All Saints Church, Advocacy Group to Host Panel on ‘Looming Threat’ of Christian Nationalism

Americans United and All Saints Church in Pasadena plan to host a panel discussion about how Christian nationalism’s ideology is challenging American democracy and religious freedom. The event is set for Thursday, May 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.

“Christian Nationalism: American Democracy’s Looming Threat” will feature a panel of experts, including Rachel Laser, Americans United president & CEO; Rev. Traci Blackmon, an Americans United Board of Trustees member and former Associate General Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ; constitutional lawyer Eddie Tabash; Rev. Mike Kinman, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church; Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council; and Rabbi Susan Goldberg, founder of the Nefesh spiritual community.

Actor and activist Bradley Whitford will moderate.

“During the conversation, we will dive into the details of Christian Nationalism and hear from the panelists on how we can work together to support freedom without favor and equality without exception,” the organizers said.

Americans United is short for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based nationwide organization that describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational and advocacy organization that brings together people of all religions.

A statement on their website says Americans United is composed of “people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith.”

“We are lawyers and advocates, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans,” the statement says. “We are a community that includes and welcomes people of all races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, classes and abilities.”

The group Christians Against Christian Nationalism defines Christian nationalism as a political ideology that seeks to merge Christian and American identities, “distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy.”

The group also cites research that found that Americans who embrace Christian nationalist views are more likely to approve of authoritarian tactics, fear and distrust religious minorities, condone police violence toward Black Americans, oppose racial equality, immigration, interracial marriage, transracial adoption, and science education in schools, and believe men are better suited for leadership than women.

The event will be in-person at All Saints Church at 132 N Euclid Ave. in Pasadena, and will also be live-streamed for free. To register, go to au.org/pasadena.

If you would prefer to attend this event online, click https://www.mobilize.us/au/event/622576/ to register for the virtual version.

The networking portion of the event is only available in-person.