Reverend Yasmeen Hailes, Associate Minister Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
Reverend, Dr. Louis L. Ferguson, Sr. Pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Reverend, Dr. William Holmes Robinson, Pastor of The Olivet Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Subash Raaz, President of the Gandhi Foundation of America
Dr. Toni Belin Ingram, Presiding Elder Augusta North District 6th Episcopal District AME Church
Pastor Carlos L. Kelly, Union Baptist Church Macon
Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Senior Pastor, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
Pastor Eric Lee, Springfield Baptist Church
Bishop-Elect A. J. Croone, Senior Pastor, Redeeming Love Christian Church
Pastor Tolan Morgan, Fellowship Bible Baptist Church, Macon, Ga.
Pastor Aaron Jones III Mount Nebo Baptist Church and Life Center, Atlanta Ga
Rev. Dr. Avis E. Williams, Community Transformation, Lake Oconee Community Church, GA
Rev Charles Maxell, Jr., Senior Pastor, The Breakthrough Fellowship, Smyrna, GA
Pastor Debbie Hawkins, the Senior Pastor of Face of Victory Church
Dr. Charles Goodman, Jr., Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta, GA
Dr. Billie Boyd-Cox, Senior Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church
United in faith for Rev. Raphael Warnock
