Community Response Supporting B'nai Shalom of Olney

Click here for local news video.

On Monday morning, July 26, 2010, members of B'nai Shalom of Olney discovered that their house of worship had been vandalized during the previous night with the extensive application of anti-Semitic symbols and language to its exterior facade and parking lot. We, as representatives of our faith communities in Olney, Maryland, and the surrounding region, offer the following response to this detestable act.

We stand united in condemning this criminal act of hatred perpetrated against members of our community. We recognize that whenever any particular group in our community suffers such violence against its members, to some degree all of us in the larger community are injured. We empathize with our Jewish brothers and sisters as together we feel the pain caused by such an injustice. We offer our support and friendship to the congregation of B'nai Shalom as we join them in praying for healing and working toward creating a community in which diversity is appreciated and differences are respected. We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God and we appeal to our fellow citizens who live, work, and worship in Olney and the surrounding region to join us as together, with the Lord's help and blessings, we strive to build a better community and a brighter future for all of God's children here.

• Rev. Dr. Kevin Baker, Oakdale Emory United Methodist Church, Olney, MD
• Rev. Dr. Patrick K. Carlson, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olney, MD
• Rev. David J. Deans, Oakdale Emory United Methodist Church, Olney, MD
• Pastor Nathan L. Krause, Olney Seventh-day Adventist Church, Olney, MD
• Rev. Chris Owens, First United Methodist Church of Laurel, Laurel, MD
• Rev. Sue Shorb-Sterling, Salem United Methodist Church, Brookeville, MD

Signatories are listed alphabetically by surname. Others may add their name to this list by sending an email to pastor@olneysda.org.