February 7, 2023

Dear Governor Ivey:

We know that your strong Christian faith is central to your life and your leadership of our state. As
leaders of a cross-section of faith communities in Alabama, we are writing to you about our urgent
concerns in a matter of crucial significance across faith traditions: the administration of the death penalty.

We are grateful that you paused executions in November and ordered a “top-to-bottom” review
of the state’s execution process. This was a bold and necessary step following three executions in
a row that have gone awry. However, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John
Hamm recently shared publicly that the review should be completed in a month or two. Given the
gravity of what has transpired, we respectfully request a comprehensive, independent, and external
review of Alabama’s death penalty procedures.

As faith leaders, we are responsible for guiding and shepherding thousands of Alabamians to daily live
out the tenets of their faith, to be ethical, moral, compassionate human beings. Our beliefs are varied
and our communities diverse, but we all agree that the unnecessary pain and suffering at the hands of
the state where we live and worship demands our response. All of us are called by the Prophet Micah
to “do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

For now, we are asking for transparency, accountability, and humility in how the State of Alabama
undertakes responsibilities that implicate every resident of this state, indeed each citizen who lives under
this government. The review process should not be shrouded in secrecy.

The work in other conservative states provides a model for independent review.

In May 2022, Tennessee's Republican Governor, Bill Lee, announced plans to launch a third-party
review of the state's lethal injection protocols. The results of that independent review were released in
December of the same year and found that the state repeatedly failed to follow its own protocols in
performing seven executions and preparing for an eighth between 2018 and 2022. The state is now
taking time to review those findings and implement changes.

A similar review was also conducted in Oklahoma when then-Governor Mary Fallin halted all executions
after the botched executions of Clayton Lockett and Charles Warner, during which the state had used an
unauthorized drug to carry out the execution, and ordered a review of the process. A separate independent
commission in Oklahoma led by three co-chairs, former Governor Brad Henry, retired Court of Criminal
Appeals Judge Reta Strubhar, and former U.S. Magistrate Judge Andy Lester also conducted a top to bottom
review of the death penalty and identified many issues that needed to be addressed.

We speak with a united front in requesting an independent, external, comprehensive review of Alabama’s
execution protocols and procedures, as has been done in other states with similar problems. Such a review
must include greater transparency concerning nitrogen hypoxia, as well. We are very concerned that the
state is even contemplating a form of execution which involves gassing people to death.

As you well know, conditions within the Alabama prison system, including profound loss of life by homicide,
suicide, and drug overdose, have led to a federal lawsuit and documentation of shameful human rights
abuses for several years. These conditions persist unabated. The fact of the matter is that an agency that
has failed repeatedly to get its own house in order cannot be trusted to privately conduct an investigation into
problems it is causing.

How can we claim to be a state that values human life at all stages if we continue to devalue life in
this manner?

The death penalty also precludes the possibility of redemption. When so many of the condemned men
committed their crimes at such a young age, many before the age of 25, we find it regrettable that these
young men are denied a chance to redeem themselves or atone for what they have done. God’s Word is
clear: all life is precious. When there is life, there is hope – there is the ability to seek repentance and truth.
This seeking takes place even in the hearts of those who have committed the most heinous of crimes. Death
cuts short this search for redemption. The very least we can do is to ensure the time these men and women
have left is not marred by the fear of a tortuous death.

We applaud you for pausing executions and ordering an investigation. Now is the time to ensure that the
values we share are not cast aside and that ethical treatment of “the least of these” includes all of human
creation, even the men and women on Alabama’s Death Row.

Sincerely,

Fisher Humphreys Dr. Gary Furr Joseph Kameron Pugh

Professor of Divinity, Emeritus, Samford Retired Pastor Reverend
University Vestavia Hills Baptist Church Iron City Church
Baptist (Beeson Divinity School) Vestavia Hills Birmingham
Birmingham

Reggie Holder Richard Williams Paula Eknes-Tucker

Director of Ministries Lead Pastor Senior Pastor
Highlands United Methodist Church Metropolitan United Methodist Church Pilgrim Church UCC
Birmingham Montgomery Birmingham

Dr. Sue Westfall Bishop Harry Seawright Reverend. Joe Genau

Reverend Presiding Prelate Pastor
Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley 9th District of the African Methodist Edgewood Presbyterian Church
Birmingham Episcopal Church Homewood
Birmingham

Reverend Julie Conrady Reverend Dr. Gloria Penn Taylor Dale Cohen
Minister Pastor United Methodist Pastor
Unitarian Universalist Congregations of AME Zion First United Methodist Church
Birmingham and Tuscaloosa Montgomery Florence

Leonard E Cammack Ronald Taylor Reverend Shane Isner

Pastor Pastor Senior Minister
Hall Street Baptist Church Fairfield CME Church First Christian Church (Disciples
Montgomery Lisman of Christ) of Montgomery, AL

Doreen McGoldrick Duley Altin DeVonta Anderson Clarence Heath

Reverend Pastor Bishop
United Methodist Saint Paul AME Church Adamsville CME Church
Vestavia Hills Adamsville Jefferson County
Al Sutton jr Lilly Rainey Sandra Knedlik
Pastor Presiding Elder Reverend
Living Stones Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church East Lake United Methodist
Fultondale Anniston Church
Birmingham

Jerrell C Hicks Kiki Terry Waymond Smith

Pastor Reverend Pastor
Methodist Trinity UMC Loweschapel United Methodist
Talladega Talladega Church
Huntsville

Velma Thomas Victor L. Harkins, Sr. James C. Fields,Jr.

Pastor Pastor Pastor
St. Paul CME Church Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church St. James UMC
Jacksonville Bessemer Hanceville

Reverend. Carolyn Foster Reverend. Carolyn Foster Edward J Nettles

Deacon Moderator Pastor Emeritus
St. Mark's Episcopal Church Alabama Faith Council Baptist
Birmingham Birmingham Montgomery

Daniel I. Johnson Reverend Dr. Kevin Higgs Reverend Tiffany C. Chaney

Pastor Pastor Pastor
First Missionary Baptist Church of United Methodist Church Gathered by Grace
Cropwell Birmingham Montgomery
Pell City

Dr. Joseph Scrivner Manuel Williams Raymonda Speller

Reverend Pastor/Mission Director Senior Pastor
Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church Resurrection Catholic Missions Community Congregational
Tuscaloosa Montgomery United Church of Christ
Montgomery

Emily Freeman Penfield Errol Davis Reverend Dr. Randy B Kelley

Reverend Pastor Senior Church Pastor
Woodlawn United Methodist Church New Beginnings Christian Church Lakeside United Methodist
Birmingham Huntsville Church
Huntsville

Charles Bernard Williams Latonia Crutcher Nicole Newton

Clergyman Pastor Reverend
St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Conley Chapel CME Church First Presbyterian Church of
Church Huntsville Birmingham
Birmingham Birmingham

Henry N Gibson Paul Harton Emily Aker

Pastor Reverend Reverend
Avondale UMC, East Lake UMC, & Methodist Antioch AME Zion
Woodlawn UMC Birmingham Huntsville
Trussville

Julian Ashley Stephanie York Arnold Reverend. Matthew B Ingram

Pastor Reverend Pastor
CME Church Birmingham First United Methodist First Presbyterian Church of
Talladega Church Alabaster
Birmingham Alabaster
Jonathan Tschida Brenda Clarke Steven Henkin
Trustee/Assistant Pastor Reverend Rabbi
New Life Pentecostal Helpmate Ministries Temple Beth-El
Shelby County Birmingham Birmingham

Cynthia Carter Malcolm L Marler Adam Wright

Episcopal Priest Wellness Advocate - UAB MEDICINE Rabbi
Retired Episcopal Priest Temple Emanu - El
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham

John Cantelow III Ramone R. Billingsley Stanford Jeffrey Young

Pastor Pastor Pastor
Sixth Avenue Baptist Church Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church Church at Birmingham
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham

Katrina Love Chad McEachern John Neville

Clergy President & CEO Psychologist
AME Zion Edmundite Missions Valley Christian Church
Tuskegee Selma Mountain Brook

Ramona Russell Dollie Howell Pankey Erica Cooper

Evangelist Reverend Pastor
Mission Possible Community Services, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Baptist Church of the Covenant
Inc. Birmingham Birmingham
Jefferson

Emily Altman Robert Blackwell Ava Rozelle

Elder; Chair or Mission, Peace, and Priest Associate Pastor
Justice Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Pell City First United Methodist
Grace Presbyterian Church Auburn Church
Tuscaloosa Pell City

Reverend Katie Gilbert Dr. Ed Hurley Dr. Gregory Scott

Executive Pastor Reverend Reverend
First United Methodist Church South Highland Presbyterian Church Phillips CME Church
Birmingham Birmingham Huntsville

Warren Harold Simpson Reverend Robert McCloud

Reverend Reverend Pastor
AME Zion Mount Zion A. M. E. Zion Church A M E Zion church
Tuscaloosa Hayneville Montgomery

Linda Sims-Lilly Robert Lewis Nathaniel Wilder Jr

Reverend Senior Pastor Pastor
Saint Thomas A.M.E. Zion Chùrch The House of Restoration UMC Mission Little Rock AME Zion Church
Choctaw County Birmingham Grand Bay,Al

Kathleen Navarra Reverend David Seamon Scott Looper

Sisters of St. Joseph Minister Rabbi
Our Lady Queen of Peace Independent Presbyterian Church Temple Beth Or
Selma Birmingham Montgomery
Sharown Hawkins David Barnhart Debra Kaye Wallace-Padgett
Reverend, Pastor Doctor Bishop
McComb Chapel A.M.E. Zion CHurch Saint Junia United Methodist Church United Methodist Church
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham

R. LaMon Brown ; Valerie Burton Dr. Mark LaGory Matthew Montgomery

Reverend; Associate Pastor Reverend Reverend
Baptist Church of the Covenant St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Canterbury United Methodist
Birmingham Birmingham Mountain Brook

Sheryl Thornton Adam Mixon Julie B Holly

Pastor Pastor Reverend
Canterbury United Church Zion Spring Baptist Church Birmingham-Southern College
Mountain Brook Birmingham Religious Life
Birmingham

Reverend Jennifer Sanders Reverend Gann Waters-Wright Elizabeth McCaskill

Coordinating Pastor Sr. High Pastor Reverend
Beloved Community Church, UCC United Methodist Church AME Zion
Birmingham Birmingham Evergreen

James L Evans David W. Graves Dr. R. Drexel Rayford

Minister, Retired United Methodist Bishop Reverend
Baptist Alabama-West Florida Conference Baptist Church of the Covenant
Pelham Montgomery Birmingham

B. Keith Putt Sarah Shelton Gates Shaw

Professor of Philosophy Pastor Emeritus Reverend
Baptist (Samford University) Baptist Church of the Covenant Episcopal
Hoover Birmingham Birmingham

Brad Mitchell Ronnie Brewer Sister Madeline Contorno, OSB

Chaplain Retired pastor Pastoral Associate
Tyson Foods Baptist Roman Catholic
Eufaula Birmingham Birmingham

Lynn Douglas John Mobley Tripp Martin

Outreach Coordinator Regional Minister Minister
St. Paul UMC Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Auburn First Baptist Church
Birmingham Alabaster Auburn

James Wilson Dr. James S. Clifford T. J. (Ted) Mashburn

Senior Pastor Reverend Reverend
First Presbyterian Church of Carbon Fairhope Christian Church Josephine Baptist Church
Hill, AL (PCUSA) Fairhope Josephine, Baldwin County
Carbon Hill

Cecelia Ann Walker Kathy Wolf Reed Nick Reed

Ordained Clergy Reverend Reverend
Greater Shiloh Baptist Church First Presbyterian Church PC(USA) First Presbyterian Church PC
Birmingham Auburn (USA)
Auburn
Terrence Jones Jane Hiles Sandra Cole
Lead Pastor Clerk of Ministry and Nurture Reverend
Strong Tower at Washington Park Birmingham Friends Meeting (Quakers) Mount Zion AME Church
(Baptist) Birmingham Florence (Laurderdale County)
Montgomery

Dr. James W. Williams Leanne Pearce Reed Jennifer Edmonds

Chair, Church & Society Committee Co-Pastor Minister
Anniston First United Methodist Church Southminster Presbyterian Church Breaking Chains Ministry
Anniston (USA) Phenix City
Vestavia Hills

CJ Van Slyke Reverend Eric Hall Susan A. Clayton

Reverend. Deacon Associate Minister Reverend
St Stephen’s Episcopal Peace Baptist Church Presbyterian Church (USA)
Vestavia Birmingham Birmingham

Contessa Ward Keith O. Williams Reverend Dr. Majadi Baruti

Outreach Reverend Priest
Church of God St. Mark Missionary Baptist Udja Temple
Birmingham Church/Great I Am Ministries Outreach Birmingham
International
Birmingham

Carmen Lau Peggy Sanderford Ponder Gerri Aston

Chair Adventist Forum Board Baptist Reverend., MDiv, BCC Reverend
Seventh-Day Adventist Chaplain and pastoral psychotherapist St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Birmingham at Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham
Birmingham

Melissa Self Patrick William M King Mary McGehee

Reverend Episcopal Priest Sister
United Methodist Church- North AL St Andrews Church, Benedictine Sisters of Cullman
Jefferson Birmingham AL
Cullman

Michael Goldsmith Bruce Lanier Reverend. Josh Noah

The Reverend Founder Pastor
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Secular Humanist Open Table United Church of
Huntsville Birmingham Christ
Mobile

John Gregory Michael Wilson Sonya Gravlee

Chaplain Reverend Reverend
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Retired United Church of Christ
Leeds Birmingham Trussville

Reverend. Lynn Hopkins Shirley A. Richards Marc Burnette

Minister D.Min., Pastoral Counselor, LPC, The Reverend
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of NBCC, ACPE Psychotherapist Canterbury Episcopal Chapel
Montgomery Vestavia Hills Baptist Church Tuscaloosa
Montgomery Birmingham

Fr. Jon Chalmers Larry Steven Hunt Ruby Heard-Bustamonte

Pastor MD Pastor
Prince of Peace Catholic Church Independent Presbyterian Church Wayman Chapel A. M. E.
Hoover Birmingham Church
Valley Grande, Dallas County
Fr Joseph Culotta Jim Flowers Father Gregory Ned Blevins
Pastor Saint Francis Xavier in The Reverend Reverend
Birmingham All Saints Episcopal Church Antiochian Catholic Church in
Catholic Diocese of Birmingham Mobile, AL America
Birmingham Birmingham

Dr. D. Clarke Skelton Adam Burns Kelley Hudlow

Pastor Reverend The Reverend
Mountain Brook Baptist Church Church of the Reconciler UMC The Episcopal Diocese of
Birmingham Birmingham Alabama
Birmingham

Sara Burress, O.S.B. Amanda Dosher Bart Grooms

Sister Reverend Reverend
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church St. James Episcopal Church Baptist Church of the Covenant
Birmingham Fairhope Birmingham

Bobby Gourley The Reverend Dr Mary Jayne Reverend. Raymond A.

Lead Pastor Ledgerwood Dunmyer
Christ Chapel Rector Retired Catholic Priest
Florence Trinity Episcopal Church Catholic
Midtown Mobile Pelham

Reverend. Robin Blakemore Sister Deborah Kennedy,RSM Pamela A Canzater

Associate Minister Sister Reverend
First Christian Church Birmingham Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Beloved Community, United
Birmingham Mobile Church of Christ
Birmingham

Bill Blackerby Reverend. Jaimie Dingus Susan Rose McKee

The Reverend Minister The Reverend Deacon
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Unitarian Universalist Church of St Paul’s Episcopal Chapel
Birmingham Huntsville Magnolia Springs
Huntsville

Father Jonathan Howell Dr. Thomas R. Osborne Elizabeth Goodrich

Catholic Priest Reverend, Deacon Reverend
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Trinity Episcopal Church Presbyterian Church USA
Birmingham Florence Birmingham

Marissa Whitson Mary Bea Sullivan Dr. Malcolm L Marler

Minister Reverend (Associate Rector) Reverend (Former Director of
Christian Leaders Alliance St. Luke's Episcopal Church Pastoral Care)
Birmingham Birmingham UAB Medicine
Birmingham

Kelsey Grissom Sidney Joe Elmore Sarah Smoot

Pastor Retired Reverend Reverend
Camp Branch UMC & North AL United Methodist Church of the Reconciler United
Conference Birmingham Methodist
Birmingham Birmingham

James Lowe Reverend. James A. Platt Pastor Carolyn Hayford

Bishop/Pastor Pastor Pastor
Reformed (Guiding Light Church) Allen Temple AME Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Birmingham Phenix City America
Hoover
Reverend. Charles Youngson Bishop Kevin L Strickland
Associate Rector Bishop
All Saints Episcopal Church Southeastern Synod
Homewood Evangelical Lutheran Church
In American