In recent months, faith communities across the United States have increasingly mobilized to counteract divisive ideologies and promote a vision of Christianity rooted in love and community support. On the ground in Oklahoma City, the coalition Voices Organized in Civic Engagement (Voice) OKC is organizing. They are leading the “1,000 Conversation” campaign to deepen connections between and among member institutions. This effort is one of many to come, working to build greater knowledge and partnerships among faith communities.
With a large base of members drawn from different religious congregations, Voice OKC has grown to be a powerful force in Oklahoma’s local activism. The campaign doesn’t stop at actively creating these bridges in the community. It addresses larger social justice concerns that affect its members. Through these reflective discussions, the coalition hopes to foster a safer, more diverse, more welcoming, and more supportive space for everyone who calls the community home.
Meanwhile, in Florida, faith leaders have gone to the streets to protest outside “Alligator Alcatraz,” demanding meetings with officials and its closure. This community-based movement led from the grassroots celebrates and recognizes this important work that faith organizations are doing to advocate for social justice and thriving communities. Congregations across the state have come together to support their neighbors, reinforcing the idea that faith can be a unifying force against injustice.
In Minneapolis, a local organization called Vote Common Good—including Executive Director Doug Pagitt and Board Chair, the Rev. Along with allies Moms Demand Action and a faith-based coalition, they mobilized to call for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. This initiative underscores the intersection of faith and civic duty, as leaders recognize the importance of addressing gun violence through a moral lens.
Faith leaders such as Lori Walke, senior minister at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, have emerged as powerful voices in the fight against hate and division. Beyond the walls of worship, they’re raising their game. Through the witness of active civic engagement in their broader communities, they reflect and help advance Christian moral values that resist bigotry and hatred.
The toxic and divisive rhetoric pushed by our political leaders, including most notably former President Donald Trump, has sparked our faith communities to action. Trump’s claims of a “war on Christianity” have prompted many to reflect on how religion has been used as a tool for division rather than unity. That’s why faith leaders like you are standing up against this harmful, divisive narrative. They are offering prophetic, inclusive visions of Christianity that emphasize love, compassion, and social justice.
In Chicago, faith leaders have displayed fighting spirit. Despite a much larger police presence and deployment of the National Guard, they still gather to peacefully protest against systemic injustices. Their unwavering focus reminds us that religious communities of faith can be powerful advocates for social change, even when faced with overwhelming political pressures.
Oklahoma City has seen its faith communities rallying together since 2017, when the first Trump administration introduced policies that fueled Islamophobia and discrimination against immigrants. These humble beginnings were a catalyst for future support initiatives that helped get portable sanitation solutions into the hands of those most in need. With Walke at the helm, these faith leaders began meeting on a regular basis. They discovered how they could get involved with the sanctuary movement, providing shelter and aid to those who needed it.
The recent actions by faith communities reflect a broader movement within American Christianity to reclaim its message from extremist narratives. These leaders will not allow religion to be exploited for hateful, divisive ends. They’re literally on the front lines, engaging their congregations, urging them to support justice and equity.
Whether in Oklahoma City, or all over the country, religious communities are proactively working to combat hatred. They are creating culture change based on mutuality, appreciation, and hope. As a result of these collective efforts, they have demonstrated that faith can be a powerful force for social good. It brings people together rather than driving us apart.