Houston Clergy Group Criticizes Rick Perry's Prayerapalooza

Two dozen leaders of Houston churches have signed an open letter criticizing Rick Perry's big summertime prayer meeting in Reliant Stadium.

You're not going to see a lot of Southern Baptist names on the letter -- there's a lot of "universalist" and "unitarian" and churches that support GLBT issues.

The group criticizes the anti-gay agenda of the event's organizer and the overarching Christian-centricness of the thing.

We also express concern that the day of prayer and fasting at Reliant Stadium is not an inclusive event. As clergy leaders in the nation's fourth largest city, we take pride in Houston's vibrant and diverse religious landscape. Our religious communities include Bahais, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Unitarian Universalists, and many other faith traditions. Our city is also home to committed agnostics and atheists, with whom we share common cause as fellow Houstonians.

Houston has long been known as a "live and let live" city, where all are respected and welcomed. It troubles us that the governor's prayer event is not open to everyone. In the publicized materials, the governor has made it clear that only Christians of a particular kind are welcome to pray in a certain way.

"Keeping the church and state separate allows each to thrive and upholds our proud national tradition of empowering citizens to worship freely and vote conscientiously," the letter says. "We are concerned that our governor has crossed the line by organizing and leading a religious event rather than focusing on the people's business in Austin....We ask that Rick Perry leave the ministry to us and refocus his energy on the work of governing our state."

The signatories:

Rev. Dr. Jeremy Rutledge, Minister, Covenant Church, Alliance of Baptists/American Baptist Churches

Rev. Douglas Anders, Conference Minister, South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ

Rev. Paul Beedle, Unitarian Universalist

Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, Minister, Plymouth United Church, UCC

Rev. Beth Ellen Cooper-Davis, Minister, Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Michael Diaz, Director of Connections, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. Pat Farnan, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. Lura Groen, Pastor, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Rev. Teddy Hardy, Minister, St. John United Church of Christ

Rev. Lori Keaton, United Church of Christ

Rev. Harry Knox, Senior Pastor, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. Janice Ladd, Executive Pastor, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. Dr. Becky Edmiston-Lange, Co-Minister, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Mark Edmiston-Lange, Co-Minister, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Mona Lopez, Volunteer Staff Clergy, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. Laura Mayo, Minister, Covenant Church, Alliance of Baptists/American Baptist Churches

Rev. Dr. Daniel O'Connell, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. David Pantermuehl, Grace United Church of Christ

Rev. Adam Robinson, Assistant Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Ken Richter, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church, UCC

Rev. Bill Royster, United Church of Christ

Rev. Sam Schaal, Transition Minister, Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Robert Tucker, Foundation for Contemporary Theology

Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Unitarian Universalist