We All Belong
WE ALL BELONG
PROTECT DEMOCRACY
REJECT “CHRISTIAN” NATIONALISM
BUILD THE BELOVED COMMUNITY
MICAH’s We All Belong Campaign is led by religious leaders of all faiths and is open to anyone who rejects hatred, inequality and oppression, and is willing to work for the “Beloved Community”. In the Beloved Community, all people are valued and respected, and prejudice, oppression and greed are replaced with friendship and goodwill.
Campaign Goals:
- To educate our congregations and communities about the danger that “christian” nationalism poses to our democratic ideals
- To organize around Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Beloved Community – a society in which all people are valued and respected, and prejudice, oppression and greed are replaced with friendship and goodwill. In the Beloved Community, care and compassion drive political policies, and the intrinsic worth of all people is embraced
Campaign Themes:
- Protect Democracy
Our American democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It guarantees liberty and justice for all Americans. As people of faith, we understand Americans to include indigenous people, the original inhabitants of this land, as well as those who were forcibly brought to America and enslaved, and those who came as immigrants and workers. We believe America is stronger when justice, wealth, opportunity and representation are available to all Americans, rather than to an elite few. - Read more about Protecting Democracy, from Kathy Schluter, MICAH Treasurer, HERE
- Reject “christian” Nationalism
“Christian” nationalism is an ideology that merges Christian and American identities and, in doing so, distorts the Christian Gospel and the values of equality that guide our nation. Jesus commanded his followers to “love your neighbor as yourself” and defined ‘neighbor’ to include the poor and marginalized. Other religious faiths have similar teachings. Our democracy was founded on the rule of law, equal representation and separation of church and state. In contrast, “christian” nationalism would create a state religion and place social control, economic wealth, and political power in a favored elite and religious class. “christian” nationalism often overlaps with and provides cover for white supremacy, racial and gender subjugation, and religious intolerance. It would fundamentally alter our society and government and must be rejected. - Read more about rejecting “christian” nationalism by Rev. Dennis Jacobsen, Past President of MICAH, HERE
- Build the Beloved Community
As people of faith and as Americans, we believe in what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the ‘Beloved Community.’ Beloved Community works for the betterment of all Americans. It respects the value of every human being, celebrates diversity, and supports equity and inclusion. It stands with those who others would exclude. We seek to build this Beloved Community for the many races, faiths, cultures, and ways of life that together make up this nation. - Read about building the Beloved Community from Rev. Marilyn Miller, Past President of
MICAH, HERE
REV. DR. RICHARD SHAW SIGNS THE STATEMENT
The Campaign Launch
The We All Belong Campaign went public on August 3, 2023. Close to 100 Milwaukee area religious leaders, representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Unitarian traditions and more, gathered to declare their commitment to the three themes of the Campaign. Rev. Dr. Richard Shaw, President of MICAH, led a Press Conference at the iconic Martin Luther King, Jr. statue in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, after which the religious leaders signed the We All Belong Statement. They then processed to Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church to discuss strategy foe engaging their congregations in the Campaign.
- Download the Statement by clicking HERE
- Listen to an interview in which Rev. Dr. Richard Shaw, President of MICAH and Pastor of St. Matthew C.M.E. Church, and Bishop Paul Erickson, Bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, discuss the We All Belong Campaign HERE.
- Press coverage for the Campaign Launch:
JANAN NAJEEB, PRESIDENT OF THE MUSLIM WOMEN’S CENTER and
FATHER MICHAEL BERTRAM, PASTOR OF ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, SIGN THE STATEMENT
UPCOMING EVENTS
Training on Confronting “christian” Nationalism for Religious Leaders
- Thursday, October 5
- 5:45 Snacks and Refreshments
- 6:15 – 8pm Training
- United Methodist Church 819 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay
MICAH Public Meeting, Focusing on the We All Belong Campaign
- Thursday, October 26
- 6 – 8pm
- Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church
- 1600 Underwood Avenue, Wauwatosa
