As Christians blessed to do the work of advocating for the inclusion and needs of LGBTQ people, we wish to express our deep grief over the killings this week in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We offer the North Carolina Muslim community our love and solidarity.

Chapel Hill is a city built on a hill, on the dream of tolerance and welcome, and this unthinkable violence attacks the heart of the ideal of safe, loving community.

Today we reaffirm our faith in a world with room for all people, where all people have an absolute right to the religion of their choosing, and all people have the right to express their faith without fear of violence.

Today we remember the words of Yusor Abu-Salha, one of the young people murdered in Chapel Hill this week.

Growing up in America has been such a blessing. And although in some ways I do stand out, such as the hijab I wear on my head, the head covering, there are still so many ways that I feel so embedded in the fabric that is, you know, our culture.

And that’s the beautiful thing here, is that it doesn’t matter where you come from. There’s so many different people from so many different places, of different backgrounds and religions—but here we’re all one, one culture. And it’s beautiful to see people of different areas interacting, and being family. Being, you know, one community.

Together we must honor Yusor’s dream of a community that is family, that has room for everyone.

Alison Amyx, Believe Out Loud

M Barclay, Reconciling Ministries Network

T.J. and Carolyn Blasing, Knoxville, TN

Bridget Cabrera, Reconciling Ministries Network

Kathie Carpenter, National Consultant and Registrar, The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Timothy DuWhite, Believe Out Loud

The Rev. Gwen Fry, TransEpiscopal

Andy Horner, Board Member, Welcoming Community Network

Ted Jackson, Reconciling Ministries Network

Rev. Robin R. Lunn, Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists

Rev. Rodney McKenzie, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

Alex Patchin McNeill, More Light Presbyterians

Rod Mundy, The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Andy Oliver, Reconciling Ministries Network

Marilyn Paarlberg, Room For All

Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, Reconciling Ministries Network

Rev. Cameron Partridge, TransEpiscopal

Debra Peevey

Rev. Allyson Dylan Robinson, Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.

James Rowe, Believe Out Loud

Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy, United Church of Christ

Vivian Taylor, Intergrity USA

Cameron Van Kooten

Carol Wise, Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests

David E. Woosley

Matthew Vines, Reformation Project

Photo via flickr user Jerome Carpenter; Contact Believe Out Loud to add your name to this list