Connecting | C reating Greater Awareness | Empowering Action
Beyond the Pageant:
A Christian Call to Truth and
Reconciliation on America’s
250th Anniversary
As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, the air is
filled with fireworks, pageantry, and curated
national myths. But as followers of Jesus Christ,
we are called to a deeper, honest reflection.
The Apostle John provides our marching orders:
“Let us love, not in words or speech, but in truth
and action.” (1 John 3:18; NRSV)
How do we live this mandate today? I invite us to
confront these questions: Who are we to be as
Christians living our faith authentically? Who would
Christ be in our midst? Whom would He fight for?
Who Would Christ Be?
To understand our role in a secular society, we must strip away cultural distortions that
domesticate our faith. Christ would not be a conqueror or a mascot for white Christian
nationalism — a project that conscripts the Gospel into a worldly agenda of power and
dominion.
Instead, remember a radically different Savior: a Palestinian Jew living under the
oppressive Roman Empire; a refugee who knew the terror of displacement from his
childhood; and a revolutionary executed by the state for standing with the marginalized
and breaking systems of colonization. Jesus chose the path of the “least of these.” To find
Him today, we must look toward the margins.
Who Would Christ Actively Love and Fight For?
To love in truth, we must confess the “defective cornerstone” upon which this nation was
built, where a perverted freedom was rooted in the dominion over others. Christ’s love
compels us to fight alongside those bearing its scars:
Our Indigenous Siblings: Christ stands with the original sovereigns of this soil,
whose lands were stolen under the heresy of the Doctrine of Discovery.
Descendants of Enslaved Africans: Christ fights for the dignity of those whose
kidnapped labor built the foundational wealth of this nation.Our Global Neighbors: Christ stands with our siblings in the Global South, where
economic dominion and resource extraction prioritize greed.
The Immigrant and Sojourner: Christ welcomes refugees fleeing violence, rejecting
walls of exclusion that dishonor human dignity and the health of families.
Moving from Words to Action
We cannot honor God with our lips while our policies remain far from our neighbors. Living
as Christians means refusing comfortable lies and committing to work for reparatory
justice:
Repair Our Economy: Advocate for systems centering the safety, health, sufficiency
and debt relief of families, rather than hoarding wealth for the few.
Reconstruct Our Democracy: Ensure every voice is heard, standing firmly against
efforts to gerrymander votes or silence our history.
Restore the Land: Honor Indigenous sovereignty and seek pathways to repair the
global harms caused by extraction.
The Journey Ahead
As Disciples, let us choose actions over empty speech and truth over our national
mythology. Together, let us build a land where justice rolls down like waters and
righteousness like a mighty stream.
In the name of the One who makes all things new, let us begin the repair.
New Church Ministry Slideshow:
Disciples to Know for Pride!Happy Pride, Disciples! Our friends at New Church Ministry created a slideshow
featuring “Eight People Disciples Should Know for Pride” that includes:
Rev. Linda McCrae
Rev. Amy Diane Shoemaker
Rev. Chloe Peacock Specht
Rev. Sarah Zuniga
Rev. Dr. Luther Young
Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines
Rev. Mark Dingler
Rev. Stephen Underwood
If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, or are an ally, take the time today to
learn more about the queer siblings in our denomination who are advocating for their
communities and faithfully serving their neighborhoods.
Learn More & View the Slideshow
Spread the Word:
Resources Worth Sharing
Disciples Advocate shares stories and resources from trusted sources that are
engaged in the work of justice. Check out these links from our partners.
You can recommend a story or resource here.Workshop Recording: Disability and
Accessibility 101 for Churches
During the Northern Lights Region’s Assembly, Rev. Chris Snow
presented this workshop on disability and accessibility. He is
making the video recording, the slide deck, and the transcript
available free of charge to anyone who would like to use them!
Check out the resources via Google Drive
Social Justice Hymn: Just Like Selma
Nolan Williams, Jr.’s powerful new hymn is inspired by the lives of
the Honorable John Lewis, Diane Nash, Amelia Boynton Robinson,
and the thousands of patriots who marched from Selma to
Montgomery 61 years ago to advocate for voting rights, fair wages,
education, and justice in America. Watch on YouTube.
Video available on YouTube
Action Alert: Tell Congress “Protect NOAA
Funding in the FY27 Budget”
Current FY27 Budget proposals reduce funding for the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from previous spending
levels. The spending bill also has harmful policy riders that would
block protections of endangered species.
Contact your members of Congress to protect NOAA
Theological Reflection: Pentecost was the
Original Public DEI Program
On his Substack In Front of God and Everybody, Rev. David
Wheeler (Senior Pastor of New Covenant Christian Church in
Oklahoma City) writes, “The Holy Spirit did not erase difference.
The Spirit made sure everyone could be heard.”
Read the article and Subscribe to his Substack
Election Protection Guide: A Toolkit for the
Black Church from Faith Out Loud!
Faith Out Loud! invites congregations, clergy, and community
leaders to activate moral courage in public life, practice faith
beyond the walls of worship, build relationships that reflect Beloved
Community, and engage democracy as a sacred responsibility.
Access the election protection guide
Faith & Justice Podcast: Just Brite
Just Brite is a podcast from Brite Divinity School emphasizing
“journeying with justice.” It features conversations with people who
are serious about exploring and pursuing the work of justice in
tangible ways. Co-hosted by Oluwatomisin Olayinka Oredein and
Dale Walker. The latest episode is titled, “What is Justice to You?”
Keep up with all of the episodes
Save the Date: Disciples Mission Week September 8-13, 2026
DisciplesMissionWeek.org
Opportunities for Engagement:
Toolkits, Invitations, & EventsEach email update from Disciples Advocate includes a list of upcoming invitations
and opportunities as well as toolkits you can use.
To share something with us, click here to fill out a simple webform.
World Refugee Day: Ecumenical Livestream
Worship Service on 6/17
Join ministry partners on Wednesday June 17th at 6-7PM ET,
for an online ecumenical worship service in observance of
World Refugee Day.
Learn More and Sign-Up
NBA Webinar: Ageism For Real; presented
by Older Adults Ministries
NBA’s Older Adult Ministries is hosting this webinar on June
17 at Noon ET. An intergenerational panel will discuss what
ageism is, share experiences, and offer ideas to push back.
Learn more and Register Here
Opposing Christian Nationalism: Worship
Resources for July 5, 2026
Our partners at the PCUSA created this worship guide to help
churches acknowledge the Anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence without falling into Christian nationalism.
Toolkit available at Call to Worship Journal
Event: Lament & Hope: Celebrating
Migrants on America’s 250th Anniversary
On June 28-29 you are invited to Washington, DC for an
affirmation and celebration of the presence and contributions
of migrants, hosted by the Latino Christian National Network.
Learn more and register here
EcoPreacher Webinar: Navigating Pushback
in Climate Preaching
The EcoPreacher Initiative invites you to a workshop where
you’ll gain skills and sensibilities to stay open, relational, and
resilient. Thursday June 25 from 1-4PM ET on Zoom.
Learn More and Register for the Event
Retreat: Oreon Scott Clergy Conference
“Story, Soil, and the Sacred Beneath”
Green Chalice invites you to make plans to join ecumenical
clergy on September 1-4, 2026 at the Oreon E. Scott Clergy
Conference at beautiful Christmount, North Carolina.
Learn More and Register for the Retreat
Upcoming Webinar:
The Black Church & Climate JusticeFaith, Resilience, and Action for a Sustainable Future
Tuesday, July 28, 2026; 6:30 PM CST (7:30 ET)
Hosted by Apostle Sharyn Cosby
The upcoming Black Church and Climate Justice Webinar is more than a scheduled program —
it is a prophetic summons for such a time as this. Rooted in the deep spiritual traditions of the
Black church, this virtual gathering invites clergy, faith leaders, laypersons, and community
members to explore how environmental justice is inseparable from the gospel’s call to love,
liberation, and stewardship.
Learn More Register Now
Recent Video Updates from
Disciples Advocate Digest
New Episodes of Disciples Advocate Digest!
With each 10-minute long, weekly Disciples Advocate Digest video Chris Dorsey (DHM
President) and Brian Frederick-Gray (Director for Justice & Advocacy Ministries @ DHM) talk
through several pressing justice issues while lifting up tangible resources for addressing each
one. The series helps to amplify issues, share resources, and empower Disciples to use our
voices and our actions to promote greater justice and mercy in the world!
Look for the videos on social media (Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and TikTok), or find them
on the Disciples Advocate YouTube channel:YouTube.com/@DisciplesAdvocate
Disciples Advocate Digest
for June 8, 2026
This week Chris Dorsey and Brian
Frederick-Gray talk about Faith
Out Loud’s Election Protection
Toolkit and EcoPreacher’s
upcoming Webinar on dealing with
pushback from justice oriented
sermons.
Disciples Advocate Digest
for June 2, 2026
This single topic episode focuses
on Environmental Justice as an
Intersectional Justice issue and
shares resources from Green
Chalice and Creation Justice
Ministries.
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