Resolution #1: Addressing Christian Nationalism

Status

The 175th Convention passed this resolution as amended on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Resolved, That the 175th Convention of the Diocese of California affirms that this diocese is committed to promoting love, justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or orientation, and that this Convention unequivocally condemns Christian nationalism as antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is based on love;

Resolved, That this Convention asks the Bishop to appoint a task force of between three and five members, both clergy and lay, to discuss, plan, and create a digital tool kit of resources and best practices for individual and group use in congregations, schools, and institutions of the diocese on the historical and present developments and dangers of Christian nationalism and to promote an inclusive and welcoming Christian faith;

Resolved, That the task force will build on the Episcopal Public Policy Network Series on Deradicalization and will work in partnership with the Canon for Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice or other appropriate staff members as directed by the Bishop over a period of three years to make the tool kit of resources available through the DioCal website, including:

1. Language and Imagery Guidelines: Suggested language and imagery that can be used to create social media posts, newsletters, and other communications that clearly state The Episcopal Church’s stance against Christian nationalism;
2. Sermon Resources: Sample sermons, biblical reflections, and theological discussions that address the dangers of Christian nationalism and promote an inclusive understanding of the Gospel;
3. Educational Materials: Articles, videos, and discussion guides that can be used in formation classes, youth groups, and other gatherings or group discussion settings to foster understanding of Christian nationalism and dialogue on this issue;
4. Action Steps: Practical steps that can be taken to promote inclusivity and counteract the influence of Christian nationalism;

Resolved, That this Diocese will encourage active utilization of these resources and encourage engagement in ongoing conversations and actions to promote Christ’s message of love, justice, and peace; and

Resolved, That the task force will submit annual progress reports to the 2025 and 2026 Diocesan Conventions and a final report at the 2027 Convention.

Explanation:

 In January of 2021, following the attack on the Capitol, the Executive Council of the General Convention passed resolution MW 036: White Supremacy and Deradicalization as part of The Church’s journey to promote the creation of a Beloved Community. The Episcopal Public Policy Network created a series on deradicalization and established the following working definition:

“’Christian nationalism’ is a commitment to combining Christian and American identities tied in with white supremacist ideologies. This ideology demands that Christianity be granted special treatment by the state while suggesting that the United States is an inherently Christian nation. …  [The term describes] those who have engaged in violent and hurtful narratives and falsely justified them through their understanding of Christianity.”[1]

The 81st General Convention in 2024 then adopted Resolution A081, calling on the whole church to utilize the “established program on deradicalization to ensure a coordinated and effective response.”  This resolution seeks to implement A081 in our diocese.

Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being,” yet we find that the voices of Christian nationalism have co-opted the very name of Jesus in service to a loudly discriminatory theology that insults the name of our Savior. To counteract that Christian nationalist voice, we, the Episcopal Church, must make a strong investment in naming the values that our Savior taught us and advance a positive, loving message. To be effective, congregations need a clearly and uniformly communicated message and access to approved resources within the Episcopal Church with which to craft social media campaigns, prayers, sermons, and educational materials.

Our Episcopal Church does affirm the dignity and worth of every human being, embracing the diversity of God’s creation. Nationalist ideologies which promote division, hatred, and discrimination to help fuel anti-democratic campaigns in the public square are contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ and are relentlessly promoted so that our stance has become a whisper. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for spreading messages and shaping public discourse, including those of Christian nationalist groups; therefore it is imperative for the Episcopal Church to actively engage in the digital sphere to promote messages of love, unity, justice, and equality. Strategic social media campaigns via congregations and other Episcopal entities can effectively counteract Christian nationalist narratives and offer alternative perspectives that promote understanding, reconciliation, and solidarity among all people. It is time. It is needed.

Note: If the work of the Task Force will require more budgetary resources than can be provided by the Canon for Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice and other diocesan staff in the normal course of their work, the Task Force will be expected to submit budget requests to the Committee on Program and Budget for consideration for the diocesan budget in the following calendar year.

[1] https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/eppn-series-on-deradicalization-introduction/

Resources:

81st General Convention Resolution A081: Combat Rising Religious Nationalism (June 2024)
https://www.vbinder.net/resolutions/532?house=HD&lang=en

Resolution EC18to22MW 036: White Supremacy and Deradicalization (Adopted Jan. 25, 2021)
https://extranet.generalconvention.org/governing_and_interim_bodies/executive_council/resolution?id=257

Episcopal Public Policy Network on Deradicalization: Introduction. Office of Government Relations. (Posted June 10, 2022)
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/eppn-series-on-deradicalization-introduction/

EPPN Series on Deradicalization: U.S. Government Response to Domestic Extremism. Office of Government Relations. (Posted June 16, 2022)
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/eppn-series-on-deradicalization-u-s-government-response-to-domestic-extremism/

EPPN Series on Deradicalization: Paths to Deradicalization. Office of Government Relations. (Posted June 30, 2022)
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/eppn-series-on-deradicalization-paths-to-deradicalization/?_thumbnail_id=198142

Deradicalization and Resources to Oppose Christian Nationalism (Posted April 1, 2021)
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/eir/deradicalization-and-resources-to-oppose-christian-nationalism/

Christians Against Christian Nationalism
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/

White Christian nationalism is not Christianity, presiding bishop says during panel discussion (Posted October 27, 2022)
https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/27/white-christian-nationalism-is-not-christianity-presiding-bishop-says-during-panel-discussion/

Opposing Christian Nationalism. The Table.
https://www.thetableindy.org/opposing-christian-nationalism/

“Would you recognize Christian Nationalism when you saw it?” (with links for additional reading). St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Anchorage, AK
https://www.godsview.org/blog/would-you-recognize-christian-nationalism-when-you-saw-it/

Resisting Christian Nationalism: FAQ + Resources. Faithful America.
https://act.faithfulamerica.org/signup/christian-nationalism-resources/

The Crisis of Christian Nationalism: Report from the House of Bishops Theology Committee. Bilingual edition with a discussion guide (English/Spanish). https://www.churchpublishing.org/crisisofchristiannationalism (Publication date: Oct. 1, 2024)

Submitted by:
Paula Hawthorn, Co-Chair — St. Paul’s, Oakland, Social Justice Committee
Pamela Kruse-Buckingham, Treasurer — St. Paul’s, Oakland.
The Vestry of St. Paul’s, Oakland
The Social Justice Committee of St. Paul’s, Oakland (Matthew Schooler, Co-Chair; Trudy Hsu; B. Scott Buckingham)

Endorsed by:
Carolyn S. Knapp, St. Paul’s, Oakland
Todd Bryant, Rector, Saint Timothy’s Danville
Lisa Guevara Perry, Saint Timothy’s Danville; attorney & former vestry member
The Rev. Kathleen Moore, Associate Rector, St. John’s, Oakland
The Wardens of St. John’s, Oakland: Stephen Baronian, Senior Warden and Sarah Jones, Peoples’ Warden
The Social Justice Committee of St. John’s Oakland
St John’s, Oakland,  Steering Committee members of Oakland Churches Together (an ecumenical group of churches in Oakland)
Sarah Lawton, lay delegate, St. John the Evangelist, SF

Contacts for questions, suggestions, and comments:
Paula Hawthorn: paula.hawthorn@gmail.com
Pamela Kruse-Buckingham: pamela.kruse.buckingham@gmail.com