EDITOR’S NOTE: On October 1-2, 2019, Red Letter Christians gathered in Goldsboro, North Carolina for a Red Letter Revival to lift up Jesus and justice. While President Trump has claimed a “revival” of evangelical support for him as he faces an impeachment inquiry, our revival in the long tradition of prophetic Christianity inspired faith leaders to make this joint statement in support of shining the light of truth through the impeachment inquiry.
As we issue this #PrayForTruth statement together, we commit to pray for our members of Congress and the impeachment inquiry while they are home in their districts this coming Sunday, October 13th. We encourage faith communities to invite their Congressional representative to join them for a National Day of Prayer, read the statement aloud, and pray for those who bear the responsibility of shining the light of truth in this moment.
As Christians in the United States of America, we join together as people of faith to express our conviction that an impeachment inquiry is necessary to reveal the truth, hold President Donald J. Trump and other public officials accountable, and bolster democracy in the United States. We welcome the light of truth, honesty, and transparency that this moment affords our country, whatever may be revealed. We call for an open inquiry that shines light on this administration’s dealings behind closed doors and petition people of faith and integrity to join us in calling forth this light.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” Jesus said (John 8:12). Jesus’ words and ministry highlight the connection between truth and the well-being of the poor, the sick, the immigrant, the imprisoned, and the earth. Likewise, we who follow Jesus must make visible that any President’s violation of his oath of office would harm the most vulnerable among us.
The current impeachment inquiry is focused specifically on whether President Trump solicited help from a foreign government in his 2020 re-election campaign, buried evidence of that solicitation, and then attacked the whistleblowers and Congressional representatives who brought evidence to light. The constitutional process that gives the U.S. Congress power to investigate and try a sitting President is needed in this moment, because none of us can know the full truth apart from this process. But we have already seen enough to know that the accusations are both serious and credible.
While President Trump claims there is an evangelical revival supporting him, we know there is also a revival of people of faith whose commitment to truth remains strong and vigilant. We are Christians who resolutely affirm Jesus’ teachings of justice, love, and equality — echoed in the basic values at the heart of our democracy. This is not a matter of partisanship, but of deepest principle.
For the sake of our nation’s integrity and the most vulnerable in our society, we call on fellow Christians to support the current impeachment inquiry. Now is the time to shine the light of truth. Please join us in praying that the truth will be revealed and set us all free.
Dr. Efrain Agosto, New York Theological Seminary
Dr. Neomi De Anda, University of Dayton
Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, Middle Collegiate Church
Dr. Brian Bantum, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. William Barber, II, Repairers of the Breach
Rev. Jennifer Barrows, Retired, Episcopal Diocese of Albany
Dr. Nancy E. Bedford, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Moses Biney, New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
Daryle E. Brown, Trinity United Church of Christ
Rev. Micah Bucey, Judson Memorial Church
Rev. Jennifer Butler, Faith in Public Life
Sister Simone Campbell (SSS), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, Eastern University
Rosemary P. Carbine, Whittier College
Dr. Amy Carr, Western Illinois University
Rev. Dr. J. Kameron Carter, University of Indiana
Rev. Dr. Noel Castellanos, Camino Alliance
Shane Claiborne, Red Letter Christians
Rev. Dan Clark, Faith in Public Life Ohio
Rev. Peggy Clarke, Community Church of New York
Rev. Sharon Codner-Walker, Stuyvesant Heights Christian Church
Dr. Stephen Cooper, Franklin & Marshall College
Rev. Dr. Benjamin L. Corey, Public Theologian
Rev. Angie Cox, Broad Street United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie, Pacific University
Amy Dalton, Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice
Rev. Fred Davie, Union Theological Seminary
Dr. Teresa Delgado, Iona College
Rev. Kaji S. Dousa, Park Avenue Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien, Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Gordon Duggins, Retired, Episcopal Diocese of New York
Rev. Dr. Stacey Edwards-Dunn, Trinity United Church of Christ
Rev. Nathan Empsall, Faithful America
Dr. Wendy Farley, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Nancy Fields, New York Theological Seminary
Rev Dr. Yvette A. Flunder, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministry
Rev. Susan Fortunato, Christ Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Mary Foulke, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Mary Fulkerson, Duke Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Oscar Garcia-Johnson, Fuller Theological Seminary
Rev. Joel A. Gibson, The Micah Institute
Rev. Dr. Jeff Golliher, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, The Resistance Prays
Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Hadley, Hall Christ Temple United Baptist Church
Lisa Sharon Harper, FreedomRoad.us
Prof. Dr. Christine Helmer, Northwestern University
Rev. Dr. Peter Goodwin Heltzel, New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson, Auburn Seminary
Rev. Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Activist Theology Project
Rev. Susan E. Hill, Church of the Holy Apostles
Rev. Stephen C. Holton, St. Phillips Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Chaz Howard, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. David H. Jensen, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Dr. Russell Jeung, San Francisco State University
Bishop J. Alfred Johnson, United Methodist Church
Rev. Stephanie Kendell, Park Avenue Christian Church
Kathy Khang, Author
Rev. Dr. Earl Kooperkamp, Church of the Good Shepherd
Rev. Posey Krakowsky, Church of the Ascension
Rev. Melissa Lamkin, Trinity School
Rev. Dr. Insook Lee, New York Theological Seminary
Britney Winn Lee, Red Letter Christians
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Middle Collegiate Church
Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. John Liotti, Able Works
Rev. Dr. Wanda Lundy, New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. C. Vernon Mason, New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Elizabeth G. Maxwell, Church of the Ascension
Dr. Joy Ann McDougall, Emory University
Rev. Richard McKeon, The Episcopal Church of the Messiah
Brian McLaren, Author
Rev. Rochelle Michael, Trinity United Church of Christ
Rev. Brian Moll, Rescue Alliance
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, Trinity United Church of Christ
Rev. Weldon D. Nisly, Retired, Christian Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi & Kurdistan Team
Rev. Sam Owen, Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan Episcopal Church
Doug Pagitt, Vote Common Good
John Pavlovitz, Pastor and Author
Dr. James W. Perkinson, Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Rev. Benjamin Perry, Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Sue Phillips, Sacred Design Lab
Rev. Dr. Nancy Claire Pittman, Phillips Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, North Park Theological Seminary
Elaina Ramsey, Red Letter Christians
Rev. Dr. Rafael Reyes, III, New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Rosalie Richards, Stetson University
Rev. Dr. Joerg Rieger, Vanderbilt University
Rev. Dr. Raymond J. Rivera, Latino Pastoral Action Center and Sanctuary Church
Rev. Betsy Johns Roadman, Retired, Episcopal Church
Rev. Brandan J. Robertson, Missiongathering Christian Church
The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, IX Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire
Bishop Dr. Raymond H. Rufen-Blanchette, The Clergy Campaign for Social & Economic Justice
Dr. Michele Saracino, Manhattan College
Rev. Dr. Jill Schaeffer, New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper, Judson Memorial Church
Rev. Frederick W. Schraplau, St. Paul’s Church
Rev. Bryan Sirchio, McFarland United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith, Crazy Faith Ministries
Rev. Dr. Stephany Rose Spaulding, University of Colorado
Margot Starbuck, Author
Rev. Dr. Marti Steussy, Christian Theological Seminary
Rev. Cynthia Stravers, Church of the Heavenly Rest
Rev. Margaret H. Sullivan, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, Sojourners
Rev. Jasmin Taylor, Trinity United Church of Christ
Dr. John J. Thatamanil, Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Liz Theoharis, Kairos Center, Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Linda E. Thomas, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Rev. Dr. Al Tizon, North Park Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Emilie M. Townes, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Rev. Laura Sumner Truax, Senior Pastor LaSalle Street Church
Rev. Michael Vanacore, Fort Washington Collegiate Church
Rev. Kevin VanHook, The Riverside Church
Rev. Dr. Mark I. Wallace, Swarthmore College
Rev. Jim Wallis, Sojourners
Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond, New York Theological Seminary
Michelle Ferrigno Warren, Christian Community Development Association
Dr. Sharon Welch, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Dr. Damaris Whittaker, Fort Washington Collegiate Church
Rev. Dr. D. Newell Williams, Brite Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Reggie L. Williams, McCormick Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Rodney E. Williams, Swope Parkway United Christian Church
Rev. Terry D. Williams, Orchard Hill United Church of Christ
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, School for Conversion