Church Leaders Call For Christians To Protest Trump
(ANALYSIS) Our polarized era features unique and quasi-religious devotion toward President Donald Trump from his MAGA base, set against profound hostility from foes of his words and deeds.
Church leaders in that second camp, mostly mainline and liberal Protestants, have issued a new plea worth noting for the extent of its supporters and a markedly fierce denunciation of America’s “cruel and oppressive government.”
“A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy” appears at the conclusion of Trump’s first year this term, in the 250th year of American Independence, and during a closely fought campaign for control of the U.S. House and Senate. The release was timed for Ash Wednesday as believers entered a period of self-reflection and penitence. (As it happened, it was issued just before the momentous American-Israeli attack on Iran, but the text has little interest in foreign policy).
The Call’s writers and organizers are anonymous, though Sojourners magazine's rhetoric is discernible. They recruited 357 original endorsers, not just the usual activists who sign such manifestos, but a good chunk of mainline Protestant officialdom that includes the current and/or former chief executives of:
The National Council of Churches, Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist Churches USA, American Friends Service Committee, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church World Service, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, International Council of Community Churches, Mennonite Church, Moravian Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, and United Church of Christ. Also, numerous bishops of the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and United Methodist Church, and heads of various mainline agencies.
Otherwise, the signers are prominent local pastors, executives with state councils of churches, seminary and university professors, and such authors as Randall Balmer, Diana Butler Bass, Kristin Du Mez, Elizabeth Johnson, Brian McLaren, Jim Wallis and Miroslav Volf. There are a few officials from the historically Black Protestant denominations and Hispanic organizations, Catholic activists and scholars (but no bishops), one figure each from the Eastern Orthodox and Armenian churches, and others. The scattering of those identified as evangelicals includes the current and former presidents of influential Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as five professors there.
These endorsers profess that “Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh,” who therefore receives “our primary allegiance” over all political factions. On immigration, they resist “cruel, unjust, and illegal policies and violent enforcement,” and apply biblical teachings to support immigrants and naturalized citizens said to be “demonized” — without analysis of border security and related criminality. They accuse the current administration of “idolatry” and “heresy” by manipulating religion for political purposes, and of “lies,” “corruption,” “voter suppression,” increasing “economic inequality” and efforts against racial and ethnic “diversity.”
Their repeated, central theme is a “present and urgent reality” that is “sweeping the nation.” This emergency is described as “normalization of lawlessness,” and an “assault” on Americans’ rights and freedoms that threatens “to derail and even destroy our democracy” and lead the nation toward “authoritarian rule” and “tyranny.” The Call pleads for stepped-up public “acts of courage” by Christians. For instance, the movement urges like-minded Christians to join the third round of nationwide anti-Trump “No Kings” demonstrations on Saturday, March 28.
Other major U.S. Christian segments have not decried dangers to democracy in this way. Among many political disputes, the U.S. Catholic bishops chose to address only immigration policies in a rare “Special Message” to the nation they endorsed last November by a 216-5 vote.
Though alarmed by current tactics, the bishops sought a more non-partisan tone and are careful to recognize nations’ “responsibility to regulate their borders,” a popular view among Americans. Last month, the bishops also filed a Supreme Court brief against the Trump Administration that says ending automatic “birthright citizenship” under the 14th Amendment would have “immoral” effects and violate “fundamental” Catholic beliefs.
Immigration, not law and democracy, is also a singular focus of the other major U.S. Christian bloc, white evangelical Protestants (as distinguished from Blacks and Hispanics who share in spirituality but not politics). It may be surprising that 200 prominent evangelicals listed here are united behind “a path toward legal status and/or citizenship” for illegal immigrants, as well as secure borders.
The same two-sided balance was endorsed in December by the National Association of Evangelicals leadership, which also called for “an end to the inhumane treatment of immigrants.” Standing With Our Immigrant Neighbors in a Time of Crisis-National Association of Evangelicals, a Lifeway Research survey last year showed only 25% of evangelicals favor deportation of illegals who’ve lived in the U.S. five years or more without violence or national security threats. No important evangelical organization has supported ICE and Customs and Border Protection tactics.
Will these factors matter during the Nov. 3 midterm elections? Whatever evangelical leaders’ beliefs on immigration, it appears unlikely that members’ lopsided loyalty toward Republicans will slide much.
Mainline Protestant numbers are declining, and it’s doubtful the energized officials’ call to action will either influence or reflect parishioners’ attitudes. More significantly, perhaps, is whether the Trump-Era qualms of Pope Leo XIV, bishops, priests and pundits might sway feelings with swing voters among the one-fifth of U.S. adults who identify as Catholic.
Richard N. Ostling was a longtime religion writer with The Associated Press and with Time magazine, where he produced 23 cover stories, as well as a Time senior correspondent providing field reportage for dozens of major articles. He is a recipient of the Religion News Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has interviewed such personalities as Billy Graham, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI); ranking rabbis and Muslim leaders; and authorities on other faiths; as well as numerous ordinary believers. He writes a bi-weekly column for Religion Unplugged.