Faith Takes Action

Faith Becomes Action

“Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.” James 2:17 tells us genuine faith is not just about belief, it should lead us to action. The good news is, good works naturally flow from genuine faith. To help each of us think through what it means to put faith into action, we offer a few questions for reflection followed by one practical action, with more ideas to encourage engagement each of the 12 issues highlighted by The Faithful Voter Project.

Tending God’s Garden

Progressive Christianity recognizes climate change as a moral and spiritual crisis where greed threatens our planet’s very existence and those most marginalized pay feel the impact most. Creation care is not political, it’s biblical, and we are called to care for creation through responsible stewardship.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do I see environmental care as part of my Christian responsibility? Why or why not?
  2. How might climate change affect “the least of these” in my community. How does climate change impact marginalized communities around the world?
  3. What steps—big or small—can I take to better care for creation?

Practical Step

This week, commit to one change that will reduce your environmental impact—for example, reduce meat consumption, cut down on plastic use, conserve water.

Progressive Christian Actions on Climate Change

    1. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
      • Switch to renewable energy providers or install solar panels if possible.
      • Use public transportation, carpool, bike, or walk instead of driving alone.
      • Cut down on meat and dairy consumption, choosing plant-based meals more often.
      • Practice water and energy conservation at home.
    2. Engage Your Faith Community
      • Organize or participate in creation care workshops, Bible studies, or prayer services focused on environmental stewardship and climate justice
      • Encourage your church to adopt sustainable practices—reduce waste, recycle, switch to green energy, and support local eco-friendly initiatives.
      • Advocate for your church to divest from fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy.
    3. Support Communities on the Frontlines
      • Donate to or volunteer with organizations assisting communities disproportionately affected by climate change, such as indigenous groups, low-income neighborhoods, island nations, and countries prone to drought and floods.
      • Raise awareness in your church and social circles about the human impact of environmental injustice.
    4. Advocate for Climate Justice
      • Write letters or emails to elected officials urging support for clean energy policies, carbon emission reductions, and environmental protections.
      • Voice your support legislation that holds corporations accountable for pollution and environmental degradation.
      • Join or support faith-based environmental advocacy groups.
    5. Live More Sustainably
      • Buy less, choose quality over quantity, and support ethical and eco-friendly products and companies.
      • Reduce plastic use: bring reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
      • Grow a garden or support local farmers to reduce food miles.
  • Vote Your Values
  • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to climate change.
  • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
  • With so much information being thrown at us, it’s never been more important to practice media literacy. That means taking a moment to determine the accuracy what we see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Welcoming the Stranger

Progressive Christianity calls us to welcome immigrants and refugees with hospitality, advocate for policies that secure humane, respectful, and fair treatment, and embody God’s love by standing in solidarity with all who seek safety and dignity.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Have I ever felt like a stranger or outsider? How did that shape me?
  2. What fears or biases do I need to confront in myself? What about in my community?
  3. What practical ways can I show hospitality and advocate for just treatment of immigrants?

Practical Step

This week, learn about an immigrant or refugee community near you.

Progressive Christian Actions on Immigration

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Learn about the history and realities of immigration, including the root causes such as violence, poverty, and climate change.
      • Study biblical teachings on welcoming strangers (e.g., Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:35) and God’s care for the marginalized.
      • Host forums or Bible studies focused on immigration justice and stories of immigrants and refugees.
    2. Advocate for Just and Humane Immigration Policies
      • Contact your representatives to support legislation that provides pathways to citizenship, protects asylum seekers, and respects human rights.
      • Oppose policies that criminalize or dehumanize immigrants and refugees.
      • Encourage your church to join coalitions working for immigrant justice and reform.
    3. Create Welcoming and Safe Spaces
      • Develop or support church ministries that assist immigrants and refugees with language classes, legal aid, and social services. 
      • Foster an inclusive church environment where immigrant stories and cultures are celebrated.
      • Train your community in cultural competency to better welcome newcomers.
    4. Build Relationships and Solidarity
      • Form friendships and partnerships with immigrant individuals and organizations.
      • Participate in or organize community events that bring together diverse cultural groups.
      • Stand in solidarity with immigrant workers and families facing discrimination or exploitation.
    5. Offer Practical Support and Hospitality
      • Volunteer with local immigrant and refugee service agencies.
      • Provide transportation, childcare, housing assistance, or job referrals where possible.
      • Support fair labor practices and fight against exploitation of immigrant workers.
      • Invite a “stranger” into your circle—in conversation, fellowship, or friendship. 
  • Vote Your Values
  • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to immigration.
  • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
  • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Honoring Bodies

Progressive Christianity affirms bodily autonomy in reproductive healthcare, and affirms everyone’s right to safe and dignified care.

Questions for Reflection

  1. How can my faith support and affirm bodily autonomy and reproductive justice?
  2. What systems or attitudes around me need to change to better honor women’s health and choices?
  3. How can I actively advocate for equitable access to reproductive healthcare and education?

Practical Step

This week, join or start a conversation in your faith community about reproductive justice.

Progressive Christian Actions on Reproductive Health

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Learn about reproductive health issues including contraception, family planning, maternal health, as well as abortion from medically accurate and compassionate sources.
      • Host workshops or Bible studies that explore reproductive justice, emphasizing bodily autonomy, and dignity through a biblical lens.
      • Challenge stigma and misinformation within your faith community by promoting open, respectful conversations.
    2. Advocate for Comprehensive Healthcare
      • Support policies that ensure affordable, accessible reproductive healthcare for all, including contraception, prenatal care, and preserving access to safe abortion services.
      • Speak out against laws and practices that restrict reproductive rights or endanger pregnant people.
      • Support organizations that provide reproductive health services, education, and advocacy. 
    3. Advocate for Practical Support
      • Create church ministries or support groups that offer emotional, spiritual, and practical support around pregnancy, parenting, and reproductive choices.
      • Provide resources such as counseling referrals, maternity supplies, and healthcare information.
      • Advocate for workplace policies that support parents, including paid family leave and childcare access.
    4. Challenge Patriarchal and Shame-Based Narratives
      • Promote a theology that respects and honors reproductive autonomy and the complexity of personal decisions.
      • Speak against teachings that shame or control people’s reproductive choices.
      • Recognize the strength and wisdom of those navigating reproductive health challenges.
    5. Foster a Culture of Compassion and Inclusion
      • Create safe spaces for sharing stories and struggles related to reproductive health challenges, grief, or complex decisions, without judgment.
      • Include reproductive justice themes in community discussions.
      • Stand in solidarity with reproductive justice movements and amplify marginalized voices
      • Listen deeply to women’s stories. 
    6. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to reproductive health.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Honoring Other Faiths

Progressive Christianity rejects the Christian nationalism by embracing faith that’s rooted in humility and inclusive respect that transcends political power.

Questions for Reflection

  1. How have I seen Christian nationalism impact my faith or my community?
  2. In what ways can I actively resist Christian nationalism that excludes or oppresses others?
  3. Have I absorbed biases and privileges regarding nationality and faith based on  conspiracies that seek to “other” and scapegoat.

Practical Step

This week, learn why Christian nationalism is not Christian.

Specific Actions You Can Take

    1. Educate Yourself and Others
      • Many noteworthy books explore Christian nationalism, among them are: White Too Long by Robert P. Jones, Faithfully by Soong-Chan Rah, and Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Homegrown Hate by Anne Speckhard.
      • Host or attend community discussions or book clubs to increase education and raise awareness.
    2. Practice Personal Reflection and Accountability
      • Join or start a small group focused on racial and religious justice and anti-nationalism in your church or community.
      • Engage in conversations that deconstruct Christian nationalism and promote understanding and unity across differences, including different religions. 
    3. Build Relationships Across Differences
      • Intentionally connect with people of different races, ethnicities, or political views.
      • Attend intercultural worship services.
      • Engage with interfaith groups and communities.
    4. Speak Out Against Christian Nationalistic Rhetoric
      • When you hear faith used to justify exclusion or hatred, respond with grace but clarity that love includes all.
      • Use social media platforms to share articles, testimonies, or scripture that counter Christian nationalism.
      • Support leaders and organizations that push back against Christian nationalism.
    5. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to Christian nationalism.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

God's Economy

Progressive Christianity believes a just economy is grounded in the idea of abundance not scarcity; where resources serve the common good and not greed, and equitable opportunity is available. 

Questions for Reflection

  1. How does my faith influence the way I earn, spend, give, and vote?
  2. What does God’s vision of “daily bread for all” mean in my community and country?
  3. How can I use my resources, voice, or influence to support economic justice?

Practical Step

This week, identify one locally-owned company/store/restaurant from which you can purchase goods or services that you’d otherwise get from a large corporation.

Progressive Christian Actions on the Economy

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Study biblical teachings on economic justice, wealth, and poverty (e.g., Proverbs, Jesus’ teachings on money, Jubilee).
      • Attend or host workshops or sermons about historical and systemic barriers to economic participation; learn how race, gender, and class affect access to resources. 
      • Host workshops or sermons that connect faith with economic issues like living wages, debt, and fair taxation.
    2. Prioritize Economic Justice Policies
      • Advocate for policies that raise the minimum wage, provide affordable healthcare, and protect workers’ rights.
      • Support progressive tax policies that ensure the wealthy pay a fair share.
      • Promote investments in affordable housing, education, and social services.
    3. Practice Ethical Consumption and Stewardship
      • Choose to buy from businesses that pay fair wages and operate sustainably.
      • Reduce consumerism by buying less, choosing quality, and repairing rather than replacing.
      • Support local and cooperatively owned businesses.
    4. Engage in Wealth Redistribution and Generosity
      • Give generously to organizations fighting poverty, homelessness, and economic injustice.
      • Encourage your church to participate in community wealth-building initiatives.
      • Consider ethical investing or divesting from companies that exploit workers or the environment.
    5. Empower Marginalized Communities
      • Support job training, financial literacy programs, and entrepreneurship opportunities for marginalized groups.
      • Advocate for policies that address systemic barriers to economic participation.
      • This week, support a local organization that addresses economic inequality—such as a food pantry, housing coalition, or small business in an underserved community. 
    6. Promote Fair and Just Workplaces
      • Encourage workplaces to implement equitable hiring, pay equity, and inclusive policies.
      • Model workplace ethics rooted in dignity, respect, and care for all employees.
    7. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to economic justice.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.
  •  

One Body, Many Members

Progressive Christianity confronts racism as a sin and strives for racial justice and reconciliation, as essential expressions of God’s inclusive love and the equal worth of all people.

Questions for Reflection

  1. What racial injustices am I aware of—and which ones have I ignored?
  2. How has my church or community talked (or not talked) about race? How might we deepen this difficult conversation?
  3. What steps can I take to become a better listener, ally, and advocate for racial justice?

Practical Step

This week, read or listen to a Christian leader of color. Don’t rush to the defensive, rather just listen and reflect honestly on their story. Consider how your own prejudices may affect how you hear their story and how that affects your actions and attitudes.

Progressive Christian Actions for Racial Justice

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Read books by diverse authors like “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo, or “Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibram X. Kendi.
      • Watch films and documentaries, and listen to podcasts about systemic racism and the history of racial injustice in the U.S.
      • Organize or attend racial justice workshops and discussion groups in your church.
    2. Examine and Confront Personal Bias
      • Seek feedback from friends and mentors from different racial backgrounds.
      • Commit to unlearning racist habits and replacing them with acts of solidarity and love.
      • Consider how hidden biases shape your thoughts, conversations, and choices.
    3. Support and Amplify Voices of People of Color
      • Follow and support organizations led by people of color.
      • Elevate diverse voices in worship, preaching, music, and church leadership.
      • Invite speakers from diverse races to share their stories and teachings.
    4. Advocate for Structural Change
      • Write to elected officials supporting policies that dismantle systemic racism, such as criminal justice reform, equitable education, and fair housing.
      • Support local and national organizations working for economic equity.
      • Encourage your church to engage in community partnerships to address racial disparities.
    5. Build Cross-Racial Relationships
      • Participate in multicultural worship services, events, and community projects.
      • Create safe spaces for honest conversations about race and reconciliation.
      • Invite these experiences to help you form friendships and partnerships with people from different racial and cultural backgrounds.
    6. Practice Reparative Justice
      • Explore ways your church or community can support reparations, such as scholarships, community investments, and support for historically marginalized groups.
      • Promote economic justice by supporting Black-owned and minority-owned businesses.
    7. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to racial justice.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

 

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Progressive Christianity advocates for gun safety measures that protect life, promote peace, and reflect Jesus’ call to nonviolence.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do I believe that gun safety is a matter of faith, not just politics? Why or why not?
  2. How has violence—directly or indirectly—affected me or my community?
  3. In what ways can I be a peacemaker when it comes to gun violence and public safety?

Practical Step

This week, learn about the Mennonite sculpture, Guns into Plowshares. 

Progressive Christian Actions on Gun Safety

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Learn about the impact of gun violence on communities
      • Host educational forums or workshops in your church about local policies, violence prevention, and gun safety advocacy.
      • Share resources from faith-based organizations working on gun safety and violence prevention.
    2. Advocate for Sensible Gun Laws
      • Write letters, emails, or call elected officials urging support for common-sense gun regulations like universal background checks, safe storage laws, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault weapons. 
      • Support policies that fund mental health services and community violence intervention programs.
      • Understand the Second Amendment.
    3. Promote Safe Spaces and Practices
      • Encourage your church and community centers to adopt clear policies on firearms to ensure safe, welcoming environments for all.
      • Support programs that provide free or low-cost gun locks and gun safety education.
    4. Support Survivors and Communities Affected by Gun Violence
      • Partner with organizations that provide trauma counseling and support for victims and families impacted by gun violence.
      • Listen to and uplift stories from those directly affected to build empathy and urgency for change.
      • Look out for your faith neighbors, especially synagogues and mosques.
    5. Model Nonviolence and Peacemaking
      • Teach and practice conflict resolution and nonviolent communication in your faith community.
      • Advocate for school and community safety measures that focus on bullying and “knowing the signs” to prevention school shootings. [Sandy Hook Promise has a proven program.]
    6. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to gun safety.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Known and Loved

Progressive Christianity embraces LGBTQ+ people as beloved children of God, affirming their full inclusion, dignity, and leadership within the community—because Jesus’ table is big enough for everyone.

Questions for Reflection

  1. How has the Church historically treated LGBTQ+ people? 
  2. How have I contributed to or challenged that treatment and what fears or assumptions might I need to surrender?
  3. How can I become a voice of welcome, safety, and dignity for LGBTQ+ people in my faith community?

Practical Step

This week, read or listen to the story of an LGBTQ+ Christian. Let their voice expand your understanding of how the church has treated the LGBTQ+ community.

Progressive Christians Support LGBTQ+ Inclusion

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Read books and watch films by LGBTQ+ Christian authors and theologians, such as God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines or UnClobber by Colby Martin.
      • Learn about the history and ongoing struggles of LGBTQ+ people, especially within religious contexts.
    2. Affirm LGBTQ+ Identities 
      • Listen to and amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ Christians through sermons, testimonies, or art in your church.
      • Use inclusive language in worship and church communications that honors diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.
      • Call out homophobia, transphobia, and exclusion both inside and outside church settings.
      • Support LGBTQ+ people in leadership roles in you church.
    3. Be an active ally for LGBTQ+ Rights and Protections
      • Support laws and policies that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, and public services.
      • Speak out against harmful legislation that targets LGBTQ+ communities, especially youth and transgender individuals who tragically suffer an extraordinarily high suicide rate.
      • Volunteer or donate to organizations providing safe spaces and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals, such as The Trevor Project or local affirming ministries.
    4. Create Safe and Affirming Spaces
      • Be a welcoming and affirming church. Learn more here. 
      • Develop or support ministries that provide pastoral care and counseling sensitive to LGBTQ+ needs.
      • Make physical spaces accessible and welcoming, including a gender-neutral restroom and inclusive signage.
      • Celebrate LGBTQ+ affirming events like June Pride Month with educational and worship activities.
    5. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion and safety.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Walking in Their Shoes

Progressive Christianity places empathy at the heart of faith, calling for deep listening, standing with the marginalized, and embodying Jesus’ compassion in personal and systemic ways.

Questions for Reflection

  1. When was the last time someone truly empathized with you? How did it impact you?
  2. Who in your life might need more empathy from you right now?
  3. What habits or prejudices might be getting in the way of your ability to feel with others?

Practical Step

This week, choose one person who is going through something—joyful or painful—and reach out with empathy. Don’t fix. Don’t preach. Just listen. Be present.

Actions to Practice Empathy

  1. Listen Deeply and Intentionally
    • Set aside distractions and give full attention when someone shares their story or struggle.
    • Practice active listening—reflect back what you hear without immediately offering solutions or judgments.
    • Seek out voices and perspectives different from your own.
  2. Practice Self-Reflection and Self-Compassion
    • Regularly examine your own feelings and reactions to others’ pain or joy.
    • Acknowledge your own biases and work to unlearn harmful assumptions.
    • Extend empathy inward—acknowledge your own struggles with kindness and forgiveness.
    • Cultivate practices (prayer, meditation, journaling) that deepen your emotional awareness.
  3. Engage in Acts of Compassionate Service
    • Learn about systemic injustices—racism, poverty, immigration struggles, LGBTQ+ challenges—that affect people’s lives deeply. Volunteer with organizations that support vulnerable populations: homeless shelters, refugee services, crisis centers.
    • Offer tangible help tailored to people’s needs, not what you think they need.
    • Practice small daily acts of kindness and patience toward strangers and acquaintances alike.
  4. Foster Empathy in Your Faith Community
    • Create spaces for people to share their stories in safe, respectful ways.
    • Model empathetic leadership by responding to community needs with grace and patience.
  5. Advocate for Justice with a Compassionate Heart
    • Use empathy to fuel your advocacy for systemic change.
    • Share stories of those affected by injustice to humanize and deepen public understanding.
    • Resist the impulse to lead and stand alongside marginalized groups in protests, letter-writing campaigns, or community meetings.
  6. Vote Your Values
    • Think about what it means to invoke empathy when you look to vote your values. 
    • If you are feeling pressured to vote in a way that contradicts your empathy and values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
    • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Loving Our Global Neighbor

Progressive Christianity supports U.S. foreign aid as a moral responsibility to alleviate poverty, secure health, and promote peace, justice, and human dignity worldwide. U.S. foreign aid is a tangible expression of Jesus’ call to love and serve all people, across all borders.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do I think of people in other countries as my “neighbors”? Why or why not?
  2. How might my faith shape the way I view U.S. foreign aid and global responsibility?
  3. In what ways can I use my voice, influence, or resources to help people beyond my own borders?

Practical Step

Take 10 minutes this week to learn about one global issue that resonates with you personally.

Progressive Christian Actions on U.S. Foreign Aid

    1. Educate Yourself and Your Community
      • Host informational sessions or Bible studies that explore biblical principles of generosity and care for the “least of these” [Matthew 25:40].
      • Share stories of global partners and communities positively impacted by aid programs.
      • Educate yourself and your community about how little of the U.S. government budget goes to foreign aid; how it is effectively used; and the impact on U.S. communities. 
      • Educate yourself and your community about how issues like climate change, migration, and economic inequality are interconnected globally.
    2. Advocate for Compassionate and Effective Aid Policy
      • Contact your members of Congress and remind them to support foreign aid because it prioritizes the “least of these” with humanitarian needs, global health security, education, refugees, climate resilience, and peacebuilding. 
      • Likewise, tell Congress to oppose cuts the small foreign aid budget.  
    3. Support Fair Trade and Ethical Global Partnerships
      • Buy fair trade products when you can to support sustainable livelihoods.
      • Encourage your church and denomination to engage in global partnerships that emphasize the dignity and agency of aid recipients rather than perpetuating dependency.
      • Volunteer with or donate to faith-based organizations delivering sustainable health development programs.
    4. Raise Awareness About Global Interconnectedness
      • Use sermons, newsletters, or social media to highlight the biblical call to love neighbors near and far.
      • Organize events such as global-themed meals or cultural celebrations to foster empathy and connection.
      • Support refugee resettlement and immigrant integration programs in your local community.
    5. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to U.S. foreign aid.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Breaking the Chains

Progressive Christianity rejects patriarchy as contrary to the gospel, affirming the full equality and leadership of women and all genders as central to God’s vision of justice and mutual flourishing. Jesus did not come to reinforce power structures; he came to overturn them.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Have I unknowingly accepted or defended patriarchal patterns in my faith community?
  2. What women in Scripture challenge my assumptions about gender and leadership?
  3. How can I help create a more equitable family, church and community environment?

Practical Step

This week, learn from a female theologian, pastor, or Christian leader you haven’t listened to before. Use your voice to elevate hers by sharing what you learn with someone in your church community.

Actions to Challenge Patriarchy

    1. Educate Yourself and Others About Patriarchy
      • Study the biblical texts with an eye for how culture and patriarchy have shaped interpretations.
      • Read feminist and liberation theologians like Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Katie Cannon, or James Cone to deepen understanding.
      • Host workshops or book groups in your church that explore gender oppression and gender justice from a biblical perspective.
    2. Promote Gender Equality in Leadership
      • Challenge policies or traditions that exclude or limit leadership based on gender.
      • Mentor and encourage diverse leaders to rise and thrive. 
    3. Speak Out Against Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination
      • Support organizations that provide survivors of abuse with counseling, legal help, and safe spaces.
      • Partner with organizations working to end domestic violence, sexual harassment, and human trafficking.
      • Use your voice to call out sexist attitudes, language, and actions in your community and church.
    4. Challenge Harmful Gender Norms and Stereotypes
      • Promote a theology that honors the full spectrum of gender identities and expressions as part of God’s diverse creation.
      • Celebrate stories and contributions of women and LGBTQ+ people in sermons, worship, and educational materials.
      • Create spaces for honest dialogue about masculinity, femininity, and gender justice.
    5. Support Policies and Practices that Promote Equity
      • Advocate for equal pay, parental leave, and protections against workplace discrimination.
      • Encourage your church and community organizations to adopt equitable hiring and support practices.
      • Be an ally of movements that recognize gender justice as a matter of faith and dignity.
    6. Model Mutual Respect and Shared Leadership at Home and Church
      • Practice egalitarian relationships in your family and community, sharing decision-making and responsibilities.
      • Foster environments where all voices are heard and valued, regardless of gender.
      • Teach children and youth about respect, consent, and equality as core Christian values.
    7. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to patriarchy and gender equity.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Leading Like Jesus

Progressive Christianity recognizes that good leadership models the servant-hearted example of Jesus, who led with humility, inclusion, and the empowerment of marginalized voices.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Where am I in a position of influence or leadership (formally or informally)?
  2. Do I view leadership as a platform for service or status?
  3. How can I reflect Jesus’ humility and justice in the way I lead this week?

Practical Step

Identify one person you lead, mentor, or influence. Practice active listening and commit to lifting them up, not just managing them.

Actions on Leadership

    1. Practice Servant Leadership
      • Prioritize serving others above personal gain or status, following Jesus’ example [Mark 10:45].
      • Listen actively to the needs and voices of people in your community before making decisions.
      • Mentor and empower others to take on leadership roles.
    2. Commit to Ethical and Transparent Leadership
      • Think about what it means for you to maintain integrity and accountability in all your leadership responsibilities.
      • Encourage transparency in decision-making processes within your church or organization.
    3. Promote Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership
      • Advocate for leadership that reflects the racial, gender, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity of your community.
      • Challenge any barriers that prevent marginalized people from accessing leadership roles.
      • Support equitable opportunities for training, education, and leadership development.
    4. Lead with Justice and Compassion
      • Use your leadership platform to address systemic injustices, such as racism, sexism, poverty, and environmental degradation.
      • Create policies and initiatives that prioritize care for the vulnerable and oppressed.
      • Stand in solidarity with social justice movements and encourage your community to do the same.
    5. Engage in Lifelong Learning and Humility
      • Regularly reflect on your leadership style and seek feedback from peers and those you lead.
      • Stay open to new perspectives and be willing to change course when needed.
      • Commit to spiritual disciplines—prayer, study, and community—that nurture humility and wisdom.
      • Admit mistakes and seek reconciliation when harm occurs.
    6. Encourage Collaborative and Shared Leadership
      • Foster a leadership culture where decision-making is communal rather than top-down.
      • Encourage teamwork and value contributions from all members.
      • Create spaces for dialogue and discernment that honor diverse voices and gifts.
    7. Vote Your Values
      • Think about what it means to vote your values when it comes to leadership.
      • If you are feeling pressured to vote differently than your values, where is that pressure coming from and why?
      • Determine the accuracy what you see and hear across the media and the credibility of those pushing their opinions as our own.

Issues

Climate Change

Immigration

Reproductive Health

Christian Nationalism

Race

Economy

Guns

LGBT

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