As pastors who share a common union in Christ, and a common love for the people of the Park Cities, we are united in Him to serve our congregations with grace and truth. We seek to shepherd our people in the way of Jesus, and having been reconciled through His life, death, and resurrection, we now seek to reconcile all people to Him, and together in Him. Rescued by God’s love, we are called to reimagine our lives and our city in light of His vision for a renewed humanity, where all people flourish in the truth, beauty, and justice of God.
This cultural moment compels us to come together and bring the light of His Gospel to the darkness of racial inequity and all forms of injustice, that continue to confront our hearts, our city, and the country we love. As shepherds, God has given us the task of preaching, teaching, and discipling our members to bring a loving influence to all people, created in God’s image, as we point them to the love of God found in Christ. We recognize our role is to bring God’s love into every aspect of life. This begins with each of us confessing our sin before Him, repenting of our attitudes, passivity, or neglect, and by teaching our children to love all people, and by acting to bring His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
We believe the Gospel lived out in and through the Church, the people of Christ united in Him, is the ultimate answer. We desire for our churches to be marked by a Micah 6:8 mandate, “to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly” with our God. To this end, we are united to serve the people we love for the flourishing of our city and beyond.
Signed in solidarity:
Mark Davis, senior pastor, Park Cities Presbyterian Church
Bryan Dunagan, senior pastor, Highland Park Presbyterian Church
Chris Girata, rector, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
Wade Hodges, senior minister, Preston Road Church of Christ
Virzola Law, senior minister, Northway Christian Church
Paul Rasmussen, senior minister, Highland Park United Methodist Church
Tony Lackland, pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church
The Pastoral Team of Highland Country Fellowship
Joe Stobaugh, senior pastor, University Park UMC
Jeff Warren, senior pastor, Park Cities Baptist Church