Water Crisis Statement by the Faith Communities of Jackson, Mississippi
There are numerous communities of faith in Jackson, Mississippi, and within each tradition there are various divisions and groups. Despite these divisions, we all realize that the water crisis of this moment is one that damages the entire city, the region, and our state.
This crisis:
puts the health of citizens at risk;
burdens schools and colleges by impeding educational programs;
contributes to diminished housing values and creates an incentive for citizens to move out of the city;
leads to frustration, anger, and depression, as chronic problems go unaddressed and citizens feel undervalued;
erodes the economic viability of the city and the state;
destroys the confidence of citizens in the city and state to trust their elected and government officials; and
diminishes the reputation of the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi across the world.
This is an opportunity for our communities of faith to unite in calling those in leadership to move beyond divisions and blame to focus on solutions and results.
As leaders in our own community of faith, we lift our voice with other communities of faith to implore the leadership of the City of Jackson, the State of Mississippi, and the United States of America, to come together in the face of a common cause and resolve this matter once and for all. All levels of government—federal, state, and local, along with disaster agencies—have worked together in past disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. We call on you to face this matter of solving Jackson’s water and sewer issues with the resolve of those previous efforts.
We recognize that there are technical issues that must be addressed. We are a nation that has technical expertise. It must be marshalled for this moment by our government, business, and non-profit organizations.
If this were a technical problem only, it could be resolved in short order. It is also a problem of a broken heart for the people and leaders of the city and state. All parties—government elected leaders and agencies, the business community, and the faith community—must hold each other AND themselves accountable for serving the wellbeing of ALL people damaged by this disaster.
We commit ourselves to be available to support efforts bringing healing and hope to the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi, as elected leaders and government officials make the necessary decisions and take the appropriate actions to work together to resolve this water crisis.
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SIGNATORIES
The Reverend Joel Alvis, Jr., Ph.D., Fondren Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Session, Fondren Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Shelli Poe, Safe Harbor Family Church (UCC)
Sandra Price, National Volunteer, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Bishop Ronnie Crudup, New Horizon Church International
Okolo Rashid, International Museum of Muslim Cultures
James L. Henley, Jr., Fresh Start Ministries, Inc.
Diane Sellers, Operation HOPE, Inc.
Lorena Quiroz, IAJE-Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity
Margara Fernandez, Ruth Presbyterian Church
Ray Chandler, Adventist Community Service
Allison Stacey Parvin, chair, Southeastern Synod Disaster Ministries Committee, ELCA
Helen Boone, Fondren Presbyterian Church
Robert Madsen, Mississippi Presbytery
Christopher Crotwell, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Tom Clark, retired Lutheran pastor, member of Disaster Ministry Committee, Southeastern Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Reverend Kimberly Wood, Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ
Pastor Michael C. Mickens D.Min., Heart For The City - South Jackson Seventh-day Adventist Church
Rebecca Barnes, Presbyterian Hunger Program
Sonya E. Williams
James Pettis, Jackson State University
The Reverend Charles Bowdler, Briarwood Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Session, Briarwood Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rabbi Joseph Rosen, Beth Israel Congregation
Bruce Case, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church