As the November election looms, over 200 leaders in a number of Christian groups and denominations have issued a powerful statement linking our current “crisis of democracy” with values held by American Christians. The lengthy statement is comprehensive and argues, “Democracy stands embattled, facing new threats within our nation and new challenges around the globe… We are American Christians who deeply love our country. We affirm the right of Christians to bring our faith to bear on the public square for the common good and the flourishing of all humanity. We also welcome and affirm the rights of people of all faiths and of no religious faith to speak to this crisis; this document offers a distinctly Christian perspective, but the principles affirmed here are shared broadly across many religious and ethical traditions and by people of good will.”
In reaffirming Christian support for democracy, the signatories “invite all Christians and people of moral conscience to do the same.” 
Bolstering their arguments with biblical passages, the statement expands on the following topics:
- The Imago Dei and Human Dignity
- Human Sin
- Truth and Integrity
- Loving the Stranger and the Enemy
- Solidarity and the Common Good
- Participation, Wealth, and Poverty
- Religious Pluralism
- Peacemaking and Bridge-Building
Maintaining that we as a nation are currently facing severe threats that will, if not eliminated, seriously undermine and weaken our democratic system, the statement powerfully asserts that these threats “are in direct opposition to these foundational Christian principles.” Taking a more definitively political stance, the statement continues:
- “Because every human being is of equal value and worth before God, we reject any attempt to limit, suppress, intimidate, or subvert equal participation in our democracy on account of a person’s skin color, economic status, or political opinions… We reject all efforts to inhibit voter participation, including curtailing opportunities for voter registration, obscuring information about how and when to cast ballots, removing eligible voters from voter registration lists, and reducing polling station hours in targeted areas. We firmly reject any intimidation or threats against election administrators and poll workers, or voters themselves, regardless of political persuasion.”
- “Because democratic life requires pluralism, we repudiate political systems, parties, movements, laws, regulations, and policies that raise any group of people, including Christians, above others by granting them special rights and privileges.
Specifically, we repudiate the tenets of Christian Nationalism and the idea that Christians or Christianity should hold a place of privilege and power in our nation’s governance.” - “Because peace and stability are characteristics of a healthy democracy, we condemn the rising tide of violent language and behaviors, including violent threats and actions against public servants, election workers, and fellow citizens.”
- “Because truth-telling is integral to the pursuit of solidarity and the common good, we denounce the sowing of falsehood about election outcomes, the use of lies and half-truths by officials and candidates to distort truth, and the weaponization of fear and despair as a strategy to acquire or maintain power. As signers, we differ on many moral and social issues – on how to achieve a more equitable society, on war and foreign policy, on abortion and reproductive health, and on issues related to gender and sexuality – but we are committed to preserving a democratic space within which we can collectively discern the way forward with respect to these vital issues.”
The statement clearly stands in opposition to trends, statements, legislation, policies and initiatives promoted, promulgated and furthered by the twice-impeached, civilly liable, criminally convicted, one-term former President Donald Trump, his allies, white Christian Nationalists, far-right sympathizers, racists, misogynists, and authoritarian wannabes. One can see from the list of supporters that they range in belief and practice systems from the black church, Orthodoxy, and the Methodist and Episcopal churches to unaffiliated nonprofit organizations, universities, and theological schools and seminaries from several denominations (including individuals affiliated with Roman Catholicism, a body that is often associated with the anti-abortion movement).
Based on the results of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections – where the Democratic candidates won the popular vote against Trump – and House elections throughout the country in 2018, as well as Senate elections in 2019, 2020-21, and 2022, and state elections in 2023 that also went to Democrats, millions of Americans firmly reject anti-democratic right-wing efforts and candidates.
Significantly, as noted in the statement, “the principles affirmed here are shared broadly across many religious and ethical traditions and by people of good will,” including self-proclaimed atheists and citizens who are not particularly religious at all, so-called “nones.”
It is imperative that Americans understand the differences between what is contained in the statement and what is promoted by other Americans who call themselves Christian:
- The National Association of Christian Lawmakers
- Alliance for Defending Freedom
- Church of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
- The American Family Association
- The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- America’s Promise Ministries
- Kingdom Identity Ministries
- League of the South
- The Ruth Institute
Because mainstream journalists and others in the media are among those who bring information to the American people, they have a particular responsibility to ensure that they make the differences clear to the public. All “Christians” are not alike!
In addition, Americans who attend church services, hear readings from the Bible, and listen to sermons from clergy whom they respect need to be aware that their “brand” of Christianity is not the only one. We would do well to educate ourselves about the vast and significant differences.
While rampant disinformation, including AI-generated images and Trump and JD Vance themselves, are trying mightily to paint VP Kamala Harris as a Marxist, a fascist, a communist, and a socialist, the decades-long records of both Harris and Gov. Tim Walz completely belie these assertions. Overall, Harris and Walz align with the precepts of this open letter and, therefore, with the majority of voting Americans.
This should give hope to those of us who love our democratic republic! But it is also a word to the wise: we must all make sure we vote in the election (which has already begun and effectively ENDS on November 5) and combat any and every notorious attempt to suppress or negate our votes.