{"id":24554,"date":"2026-01-06T10:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/?p=24554"},"modified":"2026-01-06T10:43:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:43:22","slug":"united-in-faith-a-call-to-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/united-in-faith-a-call-to-action\/","title":{"rendered":"United in Faith: A Call to Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cUnited in Faith: A Call to Action<\/a>\u201d is an ecumenical gathering of unity and solidarity taking place on Saturday, January 24, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. The event will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, located at 5607 NE Gher Road in Vancouver, Washington (98662), and brings together people of faith to stand together in shared purpose and commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purpose:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To educate, awaken, connect, and empower communities of faith to stand for justice, truth, the vulnerable in our community, and the common good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why We Gather:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Shared Commitments:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Expose the misuse of religion for political gain.
<\/strong>We seek to raise awareness of how faith is being weaponized to legitimize authoritarian power and suppress dissenting voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Resist false anointings and cults of personality.
<\/strong>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Uphold the freedom of faith, not the imposition of it.<\/strong>
We believe faith should never be coerced or legislated\u2014especially in public schools and civic spaces. True faith inspires love with one another, not domination of the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Learn from history to guard against repeating it.<\/strong>
We remember how religious complacency and complicity enabled atrocities in the past\u2014from 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Activate hope and courage.<\/strong>
We invite people of faith to join a visible, peaceful public witness that proclaims democracy, dignity, and truth still matter\u2014and our voices can help preserve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Live the values Jesus taught:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n