On March 16, 2021 eight people were killed and one person wounded by a white gunman carrying out attacks on three Atlanta-area spas. Among the deceased were six women of Asian descent. Hate crimes and attacks against Asian-Americans have been on the rise in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic began, yet these attacks often go overlooked or underreported in the media. United Methodists leaders, including bishops, pastors and general agency leaders, have condemned attacks on persons of Asian descent as part the larger campaign to Dismantle Racism. Here are their statements:
Bishops – North Central Jurisdiction
- Bishop Julius C. Trimble, “Bishop Trimble responds to recent AAPI hate crimes” Indiana Annual Conference (March 22, 2021)
- Bishop David Alan Bard, “Bishop Bard comments on rise in AAPI violence” Michigan and Minnesota Annual Conferences (March 19, 2021)
- Bishop John L. Hopkins “Bishops' Statement on Violence against Asian Americans” Northern Illinois Annual Conference (March 19, 2021)
- Bishop Hee-Soo Jung “A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Jung” Wisconsin Annual Conference (March 18, 2021)
Bishops – Northeastern Jurisdiction
- Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling "Bishop and Korean Caucus call for witness against Asian hate" Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (April 6, 2021)
- Bishop Peggy A. Johnson “Anti-Asian Violence: A call to teaching, preaching, speaking out” Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences (March 19, 2021)
- Bishop John Schol “Message from Bishop Schol | Statement on Aggression against Asian People” Greater New Jersey Annual Conference (March 17, 2021)
- Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi “Methodists Urged to Speak Against Hate” Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference (March 22, 2021)
Bishops – South Central Jurisdiction
- Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. “Bishop urges support for Asian pastors in the Great Plains” Great Plains Annual Conference (March 21, 2021)
Bishops – Southeastern Jurisdiction
- Bishop Ken Carter “A Prayer for Atlanta and our Asian-American Neighbors” Florida Annual Conference (March 17, 2021)
- Bishop Sharma D. Lewis “Violence Against Asians and Asian Americans” Virginia Annual Conference (March 19, 2021)
Bishops – Western Jurisdiction
- Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño “Stop Asian-American Violence: Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño Statement and Call to Action” California-Nevada Annual Conference (March 20, 2021)
- Bishop Bob Hoshibata “Bishop Bob’s Statement on Violence toward the Asian Community” Desert Southwest Annual Conference (March 17, 2021)
- Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky “Standing in solidarity against anti-Asian hate” Greater Northwest Episcopal Area (March 19, 2021)
General Boards and Agencies
- M. Garlinda Burton, Interim General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race “Enough is enough: church must break its silence on racial violence” (March 17, 2021)
- Bishop Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Roland Fernandes, General Secretary of General Board of Global Ministries “Statement on March 16 shootings in Atlanta” (March 18, 2021)
- Jeff Campbell, Acting General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries and Bener Agtarap. “A Call to Stop Anti-Asian Racism” (March 17, 2021)
- United Methodist Women “United Methodist Women Mourns Lives Lost, Expresses Solidarity with Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities” (March 18, 2021)
Caucuses
- New Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAM) and Asian American Language Ministry (AALM) “Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence March 2021” (March 16, 2021)
Other Leaders
- Rev. Dr. Sangwoo Kim “Support for the Asian Community” North Carolina Annual Conference (March 18, 2021)
- United Methodist News “Church leaders decry attacks against Asians” (March 17, 2021)