Reclaiming the Heritage

Reclaiming the Heritage is a call to action from people of faith who reject authoritarianism, nationalism, and the misuse of religion for power. We stand in the tradition of the Confessing Church, the Barmen Declaration, and the prophets who dared to speak truth in challenging times. This is a call to act—grounded in scripture, history, and hope. In the spirit of the Confessing Church, we invite you to read and sign the declaration, Democracy at Risk: A Response from the Faith Community.  

This Reclaiming the Heritage project has been developed by pastors (retired and under call), deacons and lay leaders of the church as a helpful tool for addressing the present crisis in democracy in the US. It is centered around a Declaration, Democracy at Risk: A Response of the Faith Community. It has emerged in response to the US administration's growing authoritarianism, the abandonment of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity as well as the First Amendment right to free speech and freedom of the press. It is a response to the lack of due process in the treatment of immigrants and to the discontinuation of global programs designed to reduce hunger and poverty. We seek to address the issues that are threatening democracy from a vantage point that is non-partisan, transcending the agenda of any political party.

While this effort is independent, that is, not part of the official programs or structures of any church body, it is committed to providing, to the best of its ability, support to the mainline churches, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed, Moravian and United Church of Christ, of which we are a part. Thank you for reading and signing the Declaration.