Faith in the Time of Monsters: An International Symposium on White Christian Nationalism

On September 5, 2025, Valley and Mountain Fellowship United Methodist Church’s Centre for Faith, Art, and Justice is convening Faith in the Time of Monsters: an International Symposium on White Christian Nationalism. This ecumenical symposium will feature speakers from across the United States and the Global South with aims to address and combat the growing influence of right-wing Christian nationalism within our communities and faith traditions. Additionally, a significant component of this gathering will also include nonviolence training, equipping our community with the skills for GOTV efforts, and a post-election strategy. The Faith over Fear Symposium will culminate with a community lecture by Dr. Cornel West at Town Hall on the evening of September 6 entitled "Faith in the Time of Monsters" - learn more here. *Please note that the Friday events are free and the Saturday event is a paid event* Dr. West will be respondent to the presentations on September 5th. 

If you cannot attend in person, a virtual option will be available through First UMC Seattle's YouTube channel. Please complete your registration even if you intend to view the event online.

Friday’s program is as follows:
Friday, Sept 5 – Faith in the Time of Monsters: An International Symposium on Christian Nationalism

Location Address:
First United Methodist Church of Seattle - 180 Denny Way
Seattle, WA 98109

Agenda:
12:00 PM to 12:15 PM: Intro & Welcome & Housekeeping - Sanctuary
12:15 PM to 2:00 PM: Rapid Response Organizing and Sustainable Resistance Training
2:30 PM to 4:15PM: 1st Panel - White Christian Nationalism Locally & Globally - Sanctuary
4:30 PM to 6:15PM: 2nd Panel - What Must Be Done 
6:15 PM: Closing with Panelists and Dr. Cornel West

Panelists include:

• Rev. Osagyefo Sekou - Lecturer, Theology and Religious Studies, Seattle University; Pastor for Theology and Arts, Valley and Mountain Fellowship 
• Dr. Cornel West - Dietrich Bonhoffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice, Union Theological Seminary 
• Bishop Joseph Tolton - Founder and President of Interconnected Justice
• Rev. Dr. Obery Hendricks - a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in the Departments of Religion and African American and African Diasporic Studies, is the Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary and is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
• Jeff Sharlet - Professor, Dartmouth College and New York Times bestselling author or editor of eight books.
• Dr. Edward Donalson, III - Director of Doctor of Ministry for the School of Theology and Ministry of Seattle University and Senior
• Pastor of Kingdom Family Worship Center Int’l he is the Presiding Prelate of Freedom Assemblies Worldwide
• Rev. Caroline A Omolo - Pastor, Cosmopolitan Affirming Community, the only queer affirming church in Kenya
• Rev. Tracy Howe - Cultural organizer and Minister for Faith Education, Innovation and Formation at Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ
• Rev. Vahisha Hasan - A social impact strategist and wellness practitioner at the intersections of faith, social justice, and mental health
• Rev Sandhya Rani Jha - Pastor, community organizer, public speaker, writer, advocate with a focus on collaborating with others to create access, opportunity, and dignity for all in Oakland and the Bay area.
• Dr. Eric Martin - teaches at Loyola Marymount University and is part of the Catholic Worker community. He is author of The Writing on the Wall: Signs of Faith Against Fascism, and is writing a book on antifascist biblical interpretations. 
• Nica Sy - Seattle-based organizer who works within the United Methodist Church and in her local area to envision and create life-giving community. She works with Filipino youth and students to fight for genuine sovereignty and democracy in the Philippines. Nica is a featured author and publisher.
• Lena Gardner - Executive Director of the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism and holds a graduate degree in a Master of Arts in Justice and Peace studies. 
• The Reverend Kelvin Sauls - a progressive and prophetic faith-rooted community organizer in the abolitionist Pan-African and emancipatory Black Liberation traditions.

Since 2022, V&M Centre has provided trainings for faith groups contesting far-right Christian activities in their local communities. In May and September 2024, V&M Centre hosted Faith over Fear cohorts—a collective of over 30 religious leaders of new and emerging faith communities. We gather organizers, religious leaders, and activists to develop a congregation-based organizing project that directly confronts the pervasive threat of right-wing Christian nationalism. 

In recent years, we have experienced an intensified climate of fear and hostility, particularly impacting vulnerable groups, the queer community, and people of color. Political rhetoric steeped in right-wing Christian nationalism threatens to further marginalize these communities, leveraging fear to undermine their rights and safety. We believe it is imperative to take proactive steps to address these challenges and equip our congregations with the tools to stand against these divisive forces.

We’d like to thank the following organizations for their support, both faithful and financial,  in helping us engage in these important conversations with the wider community:

• First United Methodist Church - Seattle
• AllianceQ
• Liberation UCC
• University Congregational UCC
• Pilgrim UCC
• Church Council of Greater Seattle
• UW Lutheran Campus Ministry
• Black Live Unitarian Universalist
• New Hope Community Development Institute
• The FaithINFO team with the Love of Church at the National Ministry Setting of the United Church of Christ
• Eden Theological Seminary 
• Black Church PAC
• Live Free 
• Schott Foundation for Public Education
• Kingdom Family Worship Center International 
• Freedom Assemblies International