OCC's Message on Re-Opening Churches

OCC, in partnership with other communities of faith, submitted a letter to the Governor of Oklahoma in response to his plan to relax preventive measures recommended by public health officials to stop the spread of COVID-19. The letter, signed by over 100 faith leaders, is available here in print and read aloud by faith leaders, followed by local news coverage on the topic.

Dear Governor Stitt,

We, the members of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, and The Respect Diversity Foundation, with others undersigned here, write to you in response to the Zoom meeting held with interfaith leaders on April 14, 2020. We appreciate the opportunity to be included in this point of contact with other Oklahoma faith leaders, while also acknowledging that we have previously been denied access to conversations and opportunities to engage. 

We were disappointed that instead of meaningful dialogue we received a brief, economics-oriented speech. This despite the fact that there were no fewer than four bishops and state-level executives of various Christian denominations on the call, alongside dozens of other Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Unitarian and Buddhist faith leaders. Because we were not afforded an opportunity to express our concerns in the Zoom meeting, we will do so collectively here. 

As Oklahomans, we are concerned by your proposed timeline for the resumption of public life, and by the lack of discussion regarding your work to protect vulnerable populations right now. In this list are the homeless and poor, the elderly, those who are health compromised from other conditions, and those in prison, including nonviolent prisoners, all of whom are at risk of harm from COVID-19.

We assure you that all of us greatly desire to be back with our faith communities in our houses of worship and engaging in community work, but we will place the health of our congregants ahead of any religious, social, or political desire to meet in person. As people of faith, The Golden Rule calls us to love and care for our neighbors. The suggestion that “we will be fine” as long as we remain six feet apart endangers Oklahomans when there is ample scientific evidence suggesting stay-at-home directives are the best (and perhaps only) way of permanently "flattening the curve" of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Our faith communities will not resume meeting publicly until we are advised that it is safe to do so by health experts. We pray that you will make the same commitment, and protect all the people you lead. 

As leaders of diverse faith communities across Oklahoma, we encourage you to lead out of love for neighbor rather than economic or political expediency. We believe that the current public discourse, suggesting we must either allow COVID-19 victims to die or allow the economy to die, is a false choice. Instead we implore you to replace the “safer at home” policy (and its exclusions) with policies that follow guidelines from the United States Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, and to extend them beyond April 30. 

Oklahomans of all faith traditions count on your guidance. We are grateful for your willingness to listen to scientific experts and authorities in addition to religious and political leaders, and we affirm their consensus that social distancing policies must be strengthened and extended rather than weakened or terminated. We believe this is the most loving and faithful choice, one that is in the best interests of Oklahomans of all faiths. 

Please consider these recommendations, and know that we continue to stand ready to participate with support and guidance through the difficult times that still lie ahead. You will be in our prayers.

Sincerely,

Oklahoma Conference of Churches

The Reverend Shannon Fleck, Executive Director

The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Rabbi Abby Jacobson, President

Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry

Aliye Shimi, Executive Director

The Respect Diversity Foundation

Michael Korenblit, President

Reverend Tracy L. Evans

Stated Clerk, Indian Nations Presbytery 

Memorial Presbyterian Church, Norman

Reverend B. Gordon Edwards,

General Presbyter, Cimarron Presbytery, PC USA

Reverend Michael K. Girlinghouse

Bishop, Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Reverend Dr. George E. Young, Sr. 

Progressive National Baptist Convention, Oklahoma City

Adam Soltani

The Council on American Islamic Relations, Oklahoma Chapter

Hindu temple of Oklahoma City, ICF

Noel J. Jacobs, PhD

Vice President, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma City

Imam Dr. Imad Enchassi

Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City

Saurabh Singh

Sikh Gurudwara of Oklahoma City

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma City

Reverend Kayla Bonewell

Church of the Open Arms and Cathedral of Hope, Oklahoma City

Reverend Bill Hemm

Forest Park Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Tulsa

Reverend Kathy Brown

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Tulsa

Reverend Jessica Maynard

West Guthrie United Methodist Church, Guthrie

Reverend Scott Spencer

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Revered Betsy Stewart-Dooley

New Life United Methodist Church, Moore

Reverend Emily L. Robnett

New Hope United Methodist Church, Enid

Reverend Dr. Tiffany A. Nagel Monroe

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Shawnee

Reverend Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies

Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics

Oklahoma City University

Reverend David Wheeler

First Congregational Church, Norman

The Federated  Church of Weatherford

Reverend T. Sheri Dickerson

East Sixth St Christian Church

Black Lives Matter, Oklahoma City

Women’s March Oklahoma

Reverend Jesse Jackson

East Sixth St Christian Church, Oklahoma City

Pastor Jenny Archer

Expressions Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Trina Bose North

Crown Heights United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Marla Lobo

Wesley United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Shannon Cook

First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Norman

Reverend Richard Mize

Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Oklahoma City

Reverend Chris Moore

Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ, Tulsa

Rabbi Vered Harris

Temple B’Nai Israel, Oklahoma City

Rachel Opatowsky, Temple Educator

Temple B’Nai Israel, Oklahoma City

Reverend Jen Logsdon Kellogg

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa

Reverend Glenna Skinner-Noble

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Bill Todd (retired)

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Matthew Franks

Tahlequah United Methodist Church, Tahlequah

Reverend Paul Calkin

Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Dr. Anne Walker

Saint Paul School of Theology, Oklahoma City

Reverend Trey Witzel

First United Methodist Church, Edmond

Reverend Valerie Jones Steele

Pastor, United Methodist Church

Reverend Joseph C. Alsay, Rector

St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Lori Walke

Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, Oklahoma City

Reverend Dr. Jerry D. Campbell, PhD.

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Jim Gragg

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Tony Zahn

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Maggie Ball

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Mark Polson

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend David Rose

Mosaic United Methodist Church

Reverend Jim G. Cooper, District Superintendent

Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City

Reverend Sara Pugh Montgomery

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa

Reverend Aaron Bolerjack, Executive Pastor

Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene

Reverend Kelly Yates, Ecumenical Pastor

Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene

Reverend Jeni Markham Clewell

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Michaele LaVigne, Pastor of Spiritual Formation

8th Street Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City

Reverend Kirt E. Moelling

First United Methodist, Yukon

Reverend Jeremy Basset, Senior Pastor

Wesley United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Shannon Rodenberg

Fairland First United Methodist Church

Reverend Mark W. Polson

Idabel First United Methodist Church

Reverend Dylan Ward

Inola United Methodist Church

Reverend Colton Lott

First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, El Reno

Reverend Travis Ewton

Calumet and Red Rock United Methodist Churches

Reverend Susan Ross

Mosaic United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Sharon Kay Cochran

Sharon/Mutual United Methodist Churches

Reverend Jennifer Long

Oologah United Methodist Church

Julia Phillips, PhD

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Mari Fagin, PhD

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Carl Rubenstein, MD

President Emeritus, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Reverend Kris Ladusau

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

The Reverend Dr. Rita Newton

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Reverend Janie Kirt Morris

Episcopal Church USA, Retired

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Reverend Heather Scherer

First United Methodist Church, Tulsa

Reverend Anna Hubbard

First Christian Church, Pryor

Reverend Kelley Becker

Disciples Christian Church, Bartlesville

Reverend Geoffrey Brewster 

Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Tulsa

Reverend Dr. Sonja Tobey

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Lawton

Reverend April Coates

Perry First United Methodist Church

Reverend Bruce Davis

Altus Grace & Blair United Methodist Churches

Reverend Bryan Tener

Discipleship Ministries United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend Richard Connelly, Retired

Disciples of Christ Minister, Oklahoma City

Reverend Joe Meinhart

Indian Nations Presbytery

Shannon Warren

Chairperson, Amazing Faiths

The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Reverend Desi Sharp Brumit

Goodrich United Methodist Church, Norman

Reverend Dr. Lisa Wolfe

Professor of Hebrew Bible, Oklahoma City University

Reverend Stephen Cagle, Senior Pastor

Sand Springs United Methodist Church

Reverend Charles W. King

Geary First United Methodist Church

The Reverend Dr. Matthew Scraper

Southern Hills United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City

Reverend  Christopher Pollock

8th Street Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City

Reverend Linda Muterspaugh, Retired 

United Methodist Church of Oklahoma

Reverend Larry T. Crudup, Senior Pastor

Tabernacle Baptist Church, Oklahoma City

Pastor Cody C. Robinson

Trinity United Methodist Church, Muskogee

Reverend Dr. Diana Davies, Lead Minister

First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City

Reverend Mike DeMoss

Chaplain, OU Medicine

Reverend Don Heath, Minister

Edmond Trinity Christian Church, Disciples of Christ

Reverend Mary Heath, Minister

Edmond Trinity Christian Church, Disciples of Christ

The Reverend Dr. Gregory J. Tener, Senior Pastor

Bartlesville First United Methodist Church

Reverend Courtney Richards, Board Member

Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry

Reverend Dr. Rex Wilkes, Retired

United Methodist Church

Reverend James B. Graham, III

New Haven United Methodist Church, Tulsa

Reverend Shyloe O’Neal

Jones United Methodist Church

Father John Borrego, Interim Priest

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norman

Reverend Sue Long, Retired

Presbyterian Church, Lawton

Reverend Jinx M. Barber

Dewey United Methodist Church

Pastor Gerard Nsabimana

United Methodist Church in Stroud

Reverend Anna Marie George

Redland and Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church

Reverend Kristin McAtee

Cooperating Baptist Fellowship Oklahoma

Reverend Don Tabberer

First United Methodist Church, Drumright, OK

Reverend John Malget

First Christian Church of Oklahoma City

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Julie Robinson

Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma

Local news coverage:

OCC and COVID-19

Like all of you, we have watched the COVID-19 announcements roll out, the articles of recommendations, the emails, our denominational statements. And we have seen our communities making challenging decisions for the health and well-being of those we serve. We know how difficult these decisions have been, especially as we make our own as an organization. We are all in new territory when it comes to COVID-19, but we have witnessed our community exhibit immense grace as we all work together to navigate this new period of time for our country. 

It is out of concern and awareness for our neighbors that the Oklahoma Conference of Churches will implement the following changes to our operations for the next 45 days. 

—For the next two weeks, all OCC staff will be given the option of working remotely as much as needed for their own health, and the health of those in our lives. Therefore, please plan to utilize staff emails to reach us during these next few weeks. (Shannon Fleck- sfleck@okchurches.org, Michael Eric Owens- mowens@okchurches.org, Kat Romero- kromero@okchurches.org, general administrative email- okchurches@okchurches.org)

—All Committee Meetings, including the Communion Leader Summit, will be cancelled for the rest of March. The reconvening of committee meetings will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the month. 

—All public OCC events will be cancelled for the next 45 days, including Census Hub events, Good Friday Ecumenical Stations of the Cross, and our “Not Without My Neighbor” Unity Luncheon. 

These decisions are made not out of fear or anxiety, but out of immense care for our neighbors. We know that even if we are privileged in age and health, there are many around us who are not. We know that the call to change our lives in inconvenient ways is a small individual contribution, which will be compounded to help keep people safe and healthy, and that is how we live into our call to love one another and care for one another. We encourage each individual to check on one another during this time of distance. Make a phone call, send a text, mail a letter, leave a note… be a neighbor to one another. And we will be here, continuing to work to serve the state, knowing that this is a temporary circumstance that we will get through together. 

Blessings friends and we will see you very soon!

 Shannon