For Immediate Release Contact: Paul Graham - (513) 505-1960

March 2, 2001 Rev. Troy Jackson – (513) 314-3392

Clergy to Ohio Legislators: No on SB-5

Clergy call for Unity, not partisan division

Nearly 100 clergy from across the state of Ohio have signed a faith statement opposing Senate
Bill 5, and in support of the state’s current collective bargaining law. The signatures were
collected in less than a week, and are listed below.

“I fully support the right of public sector employees of Ohio State Government to form unions
for the purpose of just and fair collective bargaining,” said Rev. Hart Edmonds, of Kenney
Heights Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. “The tough economic times we are facing as a state
and nation were not brought on by public employees. Like all Americans our state must face
these challenging times with fairness for all citizens rather than pitting one group of people
against another.”

The text of the letter is:

Over the past few years, people throughout the nation have experienced an
onslaught of economic difficulties. Foreclosures and unemployment have led to
major budget shortfalls for the nation, for states, for communities, and for
families. One way to respond to this economic and budget crisis is to come
together, seek common solutions, and commit to shared sacrifice. The other
option is to blame, attack, and scapegoat. Unfortunately, Ohio Senate Bill 5 takes
the low road by attacking public sector employees. We are disappointed and
frustrated that some of our leaders are pointing fingers and participating in
partisan bickering instead of seeking common ground to move Ohio forward.
Senate Bill 5, a bill that will not save Ohio any money, is an outright attempt to
attack hard working people in Ohio rather than seriously address Ohio’s future.

As faith leaders, we firmly believe that all people offer something to advance
prosperity in Ohio. All people, made in the image and likeness of God, deserve
fair compensation for the fruits of their labor. Collective Bargaining, a fair
approach for workers to join with government leaders, helps ensure responsible
pay and benefits in addition to monitoring workplace safety.

We are reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. As some in our state
are intent on bullying and casting aside hard-working public sector employees, we
as faith leaders refuse to pass by on the other side of the road. Instead, we are
committed to follow the road of healing and shared prosperity marked out by the
Good Samaritan, who stood in solidarity with the wounded and vulnerable.

Forty-three years ago, in late winter 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. decided he
could not walk by the plight facing public sector sanitation workers in Memphis,
 Tennessee. The African American workers wanted a union to ensure safety and
protection and fair wages for their difficult task. The slogan of the Memphis effort
was “I am a Man” trumpeting their human dignity and value. King sacrificed his
life in Memphis standing with public sector workers. As partners in the
redemptive work of Dr. King, we as faith leaders in Ohio commit ourselves to
standing with public sector workers today.

We call on Ohio’s Governor, State Senate, and State House of Representatives to

solve our state’s budget challenges not through blaming and division, but as
King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” suggests, by sitting down together at “the table
of brotherhood.” Our elected leaders need to bring people and sectors together,
not divide. Senate Bill 5 is an attempt to divide, and should be voted down. Ohio
needs real solutions, shared sacrifice, and unity, and we therefore stand with
workers during these challenging days.

Signers:

Title First Last Name Congregation City

Name
Dr. Troy Jackson University Christian Church Cincinnati
The Rev. Paula M Jackson Church of Our Saviour/Iglesia Cincinnati
Nuestro Salvador
The Rev. Canon Joanna Leiserson Christ Church Cathedral Cincinnati
Rev. Jim Schutte St. Leo Church Cincinnati
PASTOR MICHAEL HARRIS BODY OF CHRIST CHRISTIAN CINTI
CHURCH
Executive Director David Johnson Xavier University Cincinnati
of the Center for
Faith and Justice
Sister Barbara Busch Sisters of Charity Cincinnati
Pastor Dr. Posey St. John-St. Paul AME Zion Cincinnati, Ohio
Michael J. Church 425 Forest Avenue 45229
The Rev deniray mueller Episcopal Diocese of Columbus
Southern Ohio
Rev. Robert Erickson United Methodist Columbus
Rev Joel Miller Cincinnati Mennonite Cincinnati
Fellowship
Brother Mike Murphy Marianists Cincinnati
Pastor Peterson Mingo Christ Temple Full Gospel Cincinnati, Ohio
Missionary Baptist Church
Nicole DeGreg Clifton United Methodist Cincinnati, OH
Church
Rev. John Edgar United Methodist Church for Columbus
All People
Pastor Gregory Chandler Sr Interdenominational Cincinnati
Ministerial Alliance of
 Greater Cincinnati
Reverend Frank A Edmands Trinity Episcopal Church London
Brother Nathan Myers Vineyard Central Norwood
Mother Cynthia Higgins Ile Omo Olofi Akron/ NY
Pastor Randy Murphy Trinity Community Church Cincinnati
Rev Susan Bryan Mount Auburn Presbyterian Cincinnati
Quinn
Rev. Hart Edmonds Kennedy Heights Cincinnati
Presbyterian Church
Rev Mike Underhill Nexus United Church of Hamilton - Liberty,
Christ Fairfield, and West
Chester Townships
The Rev. Dr. Bradley Pace St. John's Episcopal Church Youngstown
Reverend Sharon Dittmar First Unitarian Universalists Cincinnati
The Rev. Dr. Dan Schomer Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Canfield, Ohio
Rev. Patricia Clary Mt.Auburn Presbyterian Cincinnati
Father Jorge Ochoa San Carlos Borromeo Cincinnati
Sister Joyce Kahle Sisters of the Precious Blood Cincinnati
Sister Joan Hartlaub Bellarmine Chapel Cincinnati
Sister Evelyn LaGory Congration of St. Joseph Cincinnati
Pastor Dee Emmert Emmanuel Lutheran Church Warren
Pastor Dee Emmert Emmanuel Lutheran Church Warren
Past President Karolyn Schalk Unitarian Universalist Council Cincinnati
of Greater Cincinnati
Rev .Dr. Jocelyn Roper Gaines United Methodist Cincinnati
Imam Ilyas Nashid Cincinnati Islamic Community Cincinnati, Ohio
Center
Mr. William Johnson St. Robert Bellarmine 45157
Elder Robert Ault Church of the Covenant Cleveland
Rev. Paul Camp Niles, Trinity Niles, OH
Dr Robert Campbell Church of the Covenant Cleveland
Rev. Laury W. Larson NA Shaker Heights
(District Executive) Joan VanBecelaer Ohio-Meadville District of the Columbus
Rev. e Unitarian Universalist
Association
Rev Matt Alspaugh First Unitarian Universalist Youngstown
Church
Rev. Arthur Severance East Shore Unitarian Kirtland
Universalist Church
Rev. David MacDonald Niles First United Methodist Niles, OH
Church
Rev. Kathleen Fowler First Unitarian Universalist Columbus
Church
Reverend Christina Neilson Southwest Unitarian North Royalton, OH
Universalist Church
Rev Robert Johnson Evangelical Lutheran Church Youngstown
 in America
Rev. Wayne Arnason West Shore Unitarian Rocky River OH
Universalist
The Rev. Dr. Leslie Stansbery Presbytery of Scioto Valley Columbus
Pastor David Meredith Broad St. UMC Columbus
Rev Suzanne Fountaine Clifton United Methodist Cincinnati
Rev Anita Dinwiddie St. Mark's UMC New Orleans, LA
Rev. Elizabeth Wineland Faith United Methodist Gibsonburg
Church
Rev. Dr. Thomas Rand Concord United Methodist Englewood
Rev. Dwight Davidson First Baptist Church Granville
Mother Gina Dragich Local Church Akron
Rev. Paul S Atkinson Columbus Ave. and Salem U. Sandusky, OH
M. C.'s
Chaplin Mary Schar Church of Spiritual Delaware
Humanism
Cheryl Guerrero Howland United Methodist Warren
Father Dennis Lepore Catholic Canton
Father Eric Funston St. Paul's, Episcopal Medina
Rev. Lynn Anderson Grace Presbyterian Church Lakewood
margy thornhill odot canfield
father John Condo st.anthony columbus
Rev. Joseph Woods Jr. Chesterland Baptist Church Chesterland
Pastor or Rev Jim Vickers Mountaintop Power Center Cincinnati
Mary Jacobs Troy FUMC Troy
Pastor Dawn Swartz Rum Creek United Methodist Quincy
Church
Rev. Thomas Cofer First Church, Congregational Painesville
United Church of Christ
Rev. Douglas Thatcher United Methodist Lorain
Rev. Sue McClelland London First United London, Ohio
Methodist Church
Rev. Bob Gross Lake Avenue United Church Elyria
of Christ
Association Ruth M Brandon Southwest Ohio Northern KY 18 OH counties + 3
Minister Association, United Church of KY counties
Christ
Rev Linda Carter United Methodist Toledo
Rev. Cheryl Evans UMC-retired Granville
Rev Richard Barnett Trinity Episcopal Church Columbus, Ohio
A.
Pastor Ronald Fowlis East Side Church of Christ Warren
Rev Joel Miller Cincinnati Mennonite Cincinnati
Fellowship
Rev. Solomon Hill Centenary UMC Youngstown
Media Contacts:
Rev. Troy Jackson, Senior Pastor
University Christian Church
(513) 314-3392

Paul Graham, Executive Director

The AMOS Project
(513) 505-1960