August 16, 2017

 

Like so many around the world, we at Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF) were horrified by the events in Charlottesville this weekend. As an educational institution of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we rebuke white supremacy, white ​nationalism, anti-Semitism, racism, and fascism, unequivocally. We do not do so lightly, or with caveats.

 

We affirm, in direct opposition to white supremacy, that ALL people are equally created in the image of God.

 

Every encounter with evil is an opportunity to confront our own complacency and complicitness. Our church’s history is far from perfect, and far too often our church has been silent. We now choose to do better.

 

We strongly hold that there is no place for ideologies that desire “racial purity,” “ethnic cleansing,” religious persecution, segregation, discriminatory rules based on differences, exclusion based on gender or sexual orientation, anti-intellectualism, or xenophobia. At DSF, women are respected, Black Lives Matter, members of the LGBTQ community are loved, and people from all over the world, without distinction, find their home.

 

Jon L. Berquist

President

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Belva Brown Jordan

Dean of Disciples Seminary Foundation, Claremont

 

Jo Ann Bynum
Director of Student Life, Claremont

 

Jinsuk Chun

Director of Mission and Peace Education

 

Jenny Crosswhite

Creative Director

 

Vanessa Gorski

Director of Development and Marketing

 

Clarence Johnson

Director of Pastoral Formation, NorCal

 

Jess Kim

Managing Director

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Leah Laird

Director of Initiatives

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Kara Markell

Director of Pastoral Formation, Seattle

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José  Morales

Director of Pastoral Formation, Claremont

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Bentley Stewart

Director of Student Life, NorCal

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Laura Jean Torgerson

Director of Education and Mission, NorCal

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Responses From Our Partner Schools

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San Francisco Theological Seminary

https://sfts.edu/charlottesville-terrorism-response/

 

Claremont School of Theology

https://cst.edu/cst-president-we-must-unmask-and-stand-against-white-supremacy/

 

Pacific School of Religion

https://psr.edu/charlottesville/

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