Christians as Voting People of Faith

Name: Christians as Voting People of Faith
Start: 2024-10-08
End: 2024-10-09
Location: Montreat Conference Center

October 8–9, 2024 AdultSpecial Events

This event is hosted by Montreat Conference Center

This fall, we are excited to host two evenings of conversation with Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary, William Yoo.

These discussions will explore the intersection of politics and faith. You can attend just one or both!

The first event will be in person on Tuesday, October 8, at 7:00 pm in Upper Anderson. No registration is necessary. The session will be recorded.

The second event will be entirely virtual on Wednesday, October, at 2:00 pm EDT. To sign up to receive a link for this event, click here. This session will also be recorded and available at a later date.

Discussion Topics
October 8 at 7:00 pm (In-person)	“Was Not our Blessed Lord a Political Preacher?” How the Abolition Movement and Proslavery Christianity Shaped the Relationship between Faith and Politics in the United States
October 9 at 2 pm (Virtual only)	The Church Cannot Be Silent, but What Should It Say? Confronting White Christian Nationalism and Pursuing Racial Justice in our Politically Polarized Nation

Both events are free of charge and open to the public.

Questions? Email Carol Steele at carols@montreat.org.

Leadership

Discussion Topics

Tuesday, October 8 (In person) | Upper Anderson | 7:00 PM

"Was Not Our Blessed Lord a Political Preacher?"
How the Abolition Movement and Proslavery Christianity Shaped the Relationship between Faith and Politics in the United States

In 1813, the Black abolitionist and pastor Lemuel Haynes appealed to Jesus Christ’s ministry and asked, “Was not our blessed Lord a political preacher?” Haynes interpreted the ways in which Jesus spoke out against oppression as a mandate for Christians in the United States to work toward ending both slavery and racial discrimination. As abolitionists such as Haynes urged churches to engage politics for the sake of moral reform, some white pastors and theologians responded with a call for churches to refrain from political participation. William Yoo explores how the abolition movement and proslavery Christianity wrestled with faith and politics and explains how this history continues to reverberate as we grapple with our understanding of Christians as voting people of faith.

Wednesday, October 9 | Virtual | 2:00 PM EDT

The Church Cannot be Silent, but What Should It Say?
Confronting White Christian Nationalism and Pursuing Racial Justice in our Politically Polarized Nation

In recent years we have witnessed the reemergence of white Christian nationalism, an ideology that interprets the founding of the United States as a white and Christian nation and insists that our country should be governed under these racial and religious priorities. William Yoo identifies the historical inaccuracies and roots of white Christian nationalism and offers counsel on how to talk with others about this specific ideology and larger questions about race, politics, and faith. This virtual event also engages the history of American polarization and treats how Christians today can speak the truth in love and effectively pursue racial justice in our congregations and wider communities.