[amc] Re: Proposed letter on death penalty
- From: "Wright, Walter A" <ww05@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "garland robertson" <pastor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Austin Mennonite Church" <amc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:07:18 -0500
Dear Members of Austin Mennonite Church:
As you may know, our congregation is considering joining the Austin Meeting of
Friends and other religious groups in formally opposing the death penalty in
Texas. The initiative involves sending a letter to the Texas Board of Pardons
and Paroles (with a copy to the Governor) each time an individual is scheduled
for execution in Texas. A proposed form of letter is attached to this message.
At the request of Garland Robertson and Ray Gingerich, I drafted the attached
letter, which stongly resembles the letter that the Quakers currently send to
the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Our congregation's Peace and Justice
Committee reviewed the letter and recommended it for consieration by the entire
congregation. Today at Adult Sunday School, those present reviewed and
discussed the letter. Everyone present at today's meeting opposes the death
penalty and is generally in favor of the letter, though some members want to
discuss further whether our congregation will be sliding down a "slipperly
slope" towards political manipulation if we begin sending letters of this type.
Because there was general support for the letter (with the reservations that I
mentioned above), Garland asked me to forward the letter to the entire
congretation, which I am doing. We would like the entire congregation to
review the letter and express any support, reservations, or criticisms. The
plan is to have another meeting later in the year to give the entire
congregation an opportunity to express views before taking any action, as a
congregation, to send letters to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Some members who were present at today's Adult Sunday School want to begin
sending letters to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as individuals while
we are considering any action that we may wish to take as a congregation. I
have agreed to send information to those individuals, on a monthly basis, about
the scheduled executions. If anyone receiving this message wishes to receive
this additional information, please let me know, and I will place your name on
a separate list for receiving it.
Best regards,
Walter A. Wright
Associate Professor
Legal Studies Program
Department of Political Science
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666
(512) 245-2138 (Telephone)
(512) 245-7815 (Fax)
________________________________
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