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United Church of Christ Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)700 Prospect Avenue P.O. Box 1986

Cleveland, OH 44115-1100 Indianapol is, IN 46206-1986866-822-8224 317-713-2575

Rev. Didier Crouzet

General Secretary

United Protestant Church of France

January 14, 2015

Dear Didier,

It is with great sadness and dismay that we have followed the events in Paris since last

Wednesday. Needless to say, the worlds attention has been on France and the horrible acts of violence

the murder of journalists and leadership at the magazine Charlie Hebdo, and the subsequent hostage

criseswhich have resulted in the death of innocents, and global response of support and sympathy forthe victims and their families. We wish to express to you and to your colleagues in the United Protestant

Church of France and the Protestant Federation of France our solidarity and support, as the people of

France wrestle to make sense of all that has happened and the implications.

We mourn the senseless loss of life, and affirm the words of Rev. Clavairoly, speaking on behalf

of the Protestant Federation of France, who wrote late last week, remembering how precious human lifeis in the eyes of God, we affirm that there is no justification in such a case that any religion could

claim. Video images of the perpetrators carrying out murder and of the efforts to rescue the hostages

have been harrowing and sobering. We affirm life, in all its abundance, and offer prayers for all those

who have been affected by these events.

We affirm the rights to exercise free speech and freedom of religion, both of which are coreelements of our two countries basic principles. Freedom of speech has been loudly affirmed by many

around the world in the wake of these events, and we also recognize that religious identity is intertwined

in the narratives of the past week. Jews and Muslims alike have been victimized by and for the acts

carried out by the criminals in the name of their faith. We know that these principlesand the reasonable

limits of their manifestationare constantly tested when we try to live accepting and respecting ourneighbor in human community. We abhor the use of religious rhetoric to support violence, intolerance,

and murder; we similarly are alarmed by the negative impact on religious communities by these events,

particularly Jews and Muslims, each in different ways.

And we stand with the United Protestant Church of France, the Protestant Federation of France,

and the people of France in this time of reflection and reconciliation, knowing that the events of the pastweek have opened again many difficult debates and histories. We pray for you as you as a society and

country come to terms again with these issuessocio-economic justice; immigration, identity, and

citizenship; principles of religious toleration and acceptance; freedom of speech; and international issues

and relationseven as we recognize that our society and country must also face these issues constantly.

You are not alone, and we pledge again to support each other in these difficult times and on these

challengingand very divisivedebates.

In this season of Epiphany, we rely on God to guide us toward a more perfect light, and are

grateful for the deep relationships we share with you, and with partners and people around the world.

And we pray for peace and justice for all peoples in all places.

In Christs name,

Rev. Julia Brown Karimu Rev. Dr. James Moos

President, Division of Overseas Ministries Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United Church of Christ

Co-Executive, Global Ministries Co-Executive, Global Ministries

Global MinistriesChristian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ