Religious Leaders Ask Voters to Reject Initiative 1033

As religious leaders, we express our deep concern over Washington’s economic crisis and the devastating impacts Initiative1033 would have on our state. This Initiative could inflict serious, long-lasting impacts on state and local governments and their abilities to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Our tax system should bridge the gap between the rich and poor, promote economic security, and protect our state’s most vulnerable residents. This latest initiative from Tim Eyman fails on all three counts. Passage of a similar initiative in Colorado led to deep cuts in public education, roads and highways, and children’s health care. It did so much damage to the state’s economy that in 2005, Coloradans voted to suspend the law. We believe all caring citizens want to live in a state where life’s basic necessities are met. That’s why, as religious leaders of Washington State we call upon the voters of Washington to reject Initiative 1033.

The legislature already made deep cuts in public services in the past legislative session due to the national recession. I-1033 will make Washington State’s recession permanent, forcing even deeper cuts and locking them in for years to come. The massive budget cuts passed this year will already devastate life line services such as childcare, public health, health care for kids and adults, housing and care for seniors. Opportunities for a quality public education essential for our children’s future are being reduced. Public services are more important than ever when families lose jobs, lose healthcare and are otherwise economically stressed.

We understand the impulse to minimize taxes when our own budgets are strained, but our religions call us to act out of the abundance we’ve been given, not out of scarcity. Saving a few tax dollars while needs across our state go unmet is not in keeping with our religious beliefs. To live up to our moral responsibility for the common good, we must make sure that the budget cuts we saw in this recession year do not become permanent in Washington – we must raise our voices against Initiative 1033.

We are doing our best to help people in our communities get through these hard times, but as important as charity is, our religious institutions are not equipped to maintain the critical social safety net programs and the investments of state government. Maintaining services and keeping our current investments is critical to helping Washington families recover from an economic downturn.

We are called to live faithfully and obediently to a God who loves all of creation and all people. We are concerned that I-1033 will further exacerbate the disparities in our current tax system, from the disproportionate burden it places on poor people and small businesses to its inability to keep up with escalating costs and to make investments for the future.
We are called to live out our faith publically in response to our God who we believe desires a world that is equitable and sustainable. We call upon you as we call upon the members of our faith communities to join us in raising our moral voices to defeat I-1033.

Signed by:

Rev. Wm. Chris Boerger, Bishop, Northwest Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The Rt. Rev. James E. Waggoner, Jr., Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
The Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Bishop Grant Hagiya, Pacific NW Conference, United Methodist Church
Bishop Martin Wells, Eastern WA Synod, ELCA, Spokane
Rev. Mike Denton, Conference Minister, Pacific NW Conference, United Church of Christ
Rev. Marcia Patton, Executive Minister, Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches
Rev. Joyce Martin Emery, Transitional Synod Executive, Synod of AK/NW Presbyterian
Janine Larsen, District Executive, Unitarian Universalist Association, Pacific Northwest
The Rt. Rev. Robert H. Cochrane, D.D. Retired Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Rev. Jack M. Tuell, Bishop, Retired, United Methodist Church, Des Moines
Rabbi James Mirel, Senior Rabbi, Temple B'nai Torah, Bellevue
Rabbi Daniel A. Weiner, Senior Rabbi, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle
Very Rev. William F. Maxwell, Episcopal Cathedral Dean, Retired
Rev. Sharon Moe, Tacoma Dist .Supt. Pacific Northwest Conference, United Methodist Church
Rev. Scott Lumsden, Executive Presbyter, Seattle Presbytery
Mark Markuly, Dean, School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University
Alice Woldt, Transitional Executive Director, Washington Association of Churches
Michael Ramos, Executive Director, Church Council of Greater Seattle
Rev. Paul Benz, Director, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State
Rev. Chris Morton, Executive Director, Associated Ministries, Tacoma-Pierce County
Rev. Dr. James D. Lewis, President, Associated Ministries, United Methodist Retired Clergy
Justin Simmons, Chair of the Board of Directors of Church Council of Greater Seattle
Rev. Monica Corsaro, Director of Social Justice Ministries, Church Council of Greater Seattle
Rev. John Boonstra, Pastor White Salmon United Church of Christ, Former Executive Minister, Washington Association of Churches
Rev. Loren Arnett, Former Executive Minister, Washington Association of Churches
Carole Folsom-Hill, Executive Director, Yakima Interfaith Coalition
Rabbi Janine C. Schloss, Director of Education, Temple Beth Am
Rev. Thomas Quigley, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev Susan Burchfield, Pastor Immanuel Lutheran Church (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. Arthur Vaeni, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Olympia
Rev. Rob McClure, Pastor (HR), Associate Synod Executive, Presbyterian Synod of AK/NW
Pastor Martha Maier, Vancouver
Rev. Thomas Stiers, Plymouth Church, United Church of Christ, Seattle
Rabbi Jonathan Singer of Temple Beth Am
Pastor Anne Hall, University Lutheran Church, Seattle
Rev. John Gienapp, University Lutheran Church (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. Lowell Knutson, Retired ECLA Bishop, University Lutheran Church (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. Christina Jillard, Rector, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Mary Boyd, Pastor, University Temple United Methodist Church, Seattle
Rabbi Jacob Fine, Director Jconnect, Seattle
Rev. Clark Wills, Priest, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Rev. Charles A. Forbes, retired Episcopal priest and Carolyn F. Forbes.
Rabbi Daniel E. Bridge
Rev. West R. Davis, Retired
Rev. Robert E. Brown, Episcopal Priest, Bellingham
Rev. John P. Gorsuch, Episcopal Priest, Bellingham
Rev. Daniel G. Conklin, Shepherd for Pastoral Care, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle
Rabbi Jaron Matlow, Olympia
Rev. Dr. Bruce G Parker University Temple United Methodist Church, Seattle
Rev. Lindalee Purdy, Chaplain, Providence Hospice of Seattle
Rev. Dr. Linda C. Milks, Saron Lutheran Church (ELCA), Hoquiam, WA
Maynard Atik, Pastor, Gethsemane Lutheran Church (ELCA),, Seattle, WA
Rev. Ron Moe-Lobeda, University Lutheran Church (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. James Carter, Pastor, Wallingford United Methodist Church, Seattle
Rev. David C. Bloom, American Baptist Churches USA
Rev. Jon M. Luopa, Senior Minister, University Unitarian Church, Seattle
Rev Gary Dalenius, Holy Cross Lutheran (ELCA), Bellevue
Rev. Richard W. Gillett, Church Council of Greater Seattle Board, St. Andrews Church, Seattle
Rev. Ron Kempe, Pastor, Peace Lutheran Church, Puyallup
Rev. Weldon D. Nisly, Pastor, Seattle Mennonite Church
Rev. Dr. Donald Schmidt, Intentional Interim Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Darla DeFrance, Puget Sound Coordinator, Lutheran Volunteer Corps
Rev. Marilynn M. Brown
Rev. Deacon Tony Irving
Barbara Schacht, Interim Pastor, Lake City Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Rev. Mary L. Allen, Rector, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Marysville
Rev. Bonnie Campbell
Rev. Carol Jensen, Chair, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington, St. John United Lutheran Church (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. Lisa Domke
Rev. Dan Schnabel, Pastor, United Church of Christ, Cathlamet and Naselle.
Rev. James Patten, Pastor Newport Presbyterian Church, Bellevue
Rev. Joy R. Haertig, Richmond Beach UCC, Shoreline
Rev. Eric Don Anderson, Co-pastor, United (UCC-Disciples) Christian Church Yakima
Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz, University Congregational United Church of Christ, Seattle
Rev. Ron Moen, Quincy
Rev. Gretchen Gunderson, St. John Episcopal Church, South Bend
Rev. Richard W. Garlichs
Rev. Dr. Dee Eisenhauer, Eagle Harbor Congregational Church
Rev. James N. McEachran, Senior Pastor, Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church, Bellevue, WA
Rev. Bill Kirlin-Hackett, Director, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness
Rev. Iver Haugen, Lutheran Pastor, Ret.
Rev. Janetta Cravens Boyd, Pastor, University Christian Church, Seattle
Rev. Ron Moe-Lobeda, University Lutheran (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. Steve Garratt, Christ Episcopal Church, Seattle
Pastor Shannon Anderson, Central Lutheran Church (ELCA), Seattle
Rev. Heather Lynn Hanson, Unitarian Universalist Minister, Tacoma
The Rev. Gail Wheatley, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Port Angeles
Jamie Haskins, Minister, University Christian Church, Seattle
Joanne Flagel, Retired Diaconal, Fairwood United Methodist, Renton
Robert L. Stivers, Emeritus Professor of Religion, Pacific Lutheran University, and Presbytery of Olympia.
Jeannine Daggett, NW Synod ELCA Ecumenical Commission
Michael Collier, Chair, Micah Project, First United Methodist, Tacoma
Arthur Siegal, Social Action Chair of the PNW Council of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Carol Wall, NW WA Synod Hunger Team, Oak Harbor Lutheran and ELCA
Mari Mitchell-Putnam, Church Administrator, University Lutheran Church, Seattle
Dorothy Trandsen, University Temple United Methodist Thrift Store
Jack Irby, University Churches Emergency Fund
Donna Heath, Social Action Council of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver
Jennifer S. Moore, Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA), Puyallup
Tom Yelin, University Temple United Methodist Church, Seattle
Jean Poole, University Temple United Methodist Church, Seattle
Gretchen E. Parker, University Temple United Methodist Church, Seattle
Sue Ellen Johnson, Faith Lutheran Church, Shelton
Kathy Long, President of the European American Lutheran Association, Redmond, WA
Roberta Nestaas, Executive Director, Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Janet St. Clair, Area Director, Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Roger W. Ross, Communicant, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Spokane
Gretchen Van Blair, Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, Port Angeles
Kathy Stevenson Unitarian Universalist, Port Townsend
Anson Laytner, Congregation Kol HaNeshamah, Seattle
Judy Lightfoot, University Christian Church, Seattle
Kmbris Bond, University Congregational, United Church of Christ, Seattle
Edwin Beatty, University Friends Meeting, Seattle
Joan Butler, Christ Episcopal Church, Seattle
Rosemary Blakemore, University Christian Church, Seattle
Nathalie Gehrke, University Congregational, United Church of Christ, Seattle
Barbara J. Dodge, Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA), Wenatchee
Paul and Deborah Hansen, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Port Angeles
Joanne L. Partch, United Methodist Church, Des Moines
Rosalee Mohney, Des Moines
Lynda Maraby, Faith and Environment Network, Spokane
Norma Turner, Port Angeles, WA
Betty Meyer, Gig Harbor
Louise Chadez, Spokane
Kathy & Geoff Sakahara, Maple Valley
Vicki Wesen
David Trieweiler

Organizations included for identification purposes only.

More are signing on to the letter everyday – if you would like to add your name please email us at wac@thewac.org.