What is THE FAITHFUL VOTER PROJECT?
Christians want to make informed choices that align with our values and preserve the security of all families, freedoms, faiths, and futures and modern Christian theology has plenty to say about key issues facing our nation and world today. That doesn’t mean we walk in lockstep but we can benefit from the wisdom found in our tradition. That’s why we created THE FAITHFUL VOTER PROJECT, to offer thoughtful theology and engagement on 12 core and sometimes sticky issues for Christians: climate change, immigration, reproductive health, Christian nationalism, race, economy, guns, LGBTQ+, foreign aid, empathy, patriarchy, leadership.
Why do Christians need clarity?
A lot is being claimed in Jesus’ name that doesn’t sound at all Christian. Slick and convincing attempts to
re-frame Christianity are not only undercutting Christian values, Christians are being manipulated with propaganda that goes against Jesus’ teaching. We fear how the religion we love is being manipulated and misused. It’s extreme and it’s causing real harm to Christianity, our country and our world. THE FAITHFUL VOTER PROJECT was created to help all Christians make better-informed choices. We do not expect everyone to agree. We do hope everyone comes away with greater clarity.
Why focus on “progressive Christian values”?
The word “progressive” has become a dirty word and that makes no sense when you consider how Jesus interacted with people and led his life. When paired with the word Christianity, at its core is the willingness to grow and evolve into a modern expression of faith; rooted in the belief that Christianity is not static, not bound to dogma that no longer serves love, justice, and the common good. This kind of progress isn’t about abandoning tradition or faith, but about deepening it by looking to the teachings of Jesus and asking what they require of us in the here and now.
Is THE FAITHFUL VOTER PROJECT just cherry-picking and manipulating scripture the same way extremists do?
No, we are laying out intellectually honest theology, modern Biblical scholarship, and we do not shy away from pointing out extremist theology that does harm. The content comes from a wide range of sources and is grounded in Biblical text. We invite all Christians—right, left, center and apolitical—to explore the content for themselves.
What’s behind this effort?
It began as a question during the 2024 presidential election: Who is reaching the Christian middle about key issues? The answer was disturbing. Far-right extremists who do not reflect the teachings of Jesus were dominating this space. So we launched Take Back Christianity and threw out a wide net to gather a range of theology on contemporary and sometimes divisive issues. Post election, it was time to rethink
Take Back Christianity’s purpose. Which we did. And we expanded content,
added resources, (and even offer up some humor) to reach beyond a single
election because all elections matter. The project is headed up by Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines (United Church of Christ, Christian Church/Disciples of Christ) and Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin (Presbyterian Church USA). They serve congregations in San Diego, CA and Greensboro, NC respectively. Together they host the podcast Moonshine Jesus and co-lead The Center for Progressive Christianity.
How can I help?
PLEASE SHARE THIS WEBSITE! Maybe you know someone (a pastor? a relative? neighbor? friend?) who could benefit from this content. Maybe you know a church or an organization that could utilize this content to help our communities, policies, and politics embrace a more inclusive, loving, and equitable world. Where we don’t have to live in the zero sum universe that convinces too many Christians that they win only when others lose. Where we finally understand there is enough for everyone. Where empathy reigns. May it be so.
Voting is everyone's civic right and responsibility and our voting rights under attack. So make sure your voting rights have not been suspended without your knowledge and your voter registration is current. Check your state's registration deadline, and how to register, confirm, or update your voter registration here.