Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
475677860
label
[Clergy and Laity Concerned]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
475677860
contentType
document
title
[Clergy and Laity Concerned]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
47
collections
Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration)
Morton Blackwell's Religion Liaison Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
475677860
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
7322b29adc5911df
ocrText
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: [Clergy and Laity Concerned]
Box: 35
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
file
CALIFORNIA
541 EAST COLORADO BLVD.
SOUTHERN
sc/calc
PASADENA, CA 91101
(213) 794-6578
(213) 792-6564
CLERGY AND LAITY CONCERNED
MB
August 29, 1983
Steering Committee
Sylvia Eller
Church of the Brethren
The Rev. Canon Morris Samuel
The Rev. Cynthia Seagal Samuel
President Ronald Reagan
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
The White House
Debra Ernst
Presbyterian Synod
Washington, D.C..
20500
The Rev. David Lehmberg
Rachel Lehmberg
United Methodist Church
Sue and Bob Miele
Dear President Reagan,
United Church of Christ
Millie Moser
Church Women United
Jean Nicholson
On August 6, 1983, the 38th anniversary of the
Society of Friends
dropping of the first atomic bomb on human beings,
Laurel Ohanian
Unitarian-Universalist
eleven persons began a fast. They are citizens of
The Rev. Richard Wallace
France, West Germany, England, Japan and the
Lutheran Church in America
United States. Each in their own country is a
The Rev. Farley Wheelwright
Virginia Wheelwright
leader in the search for peace.
Valley Interfaith Center
Anne & Joe Cohen-McLaughlin
United Church of Christ
This is no ordinary fast. These persons have
Rev. George Hartzog
determined, if necessary, to lay down their lives
First United Methodist Church of Glendale
in order that the world may be led to draw back
Rev. Jim Manley
San Marino Congregational Church
from the brink of nuclear catastrophe. Theirs is
Fr. Donald McGinnis
a Fast for Life. They have determined to continue
Maryknoll Fathers
Joe Nurre
without food until some significant step is taken
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
toward ending the arms race.
Robert Thompson
Christian Assembly
For our part, we have determined to do all in our
RESOURCE COMMITTEE
power to see that their lives are not lost, and to
Rev Eugene Boutilier
see that this opportunity to take a step for peace
Executive Director
Southern California Ecumenical Council
is not missed. This is why we write to you.
Dr. Henry B. Clark, 11
Professor of Social Ethics
We believe that the most immediate danger of
USC School of Religion
nuclear war arises from the European missile crisis.
Rev. Nobuko Miyake-Stoner
Gardena First United Methodist Church
We also believe that the crisis offers what may be our
Rev William Rankin
last opportunity to avert catastrophe and move toward
minister. All Saints Church, Pasadena
real disarmament. If even one nation scheduled to
Mary Clarke
deploy Preshing II or Cruise missiles were to cancel or
Women Strike for Peace
delay deployment, or if the USSR were to announce the
Dr. Lewis Smedes
Professor of Theology and Ethics
dismantling of a significant number of SS-20's, the
Fuller Theological Seminary
draft to destruction would be arrested, and the
Rev R Truman Northup
Executive Minister
impetus to arms reduction would gain momentum.
Such
Pacific Southwest Conference
a step would also lead, in our judgement, to a
Church of the Brethren
decision to end the Fast for Life.
Rev Ignacio Castuera
Superintendent. Los Angeles District
United Metnodist Church
The power to save niavan'lives, and yes, to perhaps
Joseph Hough
save the world from disaster, lies in your hands. Your
Dean. School of Tneology at Claremont
personal call for a delay in deployment/dismantling can
Robert McAfee Brown
Professor of Theology and Ethics
tip the scales toward peace. We urge you to call for
Pacific School of Religion
and support such a delay.
Mark Ridley- Thomas
Executive Director
Southern Christian Leadership
Conference West
You may reply that eleven lives are not important enough to sway national
security policy. We reply that the Fasters symbolize humanity. If we and
you stand by while they die, it is a pale reflection of our abdication of
responsibility as the world drifts toward the final disaster.
You may protest that you will not be pressured by emotional appeals.
We can assure you that the Fast for Life is not such an appeal. The Fasters
have prayed and considered this tep for well over a year. Nor have they any
desire for martyrdom. They are patriots in the highest sense of the word,
inspired no less by love of their fellow inhabitants of the planet than such
past patriots as Joan of Arc, Nathan Hale, Dietrich Bonhoeffer or the Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We urge you to take a step now such as he have suggested. We further urge
you to write the Fasters directly, expressing your concern both for their welfare
and for world peace. In a real sense, their lives are in your hands.
Sincerely,
The Reverend Frederick J. Beebe, D.D.
Synod Executive
Synod of Southern California and Hawaii
Presbyterian Church (USA)
1501 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
The Reverend Eugene Boutilier
Executive Director
Southern California Ecumenical Council
1010 S. Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
The Reverend Elias Galvan
Director, Council on Ministries
United Methodist Church
Pacific Southwest Annual Conference
472 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA 91109
The Reverend R. Truman Northup
Executive Minister
Church of the Brethren
Pacific Southwest Conference
P.O. Box H, La Verne, CA 91750
The fasters may be reached at Fast for Life, 942 Market St #710, San Francisco,
CA 94102