More than two dozen national Evangelical leaders called on Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to stop the upcoming “assembly line of executions.”
Their letter, released today, described Easter as “a sacred day when Christians celebrate Christ’s triumph over death,” noting the “unfortunate timing” of the executions.
Notable signers of the letter include many of EJUSA’s longstanding Evangelical partners and allies, such as pastors of mega-church congregations, theological scholars, religious authors, and more.
“To allow a drug’s expiration date to dictate when an individual will die shows a troubling disregard for the sacredness of human life,” the letter says.
“Arkansas officials have been clear that they are rushing the executions for exactly this reason. They have to occur before the state’s supply of a lethal injection drug expires. In a matter as weighty as taking a life, this justification is woefully inadequate.”
The religious leaders also voiced concern about the effect so many executions may have on the corrections officers who and other execution team members who are responsible for carrying them out.
We are evangelical leaders deeply concerned by Arkansas’s plans to carry out an unprecedented seven executions in 10 days, and call on officials to immediately stay these executions. When responding to grave crimes and holding the guilty accountable, we must always do so in way that recognizes and respects the basic dignity that each individual possesses – regardless of past actions – because they are made in God’s image. To allow a drug’s expiration date dictate when an individual will die shows a troubling disregard for the sacredness of human life.
Arkansas officials have been clear that they are rushing the executions for exactly this reason – they have to occur before the state’s supply of a lethal injection drug expires. In a matter as weighty as taking a life, this justification is woefully inadequate. The case of each offender deserves careful review and individualized scrutiny. That risks being lost if clemency hearings – which occur shortly before executions – are rushed to carry out so many executions in such a short period of time.
We also are concerned about the effect that these executions may have on the men and women responsible for carrying them out. Executions can be stressful and traumatic events for corrections officials. Seven executions in ten days only exacerbates this risk. It is unfair to put corrections officials through such an ordeal when these executions are unnecessary for public safety.
Lastly, we cannot help but note the unfortunate timing of these executions. They are scheduled to start the day after Easter, a sacred day when Christians celebrate Christ’s triumph over death. In Arkansas this year, the specter of death looms uneasily over the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Do not corrupt Holy Week by spending it in preparation for the grisly task of executing individuals in an assembly-like fashion.
In Christ,
Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Noel Castellanos, CEO and President, Christian Community Development Association, Chicago, IL
Eugene Cho, Senior Pastor, Quest Church, Seattle, WA
Shane Claiborne, The Simple Way, Philadelphia, PA
David Gushee, Director, Center for Theology and Public Life and Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA
Kate Davelaar Guthrie, Pastor, Reformed Church in America, Greensboro, NC
Kheresa Harmon, Director, Admissions, School of Divinity, Gardner-Webb University, Forest City, North Carolina
Fisher Humphreys, Professor of Divinity, Emeritus, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland – A Church Distributed, Longwood, FL
Kristyn Komarnicki, Director, Oriented to Love, Evangelicals for Social Action, St. Davids, PA
Kate Kooyman, Project Developer for the Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids, MI
Tom LeGrand, Director, the IMPACT Center for Christian Ethics & Social Responsibility, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC
Jim Lyon, General Director, Church of God Ministries, Anderson, IN
Michael McBride, Director, PICO Network Urban Strategies and Live Free Campaign, Berkeley, CA
Brian McLaren, Christian author and theologian, Marco Island, FL
Jonathan Merritt, Senior columnist for Religion News Service, Brooklyn, NY
Doug Pagitt, Pastor, Solomon’s Porch, Minneapolis, MN
John Phelan, Former President and current Dean of North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL
Paul Randall, Associate Pastor, Ecclesia, Houston, TX
Deb Richardson-Moore, Pastor, Triune Mercy Center, Greenville, SC
Carl Ruby, Pastor, Central Christian Church, Springfield, OH
Robert Schenck, President, The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute, Washington, DC
Chris Seay, Lead Pastor, Ecclesia, Houston, TX
Ron Sider, President Emeritus, Evangelicals for Social Action, Lansdale, PA
Marty Sloan, Pastor, Harvest Time, Fort Smith, AR
Tony Tench, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Shelby, North Carolina
Michelle Warren, Advocacy and Policy Engagement Director, Christian Community Development Association, Denver, CO
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Associate Minister of St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church, Durham, NC
Sarah Withrow King, Interim Director, Evangelicals for Social Action, St. Davids, PA
