Dear Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton:

We write in strong support of the opening statement of the Updated Joint Guidance for Houses of Worship you issued on April 21:

“During these challenging times, government and faith communities throughout Texas need to work together to love our neighbors and slow the spread of coronavirus.”

The Updated Joint Guidance later emphasizes the fundamental role faith communities can play: “Houses of worship should help slow the spread of the virus.”

We could not agree more. For us and countless of our colleagues, the strongest demonstration of our love for our neighbors and of our role in helping slow the spread of the virus is clear: Stay closed. We affirm the spiritual and practical wisdom of suspending on-site activities until objective standards of public health and clear guidelines for safe gatherings have been established and fulfilled. As religious leaders, we affirm both the essential value of our faith traditions and the lifesaving wisdom of sound medical advice. Faith and science are partners, not competitors, in the common good.

In affirming the loving role of faith communities in slowing the spread of the virus, we reject the claim that continued closure is somehow an insult to religious faith and freedom. We find it unfortunate that we should be the ones to raise the alarm that the First Amendment is not absolute. Just as free speech does not permit someone to yell “fire” in a crowded theater, so freedom of religion does not permit us to endanger the lives of others by asserting our right to gather and serve as we wish.

The state has a compelling interest in protecting citizens against the mistaken decisions some might make in exercising their religious liberty in these dangerous days of contagion. The recommendations provided in the form of the Updated Joint Guidance cannot adequately ensure the health and well-being of Texans. We believe this situation is a rare example of how and when the free exercise of religion must be limited.

That said, our support for the continued closure of our buildings and suspension of our gatherings is in fact an expression of our faith:

Our faith leads us to compassionate concern for all members of society, and we know that staying closed saves lives.

Our faith leads us to acts of sacrifice, including the temporary sacrifice of familiar modes and places of prayer in order to contribute to public health and the public good.

Our faith warns us about idols, including the idols that even our physical houses of worship can become. Our buildings may be closed, but the hearts of the faithful continue to open: in prayer, in song, in study, in acts of compassion and the urge to justice. From the Israelites’ wandering to Jesus’ trials in the wilderness to Mohammed’s sacred pilgrimage, our traditions have never centered on the fixity of mortar and brick, but on the openness of the human heart.

To maintain community without physical gathering presents a profound challenge to us as religious leaders, but not an impossible one. Across our city and our nation, communities of faith are responding with innovation and love. From the livestreaming of worship services to food-ordering or delivery for people in quarantine to the simple act of congregants’ calling each other to check in, we are all learning new ways to affirm the interconnectedness that is God’s greatest gift to us all. We can practice our faith in this time by supporting protective measures and performing acts of lovingkindness toward health care workers and those who are anguished and despairing.

Furthermore, many faith leaders have offered the use of their facilities as testing sites when deemed appropriate in order to speed the recovery. We have learned new ways to engage community and nurture the soul without endangering the health of our parishioners, neighbors and fellow citizens.

And who are our fellow citizens? While the virus itself makes no distinction based on class, religion, ethnicity or income, it has revealed once again the longstanding disparities in health and health care that unduly plague minority communities. The moral compass of each of our traditions urges us to care for the poor and vulnerable. Acting in their interest now should be our highest priority.

Some communities are endangered not just by the virus, but by prejudice and hate. Ramadan, the holiest month in the Muslim faith, has begun, a sacred time marked by daytime fasting and powerful prayer. Relaxing restrictions on religious gatherings at this time might lead to unsafe gatherings, and could also incite suspicions that Muslims are being treated more favorably than Jews and Christians, who had to refrain from public worship during Passover and Easter. If a second wave of the coronavirus were to occur as a result, the already fragile place of Muslims in our free society will be worsened. We do not want to inflame bigotry when we should be engendering solidarity.

We all long to return to our houses of worship. But our commitment to the health and well-being of our communities takes precedence. We applaud the courageous steps you and other state and local officials have taken in keeping us safe. Don’t stop now. For our part, we will continue to pray in place: to the Creator who gives us life and hope, and for the wisdom and strength of all who lead us.

David Stern is senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas.

George Mason is senior pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.

Other signatories on the letter:

The Rev. Charles L. Aaron Jr., Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

The Rev. Manda Adams, First Community Church

The Rev. Nicole Bates, NorthPark Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Rachel Baughman, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church

The Rev. Damon Blakeley, St. Paul’s AME Church

The Rev. Michael Bowie, St. Luke’s Community United Methodist Church

The Rev. Tommy L. Brown, Baptist Ministers Union of Dallas & Vicinity

The Rev. Richie Butler, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

The Rev. Robert Canady, III, All Nations Fellowship Church, Garland

The Rev. Bryan Carter, Concord Baptist Church

The Rev. Jaime Clark-Soles, Perkins School of Theology, SMU

The Rev. Edlen Cowley, Fellowship United Methodist Church, Trophy Club

The Rev. Ken Crawford, Central Christian Church, Disciples of Christ

Cantor Don Alan Croll, Congregation Beth El Binah

The Rev. Phillip Dieke, Highland Park United Methodist Church

The Rev. Isabel N. Docampo, Perkins School of Theology, SMU

The Rev. Wendy Fenn, Faith & Grief Ministries

The Rev. Eric Folkerth, Kessler Park United Methodist Church

The Rev. Karen Fry, CSLDallas, A Center for Spiritual Living

The Rev. Tami Gallaway, Suncreek United Methodist Church

The Rev. Thomas C. Gibbons, Northridge Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Michael L. Gregg, Royal Lane Baptist Church

The Rev. Jimmy Greene, Faith United Methodist Church

Bishop Erik Gronberg, NT-NL Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Rabbi David S. Gruber, Frisco

The Rev. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Friendship West Baptist Church

The Rev. Deanna Hollas, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

The Rev. Barry E. Hughes, Suncreek United Methodist Church

Bishop T.D. Jakes, Potter’s House Church

The Rev. Larry M. James, CitySquare

Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Faith Commons

The Rev. Marcus King, Disciple Central Community Church

The Rev. Virzola Law, Northway Christian Church

The Rev. Markus Lloyd, Woodcreek Church

The Rev. Debra Loudin-McCann, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Jurrita Williams Louie, Center for Missional Outreach, North Texas Conference UMC

Bishop Mike McKee, North Texas Conference, United Methodist Church

The Rev. Amy Moore, Presbyterian Church, USA

Kate Morgan, Church of the Elohist Thelema

Almas Muscatwalla, Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square

The Rev. Collin Packer, Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, Allen

Rabbi Andrew Paley, Temple Shalom

The Rev. Thomas O. Palmer, First United Methodist Church, Coppell

The Rev. Peyton Parker, First United Methodist Church, Lancaster

The Rev. Vincent Parker, Golden Gate Baptist Church

The Rev. Sheron Patterson, Hamilton Park United Methodist Church

Huseyin Peker, Dialogue Institute Dallas

The Rev. Bryant Phelps, Church of the Disciple, United Methodist Church

The Rev. Victoria Robb Powers, University Park United Methodist Church

Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. Jon K. Reid, International Buddhist Progress Society, Richardson

Maj. Jon Rich, Salvation Army — North Texas Area Command

The Rev. Edwin Robinson, Dallas Black Clergy

The Rev. Karen Romestan, Unity Church

The Rev. Rickie Rush, Inspiring Body of Christ Church

The Rev. M. David Schaefers, First Presbyterian Church, Richardson

The Rev. Casey Shobe, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration

The Rev. Kerry Smith, Greenland Hills United Methodist Church

The Rev. Robert O. Smith, Briarwood Leadership Center, ELCA

The Rev. Marti Soper, Northaven United Methodist Church

The Rev. Amy D. Spaur, Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Church

The Rev. Andy Stoker, First United Methodist Church

Imam Azhar Subedar, Islamic Community, Plano

Imam Omar Suleiman, Yaqeen Institute, Irving

Rabbi Ari Sunshine, Shearith Israel

The Rev. Cathy Sweeney, Arapaho United Methodist Church

The Rev. Neil G. Thomas, Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ

Harbhajan Singh Virdee, DFW Sikh Community

The Rev. Jeff Warren, Park Cities Baptist Church

The Rev. Michael W. Waters, Abundant Life AME Church

The Rev. Preston W. Weaver, St. Paul United Methodist Church

The Rev. Petra Weldes, CSLDallas, A Center for Spiritual Living

Rabbi Elana Zelony, Congregation Beth Torah