"After 2,300 Americans have been killed, 106 from Ohio, and so many Iraqis,
we must say that when you go to war, whether you go to war, and
whether you tell the truth about going to war is a moral values issue, too."
- Jim Wallis, at a town hall meeting yesterday in Columbus, Ohio
Dear ____________,
Yesterday in Ohio, the monologue of the Religious Right gave way to a long overdue dialogue on the role of faith in politics.
At a theater in downtown Columbus, Sojourners' Jim Wallis and conservative Ohio pastor Russell Johnson spoke for 90 minutes on the priorities Christians should bring with them to the polls.
Johnson is one of the leaders of the Ohio Restoration Project, a group of "Patriot Pastors" who are organizing Christians around an extreme, conservative agenda on gay marriage, abortion, homosexuality, and the teaching of evolution in public schools.
Wallis and Johnson agreed that Christians should vote their values, but they disagreed on what those moral priorities should be.
Said Jim Wallis: "I think the Religious Right makes a mistake when it suggests that there are only two religious values issues: abortion and gay marriage. Many care about other things, but when it comes to politics, these are their primary political, public issues ... As an evangelical Christian, when I find 2,000 verses in my Bible about poor people, I insist fighting poverty is a moral values issue, too."
Yesterday's dialogue in politically important Ohio is an example of the kind of work Sojourners can take to the whole country - but only with your help.
Click here to make a gift to Sojourners today.
Every day, we're seeing evidence of a growing movement of Christians who don't want to go left or right - but who do want to go deeper to address root issues like poverty that impact all of us. With your support, we can continue to challenge the monologue of the Religious Right.
Please consider a gift of $500, $250, or $100. Click here to give online. You can help Sojourners magnify and expand a broad, progressive voice of faith to the entire nation.
In a few weeks we will be coming to you again with our regular spring fundraising appeal, but we couldn't miss this opportunity to share with you this exciting event in Ohio. If you choose to give now, we're grateful. If you choose to give now and again in a few weeks, we're doubly grateful.
For all your prayers and support, thanks.
Heidi, Dave, John, Tomek, and the rest of the Sojourners Development Team
P.S. After you donate, there will be a link to view media coverage and audio clips from yesterday's town hall meeting in Columbus. We hope you'll take a moment to check it out!
Sojourners is a Christian ministry whose mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. Sojourners publishes numerous resources, including an award-winning monthly magazine and a free, weekly e-newsletter, and hosts national and local events with the goal of informing and mobilizing Christians on issues of justice and peace. Sojourners' founder and executive director, Jim Wallis, speaks frequently on the intersection of faith and politics. Visit www.sojo.net.
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