This weekend, white nationalists will descend on Tennessee, in both Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, for a “White Lives Matter” rally. As Christian leaders in Tennessee, we declare ourselves in resolute opposition to this expression of racism and white supremacy. We denounce and repudiate white supremacy as a work of the devil, designed to dehumanize and divide. Ideologies that declare the white race as superior are an assault against the Word of God, which declares that every human being is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity and respect (Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Peter 2:17; James 3:9). These ideologies stand in opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which reconciles, in Christ’s body, people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Ephesians 2:15; Galatians 3:28; Revelation 7:9).
Racism and white supremacy are, sadly, not extinct but present all over the world in various white supremacist movements, sometimes known as “white nationalism” or “alt-right.” History shows that indifference, by the church, allows such evil to flourish. We must not only declare racism to be wrong, we must oppose specific acts and movements that would degrade and dehumanize our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We call every follower of Jesus in the state of Tennessee to speak out against white supremacy, in all of its forms, and to pray and work for racial unity in our communities. We also pray for those who advocate racist ideologies and those who are thereby deceived, that they may see their error through the light of the Gospel, repent of these hatreds, and come to know the peace and love of Christ through redeemed fellowship in the Kingdom of God.
*Please note that the title and institution listed for each signatory is used for identification purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an official endorsement by the institution.
Russell Moore
President
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Trevor Atwood
Lead Pastor
City Church, Murfreesboro
Bruce Chesser
Lead Pastor
First Baptist Church of Hendersonville
Stephen Cook
Senior Pastor
Second Baptist Church of Memphis
Jed Coppenger
Lead Pastor
Redemption City Church
Travis Cottrell
Worship Pastor
Englewood Baptist Church
Daryl Crouch
Lead Pastor
Green Hill Church
Tom Crow
Executive Pastor
First Baptist Nashville
Randy Davis
Executive Director
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
Ken Duggan
Senior Pastor
Dallas Bay Baptist Church
Todd Erickson
Pastoral Executive
Second Presbyterian Church
Nathan Finn
Professor
Union University
Micah Fries
Senior Pastor
Brainerd Baptist Church
Steve Gaines
Senior Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Gerson Garros
Associate Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church, Memphis
Chuck Groover
Senior Pastor
Victory Baptist Church
Mike Harder
Lead Pastor
Green Hills Church
Richard Hipps
Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church, Memphis
Pat Hood
Senior Pastor
LifePoint Church
Cole Huffman
Senior Pastor
First Evangelical Church, Memphis
Daniel Johnson
Associate Minister
2nd Baptist Church of Memphis
Barton Kimbro
Assistant Pastor to Young Adults
Second Presbyterian Church
Frank Lewis
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Nashville
Tom McCoy
Senior Pastor
Thompson Station Baptist Church
Matt McCullough
Pastor
Trinity Nashville
Gary Morgan
Lead Pastor
Mosaic Church
Dub Oliver
President
Union University
Ray Ortlund
Lead Pastor
Immanuel Nashville
Frank Page
President and Chief Executive Officer
Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention
Scott Patty
Pastor
Grace Community Church
Matt Pinson
President
Welch College
Larry Riley
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Clarksville
Richard Rieves
Lead Pastor
Downtown Church of Memphis
George Robertson
Senior Pastor
Second Presbyterian Church
Mark Satterfield
Executive Pastor
Clearview Baptist Church
Scott Sauls
Senior Pastor
Christ Presbyterian Church
Andy Savage
Teaching Pastor
Highpoint Memphis
Dan Scott
Senior Pastor
Christ Church Nashville
Jeff Simmons
Lead Pastor
Rolling Hills Community Church
Danny Sinquefield
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Rufus Smith
Senior Pastor
Hope Church, Memphis
Rondell Trevino
Pastor
Woodland Presbyterian
Tony Walliser
Senior Pastor
Silverdale Baptist Church
Brett Wynne
Pastoral Resident
Second Presbyterian Church
Chris Williamson
Senior Pastor
Strong Tower Bible Church
