PO Box 784, Neenah, WI 54957 • 920-843-8083
This Is a Time that Tries Our Souls
December 2016
This is a time that tries our souls – a time in which racial and religious animosities threaten to swamp the generous and tolerant spirit of our country. In this atmosphere of racial and religious suspicion, we the members of ESTHER feel that we must publicly reaffirm our most basic tenets of faith and moral commitment.
Since ESTHER’s founding 12 years ago, we have been, and we intend to continue to be, people of faith united by our passion for justice, commitment to community and practice of hope. We stand together in understanding that our lives and destinies are intertwined.
We come together because we believe that God calls us into relationship with one another.
We come together to act for justice, to build power and to transform our communities.
We believe that our faith calls us to work for justice and liberation and to stand against all forms of oppression and inequity.
Where there is division, we declare unity. • Where there is hatred, we declare love. • Where there is lack, we declare abundance. • Where there is desolation, we declare hope. • Where there is lack of strength, we declare power.
We are here to give witness that love and hope expressed through organizing and action will triumph over violence, hate and fear. We, the undersigned, invite all those who share these principles to join us.
Perhaps you have come … for just such a time as this. – Esther 4:14
