United in Faith: A Call to Action

“United in Faith: A Call to Action”
An Ecumenical Gathering of Unity and Solidarity
Saturday, January 24, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church * 5607 NE Gher Rd. Vancouver WA 98662
Purpose:
To educate, awaken, connect, and empower communities of faith to stand for justice, truth, the
vulnerable in our community, and the common good.
Why We Gather:
As Christians and people of faith in Clark County, we are called to live out the values of love,
compassion, justice, and truth. At this moment in history, when religion is being misused to
consolidate power and silence dissent, we gather to raise up a different witness: a witness
rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the prophetic tradition that calls us to love our neighbors,
speak truth to power, and protect the vulnerable.
Our Shared Commitments:
- Expose the misuse of religion for political gain.
We seek to raise awareness of how faith is being weaponized to legitimize authoritarian
power and suppress dissenting voices.
- Resist false anointings and cults of personality.
We stand against narratives that claim divine endorsement of any political leader or agenda,
especially when they undermine justice, personhood, or the common good of our planet and all of
its inhabitants. 
 
- Uphold the freedom of faith, not the imposition of it.
We believe faith should never be coerced or legislated—especially in public schools and
civic spaces. True faith inspires love with one another, not domination of the other.
- Learn from history to guard against repeating it.
We remember how religious complacency and complicity enabled atrocities in the
past—from Nazi Germany to other regimes that co-opted faith for oppression. We
honor those who resisted, such as Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and countless unnamed
faithful dissenters.
- Activate hope and courage.
We invite people of faith to join a visible, peaceful public witness that proclaims democracy,
dignity, and truth still matter—and our voices can help preserve them.
- Live the values Jesus taught:
o Love your neighbor, NO exceptions.
o Blessed are the meek, the peacemakers, the humble.
o Welcome the stranger, care for the vulnerable.
o Resist the corruption of faith by power and profit.

Why Here? Why Now?
We gather in Clark County as part of a growing national and global movement of faithful
resistance—standing in solidarity to protect the integrity of our democracy. We claim
the value of government to uphold the common good, not the enrichment and
domination of the few, and uphold our shared national future interdependent with
other nations and species on our planet.
By coming together, we embolden our neighbors, support our civic institutions, and bear
witness to a God of justice and love.
Who is the host for this event?
God’s Good Trouble of St. Andrew Lutheran Church formed in response to the 2024
election to support one another in the work of speaking out for justice and
democracy. GGT meets regularly to talk about the latest issues, participate in
protests, and collective actions.
What is the format of the event?
An ecumenical worship gathering with prayers, singing, sermon, and blessing for public
witness. Our preacher is Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth – Greater Northwest Area of The United
Methodist Church. (Online at: SALC VAN (St. Andrew Lutheran) - YouTube)
Followed by a resource fair where local justice and service organizations will present
opportunities for action.
Coalition/network of local progressive churches
From connections made through this event we will organize Christian people and churches in Clark
County. We will form a rapid response network for unified and targeted actions to current and
unfolding injustices. This church activity will not eliminate our interfaith or nonreligious justice work
but will reclaim the Christian churches’ public witness to the values of Jesus. We sincerely hope that
this church unity will offer a consistent public rejection of the Christian nationalist agenda, foreign to
Christ’s compassionate values and prophetic message.