To our Hamilton County neighbors, friends, and family; community members we haven’t met yet; families deciding whether to move to Hamilton County at all and to which part; our congregants, parishioners, and fellow worshipers; and especially the members of the Hamilton County Commission:
Much has been said about the historic opportunity in front of us for investing in our future and for increased funding of our public school system. There is a social argument, a business argument, even a legal argument. But we are writing to tell you today of the overwhelming moral argument.
The time is now to support Dr. Bryan Johnson’s budget for Hamilton County Schools.
We are a group of faith leaders from a broad range of faith traditions. It is a fundamental moral imperative that every child in Hamilton County has the opportunity to succeed in public school no matter where they live or their personal circumstances. Anything less than this most basic opportunity to grow, learn and earn is wrong.
We call upon the county commission to take seriously Johnson’s request to more adequately fund our schools. Just as our communities watch us diligently to see examples of what their faith leaders do, our communities will be watching their local leaders with great interest. We urge you to do the right thing and fully fund Johnson’s proposed budget.
Dr. Tom Bagley, pastor, Syndeo community
Rev. V. Thomas Banks, minister, Ashland Terrace Christian Church
Rev. Jennie Barber, associate pastor, Rivermont Presbyterian Church
Pastor Marcellus Barnes, Grace Pointe Church
Rev. April Berends, rector, Grace Episcopal Church
Pastor Troy Brand, Orchard Park Seventh-day Adventist Church
Rev. Claire Brown, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Laura Becker, pastor, Northminster Presbyterian Church
Rev. Matt Busby, Mission Chattanooga
Chaplain Kate Caldwell, Chattanooga Friends Meeting (Quakers)
Rev. Alaina Cobb, pastor, Mercy Junction
Rev. Jeff P. Crim, pastor, Ascension Lutheran Church
Rev. Taylor Dinsmore, associate rector, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Brandon Gilvin, senior minister, First Christian Church
Jennifer Hampton, Baha’i Faith Center For Metro Chattanooga
Rev. Robert Hartmans, priest in charge, St. Alban’s and St. Thaddaeus’ Episcopal Chattanooga
Rev. Wilhemenia Hogg, associate minister, New Monumental Baptist Church
Rev. Jonathan Hyde, community pastor, First Christian Church
Bassam Issa, Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga
Pastor Ternae Jordan, Mt. Canaan Baptist Church
Russ Kerr, director of children’s ministry, Rivermont Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. William Terry Ladd III, pastor, First Baptist Church, East 8th Street
Rev. Jason Leonard, Mission Chattanooga
Rabbi Craig Lewis, Mizpah Congregation
Rev. Lauri Moyle, community chaplain and deacon, Anglican Church of the Redeemer
Pastor Gerald O’Quinn, Love Fellowship Baptist Church
Rev. Katrina Payne, Mission Chattanooga
Dr. Thomas Quisenberry, pastor, First Baptist Church of Chattanooga
Mary K. & Iraj Radpour, Baha’i Faith Center For Metro Chattanooga
Pastor Chris Sands, Olivet Baptist Church
Sush Shanta, India Association of Chattanooga
N. Sisworahardjo, Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga
Rabbi Susan Tendler, B’nai Zion Congregation
Rev. Dr. Clay Thomas, senior pastor, Rivermont Presbyterian Church
Rev. Tricia Dillon Thomas, pastor, Renaissance Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ann G. Weeks, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
Rev. Brad Whitaker, rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey T. Wilson, pastor, New United Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Joe Woodfin, associate rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Candace A. Worth, pastor, New Hope Presbyterian Church