A number of Candler faculty, alumni, and current students have signed their names to a letter adamantly rejecting proposals by two dozen U.S. governors to block Syrian refugees from entering the United States. The letter, entitled “A Call to Prayer and Action to Welcome Syrian Refugees,” contains the signatures of nearly 1,700 clergy and faith leaders from around the country, including 119 from Georgia.

“As faith leaders, we seek to honor Scripture’s call to protect the refugee and the immigrant,” the letter reads. “…We also condemn in the strongest terms proposals to discriminate against refugees on the basis of religion. The Statue of Liberty is not etched with the message ‘Christians only.’”

Georgia clergy delivered the letter to Governor Nathan Deal’s office on Thursday, November 18.

Read the full list of signatories.

Rome News-Tribune: “Georgia Faith Leaders Condemn Governor’s Rejection of Refugees”

WABE News: “Clergy Condemn Gov. Deal’s Refusal to Admit Syrian Refugees”