The Rev. Chris Potter

Dear members of the CJ Committee, My name is Chris Potter, an Episcopal deacon and President of the NH Council of Churches. I share the unified opposition to the death penalty from the following denominations with a combined 300+ churches in New Hampshire: The Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Lutheran Church (ELCA), the Society of Friends (Quakers), and the Unitarian Universalists. We are united in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, who preached "BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL," "LOVE YOUR ENEMY," and "DO NOT JUDGE, OR YOU TOO WILL BE JUDGED." When Jesus witnessed his community about to legally execute a woman caught in adultery, he stopped the execution (John 8:7). There's no doubt Jesus instructs us to have mercy and to be nonviolent. I understand St. Paul wrote that we are to follow civil authorities. Yes, Christians should not antagonize the authorities, but that does condone the authorities' violence. In the same chapter of Romans, he says "LOVE is the fulfillment of the law" and "love does no harm to a neighbor." In fact, Jesus explicitly replaces the old "eye or an eye" with "do not resist an evil person" (Matthew 5:39). Especially to my Christian siblings on the Committee, please remember the preaching of our Savior Jesus Christ and vote AGAINST the death penalty. Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit, which gives us the fruits of the Spirit: love, peace, kindness, and gentleness (Galatians 5:22). Thank you, The Rev. Chris Potter President, NH Council of Churches