After the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Disciples Home Missions hosted a panel discussion on Voting Rights, Faith, and Democracy that features:
- Rev. Chris Dorsey President and CEO of Disciples Home Missions
- Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner Founder of the Skinner Leadership Institute and Co-Convener of Faiths United to Save Democracy
- Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton Executive Director of the Arizona Faith Network and a 2026 “The Vote Is Sacred” Fellow with Interfaith America
- Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray (facilitator) Director for Justice and Advocacy Ministries at Disciples Home Missions
The panelist have a robust and insightful conversation about four specific issues:
- How do we help people in the pews understand what’s been lost by this decision in Louisiana v. Callais — especially those who have only studied the Civil Rights Movement in History Class?
- What scriptures, traditions, or spiritual teachings can you point us to that call us to protect the right to vote — especially for communities that have been historically excluded?
- Parts of the wider church have historically been an organizing infrastructure for voting rights movements — from voter registration drives to candidate forums to transportation to the polls. What does that infrastructure look like today, and where are the gaps? What new tools, strategies, or coalitions do faith communities need to build for this moment?
- If someone leaves this conversation and does one thing — one concrete act before the elections this Fall — what should it be?
Scripture Passages Cited
- Proverbs 31:8
- Matthew 25:35-40
- Micah 6
- Exodus
- Psalm 11
- Acts 2:1-21
Resource Links Referenced
- Poll Chaplain and Peacekeeper Training through Faiths United to Save Democracy
https://www.turnoutsunday.com/volunteer-chaplain - Election Protection: Everything You Need to Know about Voting Rights in Your State
https://866ourvote.org/
Toll Free Call: 888-OUR-VOTE or 866-OUR-VOTE - Everything You Need to Vote:
https://www.vote.org/ - Start a Voter Empowerment Drive in Your Community:
https://www.tools.vote.org/ - State-by-State List of Voter ID Laws:
https://www.vote.org/voter-id-laws/
Discussion Questions Going Forward
Once you’ve completed the video use the following questions for a small group conversation, for personal reflection, or as journaling prompts
- What is your first memory of voting? Why is participating in the democratic process important to you? If it is not, why not?
- What scripture passages, Christian traditions, or faith practices speak to you the most in this moment? What empowers you to work to protect voting rights and voter empowerment, particularly for communities that have been historically excluded?
- If you were to follow Dr. Williams-Skinner’s invitation to “take five” then who would you included in your list of friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, and/or colleagues that you will talk to in order to encourage them to exercise their right to vote this year? List them.
- Building on what Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton said about “preparing your own personal voting plan,” how are you planning to exercise your right to vote this year? Be specific in your plans and build in an accountability system to help you follow through.
