Tennessee clergy are speaking out against HB1840, known as Hate Bill 1840, with the following statement:

"As faith leaders and clergy serving people in Tennessee, we urge the Tennessee House of Representatives to reject House Bill 1840, which allows counselors to turn clients away based on the counselor's religious beliefs.  Those seeking counseling deserve the highest standard of care and we believe the American Counseling Association's code of ethics provides that standard."

Rev. Emily Reeves Grammer, Nashville

Rev. Dr. Bruce W. Spangler, Knoxville

Rev. Michael Williams, Nashville

Rev. Adam Kelchner, Nashville

Rev. Tim Kobler, Knoxville

Rev. Nancy Speas Hill, Franklin

Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, retired, The United Methodist Church, Hermitage

Rev. Allison Hancock, Memphis

Rev. Deven Hazelwood, Johnson City

Rev. Pamela Hawkins, Nashville

Rev. Eric Posa, Memphis

Rabbi Josh Barton, Nashville

Rev. William (Will) Berger, Franklin

Rev. Laura Bogle, Maryville

Rev. Bryan Currie, Nashville

Jon Coffee, ministerial candidate, Knoxville

Rev. Cynthia Andrews-Looper, Memphis

Rev. V. Jill Sizemore, Knoxville

Rev. Ken Carroll, Chattanooga

Rev. Andrew B. Ward, Goodlettsville

Rev. Orisha Bowers, Memphis

Rev. Paul Slentz, Nashville

Rev. Steve Wolf, Clarksville

Rev. William Warren, Germantown

Rev. John A Smith, Nashville

Rev. Byron Forester, Memphis

Rev. Steven Shelton, Bartlett

Rev. Lisa Anderson, Memphis

Rev. Mark Brown, Memphis

Rev. Dr. Gillian Marie Klee, Memphis

Rev. Ruth Lovell Bradham, Cordova

Rev. Anne Fraley, Lebanon

Rev. James C. Pappas III, Fayetteville

Rev. Dorothy Chatham Hartzog, retired Episcopal priest, Clarksville

Rev. Mark C. Pafford, Cookeville

Rev. Michael Alford, Nashville

Rev. Lisa Gwock, Nashville

Rev. Joey Reed, OSL, Jackson

Rev. Kira Schlesinger, Lebanon

Pastor Tommy Artist, Johnson City

Bishop Charles Headley, Jefferson City

Rev. Cheryl Cornish, Memphis

Rev. John Burruss, Memphis

Barney Self, Ed.D., LMFT, Pastoral Counseling Minister and President of TNAMFT, Forest Hills

Bishop Patrick Potts, Johnson City

Rabbi Shana Goldstein Mackler, Nashville

Rev. Eric S. Greenwood, Jr., Nashville

Rev. Eugene J. Bolton, Nashville

Cantor Tracy L. Fishbein, Nashville

Rev. Greg Bullard, Madison

Rev. Renee Dillard, Memphis

Rev. Kevin Mitchell, Murfreesboro

If you are a member of the clergy serving people in Tennessee and would like to sign the statement, contact us with your name and city at [email protected] .