Olympia Charter for Compassion

The Olympia community has experienced acts of physical and verbal violence against persons of color, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons, and those of different religious traditions. These acts erode the spirit and purpose of true community.

We seek to reach out to all members of our community, including those who are most vulnerable, to make sure that needs are met, shelter is provided and access to services is guaranteed.

As representatives and members of faith communities, we are rooted in spiritual traditions and teachings about how we are to be in this world, and we bring our spiritual values to bear on these and other civic issues, and we urge others to do the same.

To that end, we, the faith communities of Olympia, submit our statement of shared values that we hope the larger community will adopt as a standard of behavior and as a tool for dialogue as we seek to live together in a way that nurtures the well-being of all people.

  • As a community, we recognize the inherent worth and dignity of all persons. In doing so, we strive to practice respect and compassion towards one another, engage in civil dialogue, honor each individual as we ourselves would like to be honored.
  • As a community, we recognize our interdependence. In doing so, we strive to work collaboratively, bringing all voices to the table to solve community issues for the benefit of everyone.
  • As a community, we believe we must create a society where all people are able to live into their best selves. In doing so, we use our best efforts to work together for the common good. This means that public officials and citizens speak out with one voice against bigotry, racism, and religious prejudice.
  • As a community, we strive to live our shared values as we work to build a community that welcomes and respects the unique gifts brought by all those who make up our diverse Olympia community.

–  November, 2017

Panel 1

Statement of Support for City Council’s Designation of Olympia as a Sanctuary for LGBTQIA2S+

We, members of Concerned Clergy of Olympia (CCO), express our deep gratitude and support to the Olympia City Council for their recent resolution declaring Olympia a sanctuary city for the LGBTQIA2S+ community. CCO is a cohort of progressive clergy committed to social justice and collaboration between and through our religious traditions, and as spiritual leaders, we affirm the inherent dignity and worth of all people, and welcome this move to create a safe and inclusive community.

We are concerned with the growing proliferation of legislative and executive action targeting trans individuals and youth. Laws that seek to shame and exclude, and that target young people in particular, cause physical, emotional, and spiritual harm. We applaud the City Council for taking this action and lend our support as faith community members and leaders.

We celebrate the beloved wholeness of LGBTQIA2S+ persons and the respectful representation of history and culture within our faith communities, schools, public spaces, and our systems of medical and mental care for all people according to what is most supportive for them. We are committed to a societal vision of inclusion, welcome, and safety for all people and particularly call on allies and allied institutions, like the City Council, to continue to show up and stand up for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Acknowledging the previous resolutions proclaiming Olympia’s support and protection for immigrants and those seeking reproductive freedom, we once again join our voices with yours to proclaim that we are all created in the image of God, that the doors to our tent are open and wide, and that we must extend our sanctuaries to protect the most vulnerable among us.

– Presented to Olympia City Council on February 11, 2025

Panel 2

Statement on Black Lives Matter

June 16, 2020

Concerned Clergy of Olympia is firmly in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the pursuit of racial justice in our community. The death of George Floyd, which sparked the recent demonstrations in Olympia and across the country, is not just an individual tragedy, but further evidence of a long history of systemic violence, oppression, and murder of People of Color in the United States.

We are also troubled about the presence of armed militia groups that have begun to appear in Olympia in response to the BLM demonstrations. While everyone has the right to peaceably assemble, rights need to be balanced with responsibilities. The presence of those representing hateful ideologies and openly carrying weapons of violence is destabilizing and threatening, and undermines the important work of peacemaking and the pursuit of justice that is at the heart of the recent BLM protests.

In keeping with the spirit of the Olympia Charter for Compassion, we call on city leadership to examine how the City of Olympia can further the cause of racial justice, including how to best pursue matters of public safety. We ask that the city take any and all action that can be taken to limit the presence of armed civilians, and affirm that ideologies of white supremacy, hate, and oppression of those most marginalized are not welcome here.

Panel 3

Communities of Faith

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Panel 4

Concerned Clergy of Olympia

Concerned Clergy of Olympia is a coalition of religious leaders collaborating on social and civic issues impacting the greater Olympia community. Rooted in the shared understanding of our inter-connectedness, we gather in solidarity across religious traditions to uphold the values of our faiths in the public square.