Black faith leaders in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area are mobilizing congregations ahead of upcoming local and congressional elections in an effort to turn faith into action and boost civic engagement. The role of faith is to hold the state accountable, said the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould.
Local Efforts
Community of Hope in Temple Hills, Maryland, is partnering with faith organizations to deploy poll chaplains who help ensure voters feel safe. The church is also organizing mayoral debates, voter registration drives, and protests to support civic engagement.
The Rev. William H. Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan AME Church, a historically Black church in downtown D.C., said, churches are inherently political. What one says about God and believes about the Creator shapes what one does in the world, Lamar said.
Historical Context
Black churches have always been a site for Black-centered political action and imagination, said Jason Williams, associate professor of Social Justice Studies at Montclair University. The Black church has long been a center of both spiritual life and civic education.
Throughout history, Black churches have played a significant role in organizing and mobilizing communities, from the Civil Rights Movement to the present day. Faith leaders believe the church’s role is to unite people and guide them toward collective action.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
