UCC D.C. director joins interfaith call for religious freedom

The director of the United Church of Christ’s office in Washington, D.C., joined other leaders of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith communities Friday morning, Oct. 23, for a time of interfaith worship. Afterwards, the group of interfaith leaders urged government officials to publicly commit themselves to stand for religious freedom and against bigotry, hate, and discrimination.

Sandy Sorensen, representing the denomination at the “Beyond Tolerance” event at the Washington National Cathedral, was one of two dozen participants who explained their reasoning why government representatives should adhere to the pledge. Sorensen called on public officials to defend the freedom of conscience and religion of all individuals by speaking out against and rejecting, without reservation, bigotry, discrimination, harassment, and violence based on religion or belief.

“God calls us to be agents of reconciliation, breaking down walls of division nationally, culturally, racially and religiously,” Sorensen said. “In the United Church of Christ, we take seriously God’s clear commandment to love our neighbors — all our neighbors — as ourselves, and are committed to standing against any and all actions that are contrary to this call.”

The rally was co-sponsored by the Shoulder to Shoulder campaign, an interfaith group that speaks out against discrimination against Muslims.