By: Rev. Anna Golladay
I’m curious. Are we paying attention? Deeply, intentionally paying attention?
For the whole of civilization, we have been an angry people, a retributive people. We have slaughtered entire races and tribes because of differing ideologies. We have used swords and fists to strike down enemies in games and to settle scores. We have been told of a God who punished those who weren’t faithfully abiding in the law. We have enslaved people, not simply because it was advantageous to our capitalistic tendencies, but because our disgust at their difference proffered superiority. We have watched for thousands of years as anyone with a voice that calls people to them, creates the vision for a future that sounds better than the one we are in, and leads both small and large social revolutions, be punished for their rhetoric.
In what is nowhere close to an exhaustive list, the following figures come to mind: Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Anwar Sadat, Robert F. Kennedy, Yitzhak Rabin, Benazir Bhutto, Jamal Khashoggi, Medgar Evers, Harvey Milk, Aleksey Navalny, and Jesus.
Yesterday’s fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk comes just three months after Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home in Minnesota. Both left behind two children. Both had political ideologies that guided the way they moved in the world. In April, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro had his home set ablaze while his family was asleep inside. Presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot in an attempted assassination last July.
And so I ask again. Are we paying attention? Deeply, intentionally paying attention? How will we, as congregational leaders, those with a faith that calls us into community, respond?
We are called to be prophetic by speaking truth to power, demanding accountability, and providing a compassionate, faith-filled presence. We must use our spiritual authority to challenge injustice, expose false ideologies, and promote peace and non-violence.
Speaking truth to power
Following the tradition of biblical prophets, how might we address the root causes of violence, which are often embedded in political and social structures?
- Advocating for justice: Prophets in the Old Testament rebuked leaders who trampled on the poor and exploited the vulnerable. Similarly, today’s faith leaders must hold leaders accountable for systemic issues like corrupt rule and economic exploitation that fuel instability and violence.
- Challenging false ideologies: We are compelled to expose ideologies that justify violence and oppression. This includes confronting nationalism, greed, and other forms of “false worship.” As agents of truth, let us disrupt complacency by asking difficult questions.
- Countering incitement to violence: Now is the time to use your trusted platforms to speak out against violence and extremism. Be intentional in correcting misinterpretations of religious texts and instead promoting messages of peace, tolerance, and respect. Remember, your trusted platforms are not only in the device at the end of your fingertips – they are your pulpit, your coffee shop, your public square, your local City Council meetings, your ballot box.
- Offering a message of hope: Prophets are not just critics; we also hold out a vision of a better future rooted in hope and redemption. We can guide others through suffering by offering a framework of purpose and hope.
Promoting non-violent action
Faith leaders act as agents of change by mobilizing their communities toward peaceful solutions.
- Organizing for change: Religious communities can leverage their resources and networks to put “prayers into action.” Examples might include organizing vigils, voter registration drives, and gun buybacks to prevent violence.
- Building interfaith coalitions: By building partnerships with other faiths and community organizations, religious leaders can amplify their collective influence and foster resilience in the community. These collaborations are especially vital during crises.
- Serving as ethical leaders: A prophetic approach emphasizes ethical, sustainable leadership that serves the well-being of others and resists self-serving power. Be ever certain to focus on your faithfulness to God’s message, not on personal success.
In times like this, it is easy to become overwhelmed in feeling like we need to be all things to all we serve. Center yourself in a praxis of rest and reflection after each interaction. Evaluate where you were a prophetic representation of God’s love and mercy, and where you have room to improve. Not one of us arrives perfectly into this work.
Convergence has curated a few offerings that might help you navigate times like these:
Protest & Action Chaplaincy Training – This course offers a framework for providing compassionate, grounded spiritual care during protests, advocacy gatherings, and social movements. Drawing from a variety of faith traditions and critical social justice theory, it equips chaplains, pastors, and spiritual leaders to respond with integrity, purpose, and preparedness. LEARN MORE
In Search of a New Story: Reimagining What Comes Next – A four-part online Series with Dr. Matthew Fox, Cameron Trimble, Ilia Delio, Diana Butler Bass, Caroline Myss, and Luther Smith. We are living through the unraveling of many old stories—about who we are, why we’re here, and how we are meant to live together on this Earth. As these inherited narratives collapse under the weight of climate crisis, social fragmentation, and spiritual disconnection, the question becomes clear: What story will guide us now? LEARN MORE
Made for These Times: An Online Summit – In a time of accelerating ecological collapse, political authoritarianism, and widespread disconnection, “Made for These Times” invites faith leaders to gather courageously to reflect, reimagine, and organize. This free, five-day online summit hosted by Convergence will bring together leading voices to inspire and equip spiritual leaders navigating crisis. LEARN MORE