Faith and Democracy topics of panel discussion at UWO-Whitburn Center

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— Polarization, threats of political violence, Christian nationalism, and the role of faith communities in democracy were topics of conversation as faith leaders gathered for a panel discussion hosted and organized by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Whitburn Center and the Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust, aka WisAct. 

In June, a Minnesota lawmaker, her husband, and their dog were killed in a targeted act. Another lawmaker and his wife were injured by the same shooter in a separate incident. In a July 2025 poll, National Public Radio (NPR) found that 73% of Americans see political violence as a serious issue, across the political spectrum. These facts lead to questions about how faith communities can help defend democracy.

Political violence

This rise of violence, much of it faith-based, antisemitic, or political, has affected the faith communities.

Rev. Nii Addo Abraham, Director of Campus Ministry & Associate Pastor of Pres House at UW-Madison, said anti-semitism on campus, school shootings at other colleges, and other political violence shape a student’s growth to political or faith awareness.

“The college students that I work with don’t know a world without political violence sort of happening all the time, and not just the violent acts themselves, which we’ve seen an increase in,” Abraham said. “But the legitimization of them through our politicians speaking in ways that kind of encourage that rhetoric.”

Rhonda Lindner, of the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign, said synagogues post armed guards for the safety of the worshippers, which is never ideal. However, she is afraid it will become the norm.

“ It is for our security, but I can imagine what it’s like for a non-Jew to walk into a synagogue and see an armed guard there,” said Linder. “And yet our preschoolers, our Sunday school students, people like me, this is what we’re used to, and I’m afraid that what has become normal in synagogue life will become normal in all congregational life.

Faith and immigration

Dr. Gerald Mast, Professor of Communication, Bluffton University, and a member of the Mennonite Church, said his congregation has embraced many Haitian immigrants who have become a part of the congregation and community. He fears for them.

“ We have come to regard these Haitian immigrants as our friends, as brothers and sisters in Christ. Their temporary protected status has been revoked. It will be gone on August 3rd. So this is the most immediate threat of violence that we experience here in our community because of our identification with an embrace of this immigrant community.

“The fear is the kind of performative violence that comes from immigration customs enforcement when they show up. I would argue that that’s a form of political violence because it’s clearly designed not just to enforce immigration law, but to elicit political responses of both support and hostility,” Mast explained.

Faith and politics

When asked how faith communities can differentiate between being neutral and being complicit in injustice, the Director of Ecumenical Innovation and Justice Initiative of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, Rev. Breanna Illéné said that neutrality doesn’t exist.

“So many people who think they’re being neutral are usually being compliant with the injustice,” Illéné said. “You are either pushing against something or allowing it. Being neutral means you are not standing with people against this violence. It means you’re just letting it happen, and that’s not neutral.”

Illéné went on to say faith and religion are political, but should be nonpartisan.

“ I do think there is something about being partisan and non-partisan, and that’s where we get into problems,” Illéné said. “I have a lot of this discussion in my work with churches to say the gospel is political! Jesus made statements that were political and pushed against the norms of his day, and pushed against injustice. So we can be political, just don’t be partisan.”

That nonpartisan participation in democracy is required of faith communities, said Linder.

“Democracy is the key tenet of all of our work that we want here in Wisconsin to promote voting, to promote free and fair access to the ballots. And it is rooted in almost every single one of our ideologies,” Linder said. “It’s really beautiful to see the common ground that all people are deserving of the dignity and the rights of voting.  It’s inspiring to know that it’s in our DNA. It’s in our soul. It’s in our universal grounding to be voters and to be participants in democracy.”

Linder went on to say that being nonpartisan can be uncomfortable.

 ”First of all, non-partisan doesn’t mean neutral. It means reaching out to everyone, not just those who have already stated who they are and what they believe in,” Linder said. “It’s not easy to say that everyone has a chance to voice their opinion, but when we want to suppress what might be the other side, we are literally becoming what we are fighting against.”

Mast said focusing on the impact of specific policies rather than party politics can be helpful for communities of faith.

“For example, in the case of my church’s support of Haitian immigrants in Lima, the investment in that relationship transcends party politics,” said Mast. “That is an approach, I think that’s nonpartisan. But it is definitely on the side of the care for this community of people.

Abraham added that continuing to make a conscious effort to serve and protect the most vulnerable in a community, regardless of political ideology, is defending democracy.

“ Are we properly responding to the invitation we’ve been offered through our tradition to care for the vulnerable among us and to be good neighbors to each other?” Abraham asked. “I think when we see faith communities doing that intentionally, regardless of who is in office and what the administration is doing, that, to me, looks like defending democracy.”

Christian Nationalism

But not all faith communities are moving in the direction of democracy. Mast said the Christian Nationalism movement is an antithesis to defending democracy.

“ It seems to me that in our society, specifically, the greatest challenge is coming from Christian nationalism, the linkage between Christian churches and national identity. And then a racial component showing up in much of that, something that we could call white Christian nationalism. It does seem to me that those of us in Christian churches need to push back against that linkage in our context,” Mast said. “At least, it seems to me, that is one of the greatest threats to democracy!”

Illéné said that “One Nation Under God” is a vision shared by many faiths, denominations, and councils, but it becomes problematic.

“This Christian nationalist idea is rooted in so many of our faith traditions and so much of our faith community. Then, asking how do we respond and how do we push back against that?” she asked. “Because there’s also so much violence that is currently coming out of this movement.”

Abraham said the responsibility of fighting the violence, racism, and xenophobia seen in some areas is to be vocal and tell the true stories of what faith communities are doing. That in turn will bring more people into the faith communities that are defending democracy.

“I think sometimes communities that are more interested in supporting democracy and standing up for the rights of the poor and the marginalized, et cetera, we’re not really great at telling our stories. We whisper when everyone else is shouting,” said Abraham. “I think we can be better about telling our stories. Like investing time, energy, and money into telling people we are doing something different than what you think we are doing.”

Conference panel members seemed to agree that encouraging conversations, promoting voting, lifting up marginalized communities, and remaining nonpartisan is the best way faith communities can defend democracy in an increasingly volatile time.

The Whitburn Center at UWO and The Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust promote trust in the political system, support for fair, safe, and secure elections, and peaceful engagement.