Sojourners

Join Sojourners' Adam Taylor at the Nuns on the Bus & Friends “Vote Our Future” rally this weekend Saturday Oct. 5th. in Pittsburgh, PA and Sunday Oct. 6th in Detroit, MI. The events are focused on nonpartisan voter engagement and education to equip each another to vote for a future where everyone thrives, no exceptions!

Congratulations to Jenna Barnett, senior associate culture editor at Sojourners, who won the second place award for Best In-Depth Multimedia Journalism from the American Academy of Religion. She was honored for her work on the Lead us Not podcast, a series that explores difficult questions on wrestling with the aftermath of abuse.

We are pleased to invite you to a timely virtual conversation on countering Christian nationalism. Join experts and Sojourners editors on Zoom on Wednesday, October 16 at 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EDT. Learn more at the link below or visit sojo.net/nationalism to RSVP today. This project is supported by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation Inc. #event #christiannationlism

Sojourners Staff Spotlight 🌟: Introducing our Director of Congregational Outreach & Education, Andrea Saccoccio! Andi joined the Sojo team this summer to oversee our Thriving Congregations project, which is focused on empowering faith leaders to navigate rising polarization in our culture today. 🕊️ Andi received a B.A. from McDaniel College, M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary, and D.Min from George Fox University. 🎓 Q: Why is the work you're doing with Sojourners important? 🌎 A: "The scriptures remind us that we are called to be ministers of reconciliation, a vital component of our witness in the world today. The rise in Christian Nationalism and political violence speaks to challenge before us as people of faith: What does faithfulness to the Gospel look like in the ways we engage our communities, particularly when we disagree? How does how we pray relate to how we live and vote?" Q: What drew you to join Sojourners? 📣 A: "I have...always resonated with Sojourners' commitment to put feet and hands to their convictions to seek justice as an expression of following Jesus. I've spent most of my career in that space as well, and have been ordained for over 20 years, serving the church in a variety of roles. The opportunity to work with Sojourners to support faith leaders at this crucial time in our history was a no brainer for me, and I'm excited to work with this gifted team to empower God's people as they live out their call to do justice and love mercy in their communities." Q: Do you have any book recommendations? 📚 A: "I just ordered 'Faithful Politics: Ten Approaches to Christian Citizenship and Why it Matters' by Miranda Zapor Cruz. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m eager to see how Dr. Cruz outlines the various ways Christians have approached political participation through the lens of Christian faithfulness."

Sojourners' immigration reporter Ken Chitwood recently explored how a Kamala Harris presidency could impact immigration policy by speaking with faith and immigration leaders. “We need a new approach to managing migration at the border, one that works for our country, for border communities, and the next generation of American immigrants looking to raise their families with dignity,” shared Dylan Corbett of Hope Border Institute. Early in her Vice Presidency Harris visited Guatemala to better understand the reasons migrants make the trek north. She later implored them with the phrase, "Do not come." Stephen Reeves of border ministry Fellowship Southwest, said that Harris’ comment was problematic and disrespectful. “Her words disregarded the gravity of the choices migrants have to make,” he said. “It’s not just a simple decision whether or not to come. It’s a decision of desperation based on experiences of violence and trauma." Chelsea Sobolik of World Relief emphasized that “Seeking asylum is enshrined in both domestic and international law as a fundamental human right — a lifeline for those fleeing persecution and violence.,” Sobolik said. “America’s asylum laws must function effectively and timely, to process asylum requests at the U.S.-Mexico border.” Citing Harris’ record, background as an attorney, and representation of a border state (California), Krish O’Mara Vignarajah of Global Refuge believes Harris is both well equipped for the complicated task at hand and better “poised to bring more order, fairness, and efficiency to complex migration challenges at the southern border,” she said. No matter the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election, the majority of people in the U.S. support comprehensive immigration reform, however Chitwood notes that "the practicalities of bipartisan legislation have remained elusive for multiple administrations Republican and Democrat."

"After Saturday, our first commitment should be to denounce all forms of political violence and pray for the victims and their families." - Adam Taylor, President of Sojourners Read the full response to last weekend's events at the link below. https://lnkd.in/eyx3p-9Y #politics #advocacy #prayer #sojourners #peace

Sojo Spotlight: Have you heard about The Reconstruct? This interview series by Sojourners editors Mitchell Atencio (he/him) and Josiah R. Daniels features artists, activists, authors, scholars, contemplatives, and others who are willing to name the ways our world and churches are broken — and who are working toward repair. Subscribe to The Reconstruct newsletter today to have thoughtful, constructive conversations sent to your inbox on a regular basis. 📩 Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gTeXRUjB

This week on sojo.net: "Why Civil Rights Anniversaries Should Matter to Christians" by Sojourners President Adam Taylor: "You don’t have to be a civil rights history nerd to understand why these milestones matter today... These actions reverberate through time, offering us inspiration and resilience for the unfinished cause of freedom and justice." ✊ ⚖ https://lnkd.in/gEcMm8Yi #antiracist #civilrights #socialjustice #christian #inspiration

Millions of families in the U.S struggle to put food on the table. In fact, in 2022, an estimated 13 million children lived in families that experienced food insecurity. As people of faith, we can see how this sad reality is far from Jesus’ vision for a flourishing future in which “all ate and were filled." Tomorrow, Sojourners' Digital Organizer Lauren Morrissey and Charles P. Williams III, a Senior Domestic Policy Analyst at Bread for the World, will explore the reality of child hunger in the U.S., share why nutrition is so vital to child development, and tell us exactly what’s at stake for nutrition assistance programs that support families. You don't want to miss this Zoom webinar - join us tomorrow, June 13 at 6 pm ET for this vital conversation. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dS4bQmsQ #webinar #foodinsecurity #hunger #nutrition #socialjustice #farmbill

Sojourners is seeking a Chief Operations Officer, responsible for leading internal operations, long-term planning and projects to ensure growth and financial health of the organization, and providing leadership support to senior staff. Do you: - Want to nurture a high-performing, team-based, collaborative culture? 💡 - Have a passion for fostering a diverse, inclusive environment? 🌍 - Model and inspire innovative thinking and help organizations adapt to change? ☀ If so, apply today or send this listing to a friend: https://lnkd.in/d7QAHK2 #hiring #nonprofit #executivesearch #jobopening