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Sometimes I’m afraid to go to sleep.

One time I dreamt that I took an Uber ride and sat in the front passenger seat, happily holding my purse, which happened to contain the friendliest squirrel. It was a lovely dream that quickly turned into a nightmare when the driver began to grope me. I woke up weeping and wryly thinking that women are more likely to be assaulted than to carry a fuzzy squirrel on their person.

Other times my nightmares terrorize me by taking physical form. As I subconsciously dream of being sexually attacked by shadowy figures, I awaken to my own screams as I blindly defend myself and repeatedly punch my partner in bed. In a shocked stupor, he does his best to calm me down.But the anguish and tears remain as I spiral into guilt over how my past traumas hurt those whom I love.

No amount of trigger or content warnings can protect survivors like me from the afflictions of such invasive and wounding dreams. Like others who’ve experienced trauma, I find myself seeking different forms of pain management—deep breathing, mindfulness, and therapy. But all of these tools can never undo the hurt that dwells within. We are always in recovery.

While trauma is often a lonely journey, the Hebrew Bible reminds me that we are never alone. For seventy years, the people of Israel endured oppression during Babylonian captivity. Yet, in their despair, they were never forsaken by Yahweh. From traumatizing exile to tepid liberation, the Israelites learned to face the future with hope as a community.

READ: Living Room Liturgy: A Prayer for Laughter 

For those of us who have survived war, abandonment, cancer, abuse, the loss of a loved one, or generational trauma, this litany is for us. May we know that we’re not alone. May we remember that faith, hope, and love endure. And during the moments and seasons when this promise does not seem true, when peace and comfort elude us, when all we want to do is shake our fists and scream into the abyss, when we are unable to face the future with hope, may our communities hold onto hope for us and love us back to life again.

ONE: We gather in stubborn love, seeking to hold space for those whose hurts are deep and often unseen.

ALL: God of hope, comfort your people.

ONE: When sorrow becomes all-consuming and despair threatens to swallow our loved ones whole.

ALL: God of recovery, comfort your people.

ONE: Protect those whose bodies, spirits, and trust have been broken time and time again.

ALL: God of healing, comfort your people.

ONE: Be with those who sleep in fear and who seek shelter in the storm.

ALL: God of hope, comfort your people.

ONE: Strengthen the survivors among us who wrestle with doubt and depression.

ALL: God of recovery, comfort your people.

ONE: Grief upon grief. Tears upon tears. Pain upon pain.

ALL: God of healing, comfort your people. May those who are scarred by struggle be transformed by hope.

Abortion stigma is so deeply entrenched — particularly among evangelicals — that it’s often hard to see past the vitriol and inflammatory rhetoric. But during my last three years as the editor of Red Letter Christians and now the interim executive director, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how RLC engages the topic of abortion.

While many people wish we would take a more official stance for or against abortion, that is just not part of our ethos as a “big tent” organization. We seek to draw people in with the love of Christ, rather than shut them out with legalism. As such, the RLC movement and our own staff is comprised of pro-life and pro-choice supporters, as well as those who sincerely and equally subscribe to both principles and ideologies.

Last week, Shane Claiborne — one of RLC’s co-founders — published a piece about his pro-life position that set off a firestorm of comments from both avid supporters and opponents of abortion. While I’ve come to expect these kinds of reactions, what has been surprising for me is the way Shane has invited me to share my views with him and the way we’re learning how to practice deep listening with one another.

I have no illusions that we’ll ever be able to change each other’s minds on this subject, nor is that my hope or intention. But it’s been refreshing to engage with one another with deep respect and mutuality. With abundant grace, we are learning to move beyond the usual division and discord that surrounds abortion discussions and to give this conversation the care and compassion that it deserves.

To be clear, while I often publicly share my personal beliefs about abortion care, being part of the big tent of Red Letter Christians means that I do not speak for the organization or for our supporters on this issue — nor does Shane.

Neither of us seeks to impose our values and beliefs on anyone, nor do Shane or I remain silent about our politics and convictions.

Instead, we both point others to the Way of Jesus — a path of peacemaking that is marked by courageous conversations, holy listening, bridgebuilding, and radical reconciliation.

READ: The Art of the Third Way

In my humble opinion, there is no better way to lean into this practice than by wrestling with abortion and the myriad questions about when life begins. Easy peasy, right?

So while Shane upholds fetal personhood and believes in life at conception, I contend there is no moral, scientific, ethical, or theological consensus to answer this question. It is a mystery at best, which is why I believe we must trust pregnant people and their conscience when it comes to reproductive decisions.

For me, the Hebrew scriptures indicate that life (or ensoulment) begins at first breath (Genesis 2:7) and that the Torah contains passages where abortion is arguably condoned (Numbers 5:11-31 and Exodus 21:22-25).

The New Testament also tells me that Jesus never spoke about or condemned abortion — a universal practice that has occurred from generation to generation, and one which Jesus must have surely encountered during his 33 years of earthly ministry.

But the Bible is only one source of inspiration and not the moral arbiter of what is right or good in a pluralistic society. All religions have varying views about reproductive rights and fetal personhood. To enshrine any one view into law not only prevents people from following their own conscience and religious beliefs, but also fundamentally denies them their civil rights and religious freedoms.

As presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg puts it, “If we can’t agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line.” While some may think it’s acceptable for religious institutions or the government to draw that line, I argue that women and pregnant people have the God-given moral agency and capacity to draw that line for themselves.

From a legal perspective, this question has been asked and answered by the Supreme Court’s 1974 Roe v. Wade ruling which drew the line on abortion at fetal viability, or about 24-26 weeks of gestation when a fetus is able to survive outside the uterus. The Court recognized that deciding when life begins is a moral and ethical question that cannot be determined by the state, thereby establishing a viability standard to honor and balance both women’s bodily autonomy and the potential life of a fetus.

As Shane acknowledges, 1 in 4 people in the U.S. will have an abortion in their lifetime. While he affirms that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare,” I find this language troubling.

Abortion is health care and a human right that should be affordable and accessible to all who want or need to terminate a pregnancy, yet it is a common experience that is highly stigmatized and sensationalized.

READ: Women’s Voices — Rather than Empty Slogans — Must Drive Abortion Debates

Miscarriages are commonly called “spontaneous abortions” by the medical community. And those who decide to have induced or elective abortions, primarily do so because of a fatal fetal anomaly, to preserve their own life and well-being, or to terminate a pregnancy due to rape or incest. The majority of abortions also occur in the first trimester before fetal viability — with about 1% of abortions occurring later in pregnancy.

While we can absolutely lower the rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions with more access to contraception and comprehensive sex education, there is nothing “rare” about this experience for 25% of women in the U.S. who rely on this deeply personal and lifesaving medical procedure.

Criminalizing abortion and threatening people with the death penalty also isn’t the answer. Putting more restrictions on abortion will never stop people from exercising their religious and reproductive freedoms — but it will ultimately make abortion less safe.

As a formerly fundamentalist evangelical, a second-generation immigrant, a rape survivor, and a cisgender, able-bodied, heterosexual woman from the Midwest, there are a variety of reasons why I support abortion access. In the end, though, I recognize this is a complex conversation with no easy answers for many people.

We each contain multitudes — and we all come to the table with our own set of personal experiences, our own understanding of scripture, and our own values and beliefs that have been shaped by our communities and circumstances.

How then shall we live together?

For me, I find hope and a way forward in how RLC strives to practice dialogue across difference. Lord knows, we don’t always get it right. But we are doing our best among our staff and the wider movement for Jesus and justice to live faithfully into this call and to love each other with integrity.

One story comes to mind that illustrates this sacred practice so well. Last fall, I was tasked with picking up two white, male pastors from the airport to speak at our Red Letter Revival in Goldsboro, NC. As is common for me and my religious pro-choice vocation, I ended up talking about abortion for the hour long car ride with these two strangers.

One of the pastors identified as pro-choice, but also remarked it was probably the longest conversation he ever engaged in about abortion and the first one he ever had with his pastor friend and traveling companion. The other pastor asked questions and listened attentively, while also sharing why he upheld a more consistent ethic of life. It was an intense, yet holy ride full of radical curiosity and conviction.

Later, during one of the revival workshops, a question came up about abortion. Without hesitation, the pro-life pastor from our car ride who was also co-leading the workshop, shared with the audience how much he wrestles with abortion — but also stated how our drive together helped him realize it’s time for white men to stop talking and to start listening more. And with that, he walked over to me and passed the mic so I could answer the question for him instead.

This is what it looks like to practice big tent theology…to decenter whiteness…to share power…to draw the circle wide…to believe that the kin-dom of God is bigger than what divides us.

But this work is not for the faint of heart.

It requires risk and relationship. It requires a willingness to engage other voices and perspectives. Most of all, it requires a disciplined grace that prioritizes self-humility over self-righteousness and compassion over condemnation.

In this critical election year, abortion will undoubtedly continue to be politicized and exploited to serve a narrow religious and moral agenda at the expense of other pressing gospel issues.

But we must do better — and it starts with each and every one of us.

We can do better than treating women and pregnant people as if their worth is only in their womb.

We can do better than demonizing and dehumanizing one another when discussing abortion.

And evangelicals can do better than insisting that abortion and single-issue voting is the litmus test of Christian faith when it is Jesus who is the author, perfecter, and substance of our faith.

In this season of Lent, I invite all followers of Christ to engage in heart-to-heart conversations about abortion.

To foster empathy.

To live into tension.

To be quick to listen and slow to anger.

To be attentive to the Spirit moving through and among us.

And to meet at the cross — no matter what.

It wells up every now and then. That persistent feeling of inadequacy. Scattered thoughts that shake my confidence. A not so quiet voice that makes me question my abilities.

I am an impostor.

Or at least that’s what the big fat lies from the pit of hell tell me. No matter my myriad experiences, achievements, or accolades, I somehow end up seeing myself as a fraud. A charlatan. A fake.

In these moments, I repeat my mantra…

I am more than enough.
I am more than enough.
I am more than enough.

But sometimes this is simply not enough to break through the paralysis that keeps me from taking action, from speaking up. The internal script of self-doubt keeps playing, all the while reinforced by external messages that tell me I am not enough — but less than others.

In a world that privileges whiteness, my dark brown skin is often regarded as foreign, exotic, or suspect. Layer in my female identity, religious baggage, history of trauma and abuse, and impostor syndrome — and I am a therapist’s dream come true.

The struggle is real, but then I’m reminded that God calls me beloved.

Praise be for Kathy Khang who grounded me in this truth through her latest work, Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up. She opens her book explaining her own struggle with impostor syndrome, compounded by painful experiences of being silenced as a woman of color. I immediately connected with Khang’s raw and grace-filled storytelling which reflects many of my experiences navigating white supremacy and patriarchy as an Asian-American woman.

Indeed, stories matter — but it also matters whose stories are told and who tells them. Christian publishing is dominated by the writings of white men and (some) women, muting the voices of those on the margins of church and society. But God invites us to bring our whole selves to the table, offering our diversity of voice and experience to nourish and sustain one another along the journey. As Khang explains, “When more of us from different intersections and margins raise our voices, we live a fuller picture of the good news.”

This is truly the heart of the kin-dom of God, but living into this vision is easier said than done. As we have discussed in our online book study group, it’s hard to step out in faith and raise our voices when we’re met with silence, vitriol, or just plain disbelief — particularly among Christian circles.

After all, Christianity has a bad habit of silencing and dismissing women. The gospel itself hinges on the testimony of Mary Magdalene and other women. But these very first witnesses of the resurrection were not believed, since their words were viewed as “nonsense” or “idle tales” to the male disciples. (View various translations of Luke 24:1-11.)

Fast forward to the 2018th year of our Lord and not much has changed. Today the authority of men remains relatively unquestioned, while the bodily integrity, giftedness, and truthfulness of women are contested time and time again.

Just this past week, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford took the stand to share her testimony of the attempted rape she endured in high school, allegedly at the hands of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Many have lauded Dr. Ford for speaking up, yet countless others have scrutinized her for doing so — including Trump who mocked and maligned her. In the end, our elected leaders decided to confirm Kavanaugh rather than stand with survivors like Dr. Ford.

It’s no wonder that so many of us question our own credibility and struggle to be seen or heard.

“Power dynamics keep us silent and marginalized,” the author says, “especially when race, ethnicity, and gender are factors.” But in the midst of this oppressive reality, Khang also reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, created to use our unique voices and identities to bless others and call forth justice.

We, who are made in the image of God, are more than our history or hang ups. Despite the naysayers and nonbelievers, we are called to raise our voices and speak truth to power. And just like Moses, we are “called out of our impostor syndrome wilderness to proclaim freedom and good news to the world.”

For all of us who have been silenced or made to feel small, may we remember that we are image-bearers of the divine. And may we recall these powerful words by Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure, It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Beloved, you are more than enough. Rest in that truth.

And may you take up space and raise your voice like no other.

Read the other reflections in this series:

• Finding Your Voice
• Breaking the Bonds of White Silence
• We Are Not Meant to Be Silent

“Many Evangelical Christians have embraced the politics of exclusion and hatred, such that the Good News of Jesus has become cover for a social and economic order that can only be understood as bad news for many,” said Rev. Dr. Peter Heltzel, a Red Letter Christian and Associate Professor of Theology at New York Theological Seminary. “Responding to Jesus’ courageous call to love ‘the least of these,’ we pray for the conversion of the converted.”

At the 2017 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, more than 300 Christian theologians signed on to the Boston Declaration to denounce the abuse of the Christian faith by religious conservatives and extremists. The statement was officially launched with a press conference at Boston’s historic Old South Church, where a group of theologians put on sackcloth and ashes to demonstrate the crisis of American Evangelicalism.

Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey, a military veteran and an Associate Dean at Boston University School of Theology, served as one of the key organizers of the Boston Declaration. She stated: “Today, too many Christians are placing politics over the foundational teachings of Jesus. They make excuses for racial hatred and sexual abuse, and some have even said that it would be better to vote for a pedophile than a Democrat. This is the opposite of Jesus’ teaching of love and mercy.”

Crafted after the 1934 Barmen Declaration, which called out the German church’s complicity with Nazism, the Boston Declaration asserts “that following Jesus today means fighting poverty, economic exploitation, racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression from the deepest wells of our faith.”

The opening statement of the Boston Declaration reads:

As followers of Jesus, the Jewish prophet for justice whose life reminds us to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), we hear the cries of women and men speaking out about sexual abuse at the hands of leaders in power, and we are outraged. We are outraged by the current trends in Evangelicalism and other expressions of Christianity driven by white supremacy, often enacted through white privilege and the normalizing of oppression. Confessing racism as the United States’ original and ongoing sin, we commit ourselves to following Jesus on the road of costly discipleship to seek shalom justice for the least, the lost, and the left out. (Read the full text here.)

Add your voice to this prophetic appeal. Join Shane Claiborne and other Red Letter Christians in signing the Boston Declaration.

I’m honored to be one of the signers of the #BostonDeclaration.
This is what Christianity looks like in the belly of the beast.https://t.co/Z28bUkXRLQ

— Shane Claiborne (@ShaneClaiborne) November 21, 2017

Liberty’s current president, Jerry Falwell, Jr., who assumed leadership after his father died in 2007, publicly endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential bid, stating that the billionaire businessman would “lead our country to greatness again.” Since the election, Mr. Falwell has been an unapologetic supporter of Trump, even defending him in August when Trump failed to condemn the white supremacist rally and deadly car attack in nearby Charlottesville, Va.

For many alumni, these incidences have become anathema to their faith and an affront to their association with the university. In the days after Charlottesville, a private Facebook group was created called “Return your diploma to LU,” urging alumni to mail their diplomas back to Liberty with letters explaining their decision.

“My family has been attending Liberty University since 1999,” states Joseph Autry in his letter to the LU administration. “My three older brothers attended the university, and I did as well. Mr. Falwell mentioned my family during the commencement because we had three different family members graduating that day with three different degrees. This brings me to what I most wanted to say during this letter. I don’t feel that I could send my children to Liberty University with how it is right now.”

But it’s not just legacy alumni getting in on the act. Laura Honnol, a 2013 graduate, also returned her diploma along with a convicting statement:

“In light of the incidents in Charlottesville, in Liberty’s backyard, I can no longer grieve privately when you repeatedly and uncritically escalate your commitment to adulation of our sitting President as a hero to the faith and to the cause of Christ – a man who refuses to unequivocally call out the blatant, blasphemous sin of racism in the face of clear and incontrovertible evidence of white supremacist, Neo-Nazi incitement. There is no moral equivalency to be made between the KKK and counter-protestors. Racism is an outright denial of the image of God in His creation and should be repudiated swiftly, decisively, and thoroughly – full stop.”

Despite various calls to repentance, Mr. Falwell and LU have yet to turn from their ways. In response to the return of diplomas, Liberty University issued a statement in support of “our students’ right to express their own political opinions,” yet was quick to chastise alumni, reminding them “that those same diplomas are quite helpful in helping these graduates secure well-paying jobs.”

It’s no wonder why Emily Gibbs left Liberty in June after completing undergraduate and graduate programs and working there as a full-time staff member for three and a half years. Her decision to leave was grounded in the realization that her association with the university was harmful to her testimony and the name of Christ.

“As Christ followers, our first priorities must be to love God (Matthew 22:37) and to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19–20). As a Christian university representing the name of Jesus Christ, Liberty University’s priorities must be the same. It has become evident through the words and actions of Mr. Jerry Falwell, Dr. Ronald Hawkins, and the leadership of Liberty University as a whole that the priorities of the university are political power and earthly wealth. For this, I call Liberty University and its leadership to repent and return to the gospel… We must take Jesus’ words seriously. Therefore, we cannot celebrate ‘ending’ our enemies, we cannot shy away from calling evil by its name, we cannot place our hope in political leaders, and we cannot spit in the face of those who call us to repentance.”

For many graduates, their time at Liberty was a formative experience, including Rebekah (Meador) Tilley who received a degree in government in 2002 and first met her husband at the university. But she can no longer call herself a proud alumna of LU.

“Mr. Falwell’s vocal support of President Trump has made it such that you cannot think of Liberty University without associating the institution and its alumni with President Trump. It’s becoming a political action committee instead of an academic institution. This is not what I signed on for when I made the decision to attend Liberty almost 20 years ago. I’m also disgusted by the callous disregard and demeaning comments Mr. Falwell has made toward Liberty alumni in the wake of their outspoken sorrow and outrage. That demonstrates poor judgement and leadership.

To demonstrate how deeply felt these sentiments are, with a heavy heart I am enclosing every remnant of my time at Liberty as a student: my honors thesis, final grade slips, my graduation program, my award ceremony program, and a 2002 graduation invitation. I would include my diploma if I could, but it was destroyed in a house flood. I am also scrubbing Liberty University from my resume and my LinkedIn profile.”

Likewise, Rebekah’s spouse expressed his deep disappointment with Liberty. An ordained elder, J. Michael Tilley, PhD, boldly declared:

“I call on the Board to publicly repudiate Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s initial comments, for it to demand that he resign from his position at Liberty University or step down from the Evangelical Council, and for it to discipline him for his inappropriate treatment of Liberty University alumni. Until that occurs, I will provide no support, financial or otherwise, to Liberty University, I will express to prospective students and parents that they should not attend or allow their children to attend Liberty University, I will not allow any of my four children to attend, and I am removing Liberty University from my resume so that it receives no credit for any of my accomplishments. I write this not out of spite or political disagreements with Jerry Falwell, Jr., but out of a concern for the cause of Christ around the world.”

At the risk of jeopardizing future finances and enrollment, the Liberty administration continues to support Mr. Falwell’s leadership. Regardless of the impact of their diploma protest, participating alumni remain resolute in standing with Christ – even as Falwell, Jr., continues to stand up for Trump.

In too many Christian circles, religious nationalism has become an idol — as exemplified most recently by the church choir of First Baptist Dallas performing their rendition of “Make America Great Again” at the Celebrate Freedom Rally.

As In(ter)dependence Day nears, we must rethink what it means to serve both God and country and find a way forward that heals the deep divides in our nation. Red Letter Christians is proud to partner with The People’s Supper in making this happen meal by meal, neighbor to neighbor, community by community.

In the wake of the recent election, The People’s Supper hosted hundreds of dinners across the country to help “repair the breach in our interpersonal relationships across political, ideological, and identity differences, leading to more civil civic discourse.”

As Micky ScottBey Jones explains: “Throughout human history, sharing a meal has stood as one of the few things all of us have in common. As Christians, we’re always gathering around a table for one reason or another. We gather for the eucharist. We gather for dinner and a Bible study. We gather for a meal as part of a celebration of a life now gone from us. We gather for picnics and parties and as part of observing our holiest days.”

In so doing, The People’s Supper has created “brave space” for thousands of people to encounter one another, find collective healing, and bridge differences together.

This time, the group is seeking to expand their efforts and reclaim the 4th of July by launching The Pledge of Allegiance to Each Other.

#ThePeoplesPledge is both a celebration and call to action that affirms one’s relationship and connection to one’s neighbors and community. It also encourages signers to take action by inviting them to host a People’s Supper in order to tangibly build community beyond the labels, identities, and unconditional patriotism that are often shouted on the 4th.

“The 4th of July, at its best,” states The People’s Supper, “is a time to celebrate unity, community, and the creation of community in our neighborhoods – and at worst, a time to fan the flames of nationalism, a narrow and exclusionary view of what it means to be a citizen of the United States, and unquestioned patriotism. The recent polarized election, a measurable rise in hate crimes, and lack of communication across social and political lines have amplified the different expectations, concerns, and challenges brought to our civic and family gatherings. We are taking the best aspects of the 4th of July to own this day as a time to celebrate and build a new type of community.”

Read the pledge below and prayerfully consider signing it. And while you’re at it, reach out to The People’s Supper (info@thepeoplessupper.org) for tips on how to host your own BBQ, picnic, or meal this week as part of your pledge commitment.

With neighbors and strangers alike, we can build a better nation that aspires for more than just idolatrous worship or greatness, but one that seeks true justice, equality, and shalom for all.

The Pledge of Allegiance to Each Other

We the people are committed to our neighbors next door and miles away. We pledge to one another to live into a visionary American story of unity in diversity, and hope over fear.

To myself:
I pledge to love myself so that I might better love my neighbor.

To my neighbors:
I pledge to meet you at the table of community in which we can all thrive.

To those around the table:
I pledge to listen deeply to understand where your story intersects with and diverges from mine.

To each other:
We commit the time and energy needed to create a greater future. I will walk beside you, knowing that we may not get there quickly but we will get there together.

Earlier in January, 18 anti-death penalty abolitionists were arrested at the U.S. Supreme Court for displaying a 30-foot-long banner that read “STOP EXECUTIONS!” on the steps of the Court. This nonviolent protest was one of the largest acts of civil resistance against the death penalty in modern history.

The arrested group, known as the DC 18, included both families of the murdered and the executed, an exonerated death row survivor, clergy and lay leaders, and national figures in the death penalty abolition movement — including Shane Claiborne, Red Letter Christian co-founder and author of Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It’s Killing Us. All 18 abolitionists were held overnight in jail and released the following day, with 12 of those arrested scheduled for trial in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2017.

“The death penalty is a masquerade of justice and mirrors the very evil it seeks to rid the world of, “ says Shane Claiborne, “I am honored to be one of the DC 18. We stand together with families of the murdered and families of the executed to say NO to all killing, both legal and illegal.”

The trial takes place a day before the 24th Annual “Starvin’ for Justice” Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty in Washington, D.C. (June 29-July 2). This four-day vigil and nonviolent direct action — organized by the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) — has been held at the Supreme Court every summer since 1994. The AAC also organized the January protest, which led to the arrest of the DC 18.

In preparation for the upcoming trial and week of action, join the Teach-In & Vigil for Death Penalty Abolition on Tuesday, June 27, from 4pm to 5pm ET. The teach-in will be held in Washington, D.C., but supporters can engage online through Facebook Live. Hear from experts, activists, and faith leaders as they offer both a legal overview of the death penalty and the theology behind abolition. Download the toolkit and discussion guide here.

And pray for the 12 abolitionist defendants facing trial on June 28. May their moral witness not be in vein, helping to eventually turn the tide and ending the U.S. death penalty once and for all.

While some posts describe positive experiences, the majority of tweets testify to the reality of discrimination and double standards for women in ministry and beyond.

Patriarchy is alive in well in the 21st century, but let’s be real — it’s always been a part of HIStory:

You were the first to preach the Gospel? We will ignore that and instead call you a prostitute. For centuries. #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear

— Mary Magdalene (@ChurchofMaryMag) April 19, 2017

So it’s refreshing when Twitter conversations like this center women’s experiences and bring the sin of sexism to light.

“Feminists misunderstand complementarism: different roles, equal value.”
I understand what patriarchy is. #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear

— Hannah Menendez (@hannendez) April 19, 2017

Women Ministry: Never deny your husband sex. Once you marry, your body is his body. #thingsonlychristianwomenhear #MisogynyAsDoctrine

— Joan Nicole (@joan_nicole) April 21, 2017

“You’re in seminary? Do you want to be a missionary’s/pastor’s wife?” #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear

— Katrina (@brgmnk) April 19, 2017

“Only men are strong enough to lead.”

“Men just aren’t strong enough to resist your above-mid-thigh shorts.” #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear

— Mary Calhoun (@marbearcalhoun) April 20, 2017

And despite the requisite trolling and pushback, it’s encouraging when these voices are genuinely heard and men step up to listen.

The #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear discussion is a heartbreaking, eye-opening glimpse at how badly American Christians have bungled gender

— chrisicisms (@cdubbs727) April 19, 2017

It would be a good thing for fellow Christian men to read through this hashtag. #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear Be aware and be better, y’all.

— Barnabas Piper (@BarnabasPiper) April 19, 2017

Though male privilege is acknowledged in the thread, Christian privilege is another story. As Red Letter Christian leader Alicia Crosby points out, Christianity does not have the market cornered on misogyny:

#ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear makes me question if Christian women speak to women of other faiths bc a # of these things aren’t unique to us

— Alicia Crosby (@promisechaser) April 20, 2017

And this dialogue certainly does not represent all women’s experiences across race, class, sexual orientation, or a host of other identities that contribute to the mistreatment of women inside and outside the church.

While deeper and more diverse truth-telling is needed in this conversation, it has become a cathartic and empowering space for many women to unpack the toxic teachings and misguided messages within Christianity.

And it has led many to dream about #ThingsChristianWomenShouldHear, a spin-off conversation that creates a vision for the kind of church God calls us to be to one another and the world.

there are no second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. #ThingsChristianWomenShouldHear

— D.L. Mayfield (@d_l_mayfield) April 21, 2017

I believe you. I’m sorry our Pastor sexually abused you. It’s not your fault. He is no longer in leadership.#ThingsChristianWomenShouldHear

— Ezer Rising (@EzerRising) April 20, 2017

Without you, the church is missing half of its voice, half of its gifting, half of its mission & ministry. #ThingsChristianWomenShouldHear

— Scott Lencke (@prodigalthought) April 20, 2017

But perhaps the best part of this trending dialogue is how both hashtags help move participants and readers from lament to healing. By holding space for women to grieve and cry out to God’s people, these conversations not only draw attention to the hard truths and injustices within church and society, but also guide us to prayerful acts of repentance and restoration.

Read some of #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear this morning. Praying my daughters hear more affirming and hospitable messages as they grow.

— Christopher Brown (@brwnchrstpher) April 21, 2017

#ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear—accurate. harmful. heartbreaking. #ThingsChristianWomenShouldHear—accurate. healing. heart mending.

— Grace Arneberg (@ohhgracious) April 21, 2017

We’re listening to: #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear

Let’s fix it together.#ThingsChristianWomenShouldHear

— Dawn Sutherland (@DawnLSutherland) April 19, 2017

As is the nature of Twitter, these trending topics will come to an end. But our work has only begun. May we have ears to hear these stories and the courage to respond as repairers of the breach in all our conversations and interactions — online and offline.

With incredible grace, righteous anger, and prophetic wisdom, women continue to lead us into a deeper understanding of ourselves, our communities, and of God. But throughout creation, women’s voices, contributions, and achievements have been silenced and ignored—whitewashed and mansplained away in both church and society. And yet, women persist.

As the new Editor & Content Coordinator of Red Letter Christians, I have the profound honor of engaging some of the best thought leaders, movement makers, and servants of God. I asked some of our dear friends in the RLC Network to share about the Christian women who have inspired them to follow in the Way of Jesus.

Here’s what they had to say about the great cloud of witnesses who surround them:

Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz—a nun, poet, and feminist Mexicana—illustrated to me the way to own both indigeneity and Spanish lineage, to speak out by writing it out as a woman even in oppressive faith spaces, and illustrated the beauty of language in her prose. She reminds me always of the power of women in faith spaces—and the ability to connect to a radical and feminist (mujerista likely, if she had possessed the language for it) expression of the Way of Jesus. —Teresa Pasquale Mateus

Though little is known about her, Priscilla was one of the first women I was able to look to and understand that I could be a leader within the Christian faith. The few mentions of her in scripture shine light on a woman whose faith met her intellect as she mentored notable leaders and teachers within the early church. I feel a kinship with this great woman who gave me an example of what it meant to be so good at what you do that the patriarchy present in your world can’t deny your gifts and has to hold you in a position of honor (despite ministry not being your full-time job). —Alicia Crosby 

Jenny Yang, with whom I worked at World Relief, has inspired and challenged me and many others to a deep moral conviction to stand with refugees and immigrants. With professional excellence and a winsome spirit, Jenny has emerged as an apostle on behalf of the world’s 60 million displaced and a prophet to the church whom God has called to welcome them (the strangers among us) with love and care. Jenny will be representing RLC at Eastern University’s “Windows on the World” series on September 8th. —Don Golden 

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Rigby was my theology professor at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. I was coming from a Bible college with the knowledge that fundamentalist, dispensationalist theology wasn’t working for me. Dr. Rigby helped me to deconstruct my understandings and construct a more life-giving faith. —Carol Howard Merritt

Corita Kent (1918–1986) was an artist, educator, and advocate for social justice. At age 18, she entered the religious order Immaculate Heart of Mary, eventually teaching in and then heading up the art department at Immaculate Heart College. Her work evolved from figurative and religious to incorporating advertising images and slogans, popular song lyrics, biblical verses, and literature. Throughout the ‘60s, her work became increasingly political, urging viewers to consider poverty, racism, and injustice. Sr. Corita designed the first LOVE stamp for the USPS, and when they held the opening ceremonies on the set of the 1970s sitcom set of The Love Boat, she refused to attend since that’s not what love is. BOOM! —Margot Starbuck

Join in the conversation. Take a moment to reflect on the Christian women who’ve shaped your journey and then share your thoughts below.

Florida Governor Rick Scott recently made waves when he pulled State Attorney Aramis D. Ayala off a high-profile case against murder suspect Markeith Loyd after Ayala announced she would not pursue capital punishment in any case during her tenure, including against Loyd.

The first black woman elected as state attorney, Ayala serves as the lead prosecutor for Orange and Osceola Counties in Florida. Her job, however, is now in jeopardy after Gov. Scott signed an executive order removing Ayala from the Loyd case and reassigning it to State Attorney Brad King, a white prosecutor.

Last week, Ayala publicly announced she would not seek the death penalty during her administration, stating:

Florida’s death penalty has been the cause of considerable legal chaos, uncertainty, and turmoil…I have given this issue extensive, painstaking thought and consideration. What has become abundantly clear through this process is that while I currently do have discretion to pursue death sentences, I have determined that doing so is not in the best interests of this community or in the best interests of justice.

Thus far, Ayala’s decision has been met with support by at least one of the victim’s families in the Loyd case. Loyd is accused of fatally shooting his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and police officer Lt. Debra Clayton.

Ron Daniels, the father of murder victim Sade Dixon, was disturbed to hear that State Attorney Ayala was removed from the case.

“Life, no chance of parole, we get closure,” said Daniels, “but now if you give him the death penalty, he comes back. Every time he appeals, this family or any family has to relive that case all over again.”

Even legal experts say that Gov. Scott crossed a line by removing State Attorney Ayala from the Loyd case. More than 100 current or former Florida prosecutors, judges, and law professors recently signed a letter urging the governor to reverse his decision. The letter states:

…We believe this action sets a dangerous precedent. The governor picking and choosing how criminal cases are prosecuted, charged or handled in local matters is troubling as a matter of policy and practice. Indeed, there appears to be no precedent in Florida for this type of use of power.

While not every signer agreed with Ayala’s decision to not seek the death penalty against Loyd, they all affirmed her authority and discretion to do so.

Christian leader Shane Claiborne, an outspoken critic of the death penalty, also praised Ayala for her bold decision.

For many Christians, capital punishment is contrary to the gospel. Not only is the death penalty fraught with racial bias and abuse—with fatal and disproportionate consequences for the poor and wrongfully accused—but it goes against the teachings of Jesus Christ, an innocent man who was condemned and executed by his peers.

“It blows my mind and breaks my heart,” says Claiborne, “that we continue to trust our very imperfect government with the ultimate and irreversible power of life and death.”

If you want to join Shane Claiborne and other Red Letter Christians in supporting State Attorney Aramis Ayala, check out this petition by Color of Change. Act now to oppose the death penalty and the dangerous precedent being set by Gov. Rick Scott.