On 24th February 2022 Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces. As Christian leaders, we stand together in our response. We lament and grieve the catastrophe and carnage which this war has inflicted upon men, women, and children in Ukraine.

We pray for the cessation of war and the flourishing of peace. We wholeheartedly affirm that Ukrainians, whether recent refugees or previous residents, are welcome here!

We request that MPs, Councillors and the Mayoral Authority in West Yorkshire work with politicians nationally to grant safe and timely passage for Ukrainian refugees to stay in our region and that the compassionate offers of accommodation through hosting be appropriately utilised.

We encourage everyone in our region to play their part in supporting the people of Ukraine, whether through prayer, financial giving, donating appropriate items, or offering to host refugees or support them in other ways. Many of us have been encouraged by the work of the Christian Community in Ukraine and the surrounding nations to support those affected by the war. We admire their tireless hard work, sacrifice and huge bravery and continue to pray for everyone impacted by the conflict.

We also ask for compassion towards the people of Russia who live here, for many Russians have experienced hardship themselves and many oppose the war.

At this time of Easter, Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the Cross at Calvary in Jerusalem. We also remember the huge hardship, physical and mental torture and sacrifice that is being experienced in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and many other cities, towns and villages. We pray that God would grant peace to Ukrainian people wherever they are and that they will be comforted and find hope at Easter. (More details in the Yorkshire Evening Post.)

This letter is signed by 100 Church and Christian leaders:

John Davy – Pastoral Associate at Gateway Church Leeds

Matt Barlow – Senior Pastor at The Light Church Bradford

Tony Hodges - City Vision National Coordinator (Wakefield)

Fr. Petro Somikov - Priest of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in UK (Resident in Bradford)

Revd Mike Reid, Elim Church Huddersfield

Right Reverend Marcus Stock, Catholic Bishop of Leeds

Revd Jon Swales – Pastor of Lighthouse

Dave Paterson – Project Manager at Unity in Poverty Action (UPA)

Revd Ruth Wood, Minister of Dewsbury Baptist Church

Andy Jolley - Archdeacon of Bradford

Tony Parry - Senior Pastor & District Bishop, New Testament Church of God, Leeds

Eleanor Brennan - Ministerial Assistant for Wakefield Baptist Church

Rev. Jack Skett & Rev. Annie Skett, Senior Leaders, Dewsbury Elim Church.

Revd - Denver Thompson - New Life Community Church Yeadon

Revd Martin Cawley, Deacon at SS Peter and Paul Church, Yeadon

Revd Alistair Kaye – Vicar at St Luke’s Church Beeston

Pastor Stephen Reilly - Senior Pastor, Bridge Community Church

Matt Hatch (Senior Pastor) & Dan Chadwick (Pastor) Mosaic Church, Leeds

Stuart Morris - Senior Pastor City Valley Church (Bradford / Aire Valley)

St Matts Church (Leeds)

David Cole – Elder at Gateway Church

Anna Bland – Coordinator of Leeds Sanctuary.

Revd Dr Angela Birkin Team Vicar, St Michael, All Angels’ Headingley and All Hallows’ Team

David & Alison Flowers – Senior Pastors of Leeds Vineyard

Revd Richard Walker - St Johns Yeadon

Revd Helen Lambert - Trinity Rawdon

Father Murray St Peter’s & Paul Catholic Church

Fr Alexander Crawford, St Margaret’s Church, Wells Road, Ilkley

Revd Lindsey Pearson Vicar of Beeston

Cliff Allchin, Major – Leeds Central Salvation Army Corps

Mark Kelly - Freedom Initiatives

Mark Harlow - Vicar of St Paul’s Ireland Wood

Revd Heston Groenewald - Vicar of All Hallows Leeds

John Casey – Chair of Trustees at Leeds South and East Foodbank

Chris Frost – Head Elder at Gateway Church

Rick Thomas, Community Church Leeds.

Duncan Stow, Horsforth Chaplaincy Project

Adam Dickson - Associate Vicar of St. John’s Great Horton and St. Wilfrid’s Lidget Green

Revd Ashley Evans, Minister at Bolton Villas Family Church

Chris & Lisa Mason, leaders of Grace City Church, Bradford

Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK

John Bavington, Vicar of Great Horton and Lidget Green, Bradford

Colin Lowther – CEO @ Reach Beyond / The Millside Centre.

Hannah Raitt - Assistant Curate, St Matthew’s Bankfoot and St Stephen’s West Bowling,

Revd Hannah Lievesley – St Chads Church, Headingley.

Revd Pete Gunstone - Curate, Fountains Church Bradford, Church of England

Isaiah & Adejoke Oyedele - Lead Pastors, Chosen Church

Rachel Dawson; Assistant Pastor @ The Light Church Bradford

Nicola Johnson, Christopher Rushton, Diane Speck - Deacons of Clayton Gospel Hall.

Dr Abimbola Oladokun – Deacon at Cloverleaf Christian Centre

Revd Joanna Seabourne, Area Dean, Headingley.

Revd Dr Che Seabourne, Curate, St George’s Church Leeds, Church of England General Synod.

Theo Sheridan – Wellsprings Together and Leeds Christian Community Trust

The Revd Mark Smith, Vicar of Rawdon, Minister with Deaf People in the Diocese of Leeds

Revd Tim Lowe, St Andrew’s Roundhay United Reformed Church and Wigton Moor United Reformed Church

Revd. Lynne Grey – All Souls Church

Bob Bailey - Team Rector, Allerton Bywater, Kippax and Swillington

Ericcson T. Mapfumo Assistant Curate St Martin’s Potternewton, Leeds

Revd James H. Turner, Middleton

Pastor (Dr) Kemi Ilori, General Overseer, Living Hope Church

Andi Hofbauer, Vicar of St Aidan’s Leeds (CofE)

Claire Probert – Leeds Space Network

Karen and Jonathan Gray – Overseers of Connecting Crossgates

Ben Jones – Project Manager at Missional Generation

Pastor Elizabeth Osunde - The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Holy Ghost Zone, Leeds.

Ebenezzer Ayree- Pastor at Good Shepherd Church.

Simon Dowling - Horsforth Town Councillor

Co-chair of LTHT Christian Network.

Shelley Dring - Children and Families lead at Moortown Baptist

Revd. Jo James, Minister, Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds.

Reverend Olusola Ransome-Kuti - The Amazing Grace Christian Centre.

Mr Aidan Schooley - Mentor Coordinator, In2Out, HMYOI Wetherby.

Cllr Andrew Scopes for Beeston and Holbeck ward.

Cllr Emma Flint in Headingley and Westwood

Ian & Julie Nundy - Lead Pastors Vision Church, Leeds

Jim Roland - Church Warden at Wrangthorn St Augustine Church.

Pastor Sheyi - In His Presence Four Square Church

Cllr Abigail Marshall Katung in Woodhouse and Little London - Lead Member for Faith and Religion

Revd Dr Joshua Cockayne, Holy Trinity Boar Lane

Neruka White - Jesus Christ Apostolic Church

Richard and Kate Colbrook, pastors, Community Church Leeds

Tim Wyatt - Wyatt and Co

Revd Andy and Norma Hobbs, Leaders, Harehills Lane Baptist Church.

Revd Steve Lees - Church of England Chaplain at BTHFT

Rev. Simon and Gladys Mudada - AFM House of Prayer Church Harehills, Leeds

Eleanor Brennan - Ministerial Assistant for Wakefield Baptist Church

Peter Morden – Senior Minster at Cornerstone Baptist Church

Ben Lawrence - Team leader at Leeds Faith in Schools

Tim Thomas, Priest in Charge, St John’s Bowling, Bradford

Deborah Warren, Pioneers Team Leader, Bradford; Cross-Cultural/Cross-Faith Educator.

Revd Rachel Ward - Methodist minister Leeds South and West Circuit

Catherine Beaumont – Manager Leeds Christian Community Trust

Roger Quick – Chaplain at St George’s Crypt

Revd Jo Lightowler, Superintendent Minister Leeds South and West Methodist Circuit

The Revd Rob Denton, Vicar of Calverley

Sarah Jackson and Laura Hodgson – Senior Leaders at Kidz Klub

Paul Lancaster - Hope for the Nations

Paul Cloke - Senior Steward West Leeds Community Church, LSW Methodists

Revd Richard Dimery – Vicar of Pudsey (Church of England)

Will Munton - Missional Social Action Lead, The Oak Church

Revd Micky Munroe - Senior Minister at Guiseley Baptist Church

Tom Thrower - Pastor of Redeemer Church Leeds

David Horsfall - Director of Leeds School of Theology

Revd Keith Fraser – Smith – Christ Church Upper Armley