Dear Church Family—
This past week, a Franklin High School student representative to School Committee was speaking about not feeling safe in the high school due to bullying because of her sexual orientation. She was shouted down by audience members in a disturbing scene. You can see it at minute 38.30 of the You Tube video of Franklin School Committee.
The Franklin Interfaith Council took quick action and composed a letter to the public on behalf of all of our houses of worship. You can see it below.
If you would like to sign on to it as an individual, we urge you to do so by November 2ND. Please fill out the form you will find on this link: https://forms.gle/hT5YqNNjvRXKVJVz6.
We will also ask FFC Council to endorse it on behalf of the whole congregation.
Help us shine the light of Christ in our community,
Sue Borchard and Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt, FFC representatives to Franklin Interfaith Council
#LOVEfranklin
A Call to Our Community
We are appalled by the recent lack of respect and civility shown to Mackenzie Atwood, a Franklin High School senior and student representative to the Franklin School Committee, who spoke with courage at the October 26, 2021, Franklin School Committee meeting about the discrimination she and her friends experience on a regular basis. The interruption and attempt to silence Mackenzie by speaking over her cannot and should not be tolerated.
Over the last several months, we have become acutely aware of an increase in hate-filled rhetoric and vandalism in our community. Hate speech and vandalism against members of the LGBTQIA+ community, racial slurs, and anti-Semitic graffiti cannot and should not be tolerated. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to hate-filled language and actions no matter how frequently they may occur in our community or elsewhere. We must speak out and act against hate to build a better community.
Each of our faith traditions calls us to love: to value the sacred worth of everyone, treating each person with dignity and respect. To be very specific, let us love Franklin. We resolve to create a beloved community where all persons regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnic background, age, stature, ability, creed, or faith can find a home.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to love Franklin. And, we ask you to commit yourself to love Franklin too.
Rabbi Tom Alpert, Temple Etz Chaim
Susan Borchard, Franklin Federated Church
Rev. Eric Cherry, First Universalist Society in Franklin
Mary Diehl, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Franklin Interfaith Choir Director
Rev. Maggie Geller, St. John's Episcopal Church
Alisa Hansen, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker, Franklin United Methodist Church
Father Brian Manning, Saint Mary Parish, Franklin MA
Bishop Karl Meredith, Franklin 1st Ward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rev. Kathleen McAdams, St. John's Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt, Franklin Federated Church