January 1, 2017

 

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

President-Elect United States of America

 

Dear President-Elect Trump:

As leaders within the U.S. Christian community, we write to offer our congratulations on your recent election victory and to offer our prayers for you and your transition team as you prepare to assume office at the beginning of next year.

Our faith calls us to tend to the most disenfranchised and vulnerable, and we believe that our nation and our government have a responsibility to lead global efforts to combat extreme poverty and disease and to respond to humanitarian emergencies.

During the last two presidential administrations, we have taken a stand to champion the historic funding to fight the HIV/AIDS global pandemic. When we began in 2002, less than 50,000 people who were victims of HIV in Sub Saharan Africa had access to anti-retro viral medications. Today, because of the legislation of PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, over 17 million people have access to the medicines which have saved their lives. We are proud that the United States has been the international cornerstone leader of this funding as a moral response, a charitable response, and a response based on smart power— national security, foreign policy, and economic reasons. 

Now, we need that same type of leadership initiated by the Bush Administration and continued by the Obama administration for HIV/AIDS for women and girls’ health.

When women and girls lack access to the education and resources they need to create a healthy plan for becoming mothers, the result is tragic—303,000 women in developing nations die from preventable complications during childbirth, and 5.9 million children die before their fifth birthday each year. In many cases these mothers and children are without a home or the resources needed for basic care due to conflict, as women and girls make up 80 percent of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees globally.

For the last four decades, the U.S. has led in the global efforts on international family planning. With our leadership, we influence the donor investments for the rest of the world. We know that if women have access to contraceptives and information they need to time and space their pregnancies healthily, lives are saved. The latest studies also suggest that when women have access to contraceptives for healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, we can dramatically reduce abortions worldwide.

Saving the lives of women and children to allow for families to live in greater abundance: to combat hunger and extreme poverty, attend school, and go back to work not only is the beginning of creating a virtuous cycle of sustainability among communities and low-income nations, it’s the right thing to do. Investing in healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies is consistent with our Christian values in protecting life and recognizing the inherent dignity and value of all lives.

As you build your foreign policy and national security teams and policy agendas, we urge you to prioritize investments in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and International Family Planning. We ask that they maintain the current funding levels at a minimum.

Our organizations and the broader faith communities that we represent look forward to working with you and your Administration to advance U.S. leadership in global health and development, and we once again offer our congratulations on your election to the Presidency.

Sincerely,

Kenny & Christiev Alphin, Artist (Big & Rich), Nashville, TN

Andi Ashworth Editor, Art House America, Nashville, TN

Walter August, Jr. -- Author, Sr. Pastor & Chairman of Bethel’s Family Church, Houston, TX

Daphene Baines --Ministry Assistant, Christian Education, Southern Baptist Church, Cincinnati, OH

Stephan Bauman -- CEO and President, World Relief, Baltimore, MD

Steve Berger -- Sr. Pastor, Grace Chapel Leipers, Fork, TN

Kenton & Laurie Beshore -- Senior Pastor, Mariners Church, Irvine, CA

Lisa Bevere -- Author, Speaker & Co-Founder, Messenger International, Colorado Springs, CO

Emily Blackledge -- President, African Leadership, Inc., Brentwood, TN

Jill Boes, RN, BSN -- Clinical and Outreach Director, Hope Clinic for Women, Nashville, TN

Dr. Matthew Myer Boulton -- President and Professor of Theology, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, IN

Annette Bourland -- Sr. VP & Group Publisher, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI

Leigh Brandenburg -- International Missions Team, Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Dale Brantner -- President and CEO, CURE International, Lemoyne, PA

Colleen Buroughs -- Founder, Watering Malawi, Birmingham, AL

Christine Caine -- Founder, Propel Women, Costa Mesa, CA

Tony Campolo, PhD -- Author & Speaker, Eastern University, St. David’s, PA

Fr. Joe Carnes Ananias -- Former Associate Rector, Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Rick Carter -- Child Survival Program Dir., Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO

Mary Beth Chapman -- Author, Franklin, TN

Steven Curtis Chapman -- Artist, Franklin, TN

Jennifer Cooke -- Manager, Amy Grant, Nashville, TN

Chaz Corzine -- Manager, The MWS Group, Franklin, TN

Rev. Beverly Crowetipton – Sr. Pastor, Fairview United Methodist Church, Greenville, SC

David Dark -- Author, Professor of Religious Studies, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Chris Devane -- Executive Director, Children’s Nutrition Program in Haiti, Chattanooga, TN

Frank Dimmock -- Global Poverty Alleviation Catalyst, Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY

Melinda Doolittle – Artist, Franklin, TN

Jean Duff -- President, Partnership for Faith and Development, Washington, DC

Jenny Eaton Dyer, PhD -- Executive Director, Hope Through Healing Hands, Nashville, TN

Rachel Held Evans -- Author & Speaker, Dayton, TN

Paul Frank, PhD -- Executive Director, SIL LEAD, Inc., Washington, DC

Bill Frist, MD -- Chairman, Hope Through Healing Hands, Nashville, TN

Jeanette Fuccella -- Executive Director, Hearts with Haiti, Raleigh, NC

Gary Furr, PhD -- Pastor, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL

Mike Glenn -- Sr. Pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, TN

Amy Grant – Artist, Nashville, TN

Natalie Grant – Artist, Brentwood, TN

Garrett Grigsby -- Executive Director, Christian Connections for International Health, Sterling, VA

Tracie Hamilton -- Philanthropist & Mother, Franklin, TN

Scott Hamilton -- Olympic Gold Medalist & Philanthropist, Franklin, TN

Dan Haseltin --Artist, Jars of Clay, Franklin, TN

Esther Havens -- Humanitarian Photographer, Dallas, TX

Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe -- General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society, The United Methodist Church, Washington, DC

Marcus D. Holman -- Missions Pastor & President of Bethel’s Family Church Global Reach, Houston, TX

Lynne Hybels -- Advocate for Global Engagement, Willow Creek Community Church, S. Barrington, IL

Christopher Ingram -- Senior Pastor, Yates Baptist Church, Durham, NC

Velvet Kelm -- President, The {M}edia Collective, Franklin, TN

Joyce Kinley -- President, Church Women United State of Ohio and Church United of Greater Cincinnati Inc., Cincinnati, OH

The Rev. Dr. Russ Levenson, Jr. -- Rector, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, TX

Francie Likis, DrPH, NP, CNM -- Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, Nashville, TN

Rev. Elizabeth Mangham Lott -- Sr. Pastor, St. Charles Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA

Charlie Lowell -- Artist, Jars of Clay, Franklin, TN

Anne Lucas -- Director, e3 Mission, Mobilization, & Medical, Birmingham, AL

Rev. Damon Lynch, Jr. & Barbara Lynch --Pastor and First Lady, New Jerusalem Baptist Church Cincinnati, OH

Heloise Maconochie, PhD -- Visiting Scholar, Early Childhood Education and Care, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN

Rob Marshall -- President/CEO, Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, Birmingham, AL

Ray Martin -- Emeritus Executive Director, Christian Connections for International Health, McLean, VA

Sarah Masen – Artist, Nashville, TN

Mike McBrayer -- Minister, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL

Joe McIlhaney, MD -- Founder and Chair, The Medical Institute for Sexual Health, Plano, TX

Brian McLaren -- Author & Speaker, Marco Island, FL

Greg McMorrow, MD -- Board member, Christian Flights International, Perryville, KY

Jedd Medafind -- President, Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), McLean, VA

David Moberg -- SVP & Group Publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Nashville, TN

Steve Moore -- Chairman of the Board, The Shalom Foundation, Brentwood, TN

Elisa Morgan -- President Emerita, MOPS International, Colorado Springs, CO

Ken Morris -- Missions Pastor, Church of the City, Franklin, TN

Jeff Moseley -- President/Founder, Fair Trade Services, Brentwood, TN

Jena Lee Nardella -- Co-Founder, Blood:Water &Author, Palo Alto, CA

Jennifer Nettles -- Artist (Sugarland), Nashville, TN

Lindsey Nobles -- COO, If: Gathering, Austin, TX

Christy Nockels -- Artist & Speaker, Franklin, TN

Nathan Nockels -- Music Producer, Franklin, TN

Paul Osteen, MD -- Associate Pastor, Lakewood Church, Houston, TX

J. Jeffrey Palmer -- Executive Director, Baptist Global Response, Nashville, TN

Jackie Patillo -- President, Gospel Music Association, Nashville, TN

Charlie Peacock -- Music Producer & Artist-in-Residence, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN

Mark & Vickie Reddy -- Directors, The Justice Conference, Chicago, IL

Dr. Gus Reyes -- Director, Christian Life Commission, Texas Baptists, Austin, TX

Marlene Rickert, FNP-BC -- Medical Director, Hope for Haiti Foundation, Raleigh, NC

Dr. Samuel Rodriguez -- President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Sacramento, CA

Ash Rogers -- Executive Director, Lwala Community Alliance, Nashville, TN

John Rogers -- Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry, University Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, NC

Rev. Edwin Sanders II -- Sr. Servant, Metropolitan Interdenominational Church, Nashville, TN

Scott Sauls -- Sr. Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN

Jo Saxton -- Director, 3DM; Author & Speaker, Minneapolis, MN

Dan Scott -- Sr. Pastor, Christ Church Nashville, Nashville, TN

Rev. Sarah Shelton -- Sr. Pastor, Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham, AL

Lott Shudde -- Manager, Third Day, Brentwood, TN

Angie Smith -- Author & Speaker, Franklin, TN

Anita Smith -- President, Children’s AIDS Fund International, Washington, DC

Michael W. Smith -- Singer/Songwriter, Franklin, TN

Shepherd Smith -- President, Institute for Youth Development, Washington, DC

Durwood Snead -- Director of GlobalX, North Point Community Church, Atlanta, GA

Anne Stafford, MD -- Pediatrician, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Rev. Becca Stevens -- St. Augustine’s Chapel; Founder, Magdalene/Thistle Farms, Nashville, TN

David Stevens, MD, MA -- CEO, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Bristol, TN

Andrea Summer, MD -- Co-Director, International Adoption Clinic, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Jason Surratt -- Pastor of Stewardship and Global Missions, Seacoast Church, Charleston, SC

Cathy Taylor, DrPH, MSN, RN -- Dean & Professor, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Debbie Taylor -- Artist & Mother, Nashville, TN

Steve Taylor -- Recording Artist & Filmmaker Nashville, TN

Third Day -- Christian Band, Atlanta, GA

David Vanderpool, MD -- Founder, LiveBeyond Thomazeau, Haiti

Stephaine H. Walker, MD -- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Overseer, Mt. Zion Baptist Church Health Care Ministry, Nashville, TN

Jim Wallis -- President and Founder, Sojourners, Washington, DC

Kathy Walmer, MSN, CPNP -- Executive Director, Family Health Ministries, Durham, NC

Barrett Ward -- Founder & CEO, Live FashionABLE, Brentwood, TN

Stefanie Weiland -- Executive Director, LifeNet International, Orlando, FL

Rev. Dr. Rob Weingartner -- Executive Director, The Outreach Foundation, Franklin, TN

Kimberly Williams-Paisley -- Actor & Philanthropist, Franklin, TN

Jessica Wolstenholm -- Author & Co-Founder, Grace for Moms, Brentwood, TN