Stop the Execution of Jeffrey Hutchinson in Florida
2025-05-01 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Florida has scheduled Jeffrey Hutchinson for execution on May 1, 2025 for his alleged 1998 murders of Renee Flaherty and her children, Geoffrey, Amanda and Logan. Hutchinson has no recollection of the crime resulting from the PTSD and Gulf War Syndrome that came from his time in the service.

Join the Virtual Sit In
Call Governor DeSantis at 850-717-9243 with the following message:
‘Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. DeSantis stops the execution of Jeffrey Hutchinson on May 1, 2025. I am deeply concerned that yet again, the State of Florida is gearing up to execute an individual who served our country. We have ample understanding of the damage that war does to an individual, not to mention, Gulf War Syndrome. It is our responsibility to take care of the individuals who served our country, not murder them as a consequence for actions that resulted from their trauma during combat. The State of Florida cannot claim to care about its veterans and execute them at the same time.”

Jeffrey Hutchinson is a decorated Gulf War veteran. This video is from his December 2024 clemency hearing. Learn more at Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

Florida’s continued use of executions marks the state as an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Board of Executive Clemency to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

May Monthly Morning Prayer with V. Elizabeth Perkins
2025-05-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | https://redletterchristians.org/event/may-monthly-morning-prayer-with-v-elizabeth-perkins/
Join us at Red Letter Christians for Monthly Morning Prayer on May 1, 2025 at 9 AM ET, with V. Elizabeth Perkins, for a time of prayer and reflection with Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.

Elizabeth Perkins lives with a profound sense of calling shaped by her faith in Jesus Christ and a passion for justice, reconciliation, and discipleship. She often reflects on how God’s faithful hand has guided her steps, not simply for her journey, but to empower others to walk boldly in their purpose and become instruments of change in a broken world.

With over 25 years of ministry experience, Elizabeth has poured into the lives of both men and women, mentoring and guiding them in their spiritual, personal, and leadership development. She has a heart for equipping the next generation to rise with courage and conviction. As part of this work, she founded and led She-ciples, a discipleship group for teen girls focused on purity, purpose, and identity in Christ—demonstrating her commitment to nurturing young women with truth, grace, and love.

Elizabeth’s calling has also led her to serve in countries globally. She ministered with The Navigators in Africa, where she engaged in cross-cultural mission work, deepening her commitment to God’s vision for global reconciliation and restoration. Her leadership extends into storytelling, where she has served as executive director for three powerful documentaries, using media to shed light on the transformative work of justice and faith.

She aims to help future generations encounter and follow Jesus, becoming agents of hope, healing, and justice. Through her work at the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation, Elizabeth remains steadfast in her pursuit of biblical justice and reconciliation, believing that through Christ, lives—and communities—can be made whole.
We will be live on all of our socials; register to join us on Zoom!

Morning prayer takes place at the beginning of each month based on the book, Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. You can follow along with the readings from Common Prayer at commonprayer.net for free!

Social Media:
Twitter/X: @Mzlizperk, @johnmperkins
Instagram: Mzlizperk, Perkinsfoundation
Facebook: Elizabeth Perkins, John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation

Stop the Execution of Glen Rogers in Florida
2025-05-15 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Florida has scheduled Glen Rogers for execution on May 15, 2025 for his 1997 murder of Tina Marie Cribbs.
Please sign & share this petition and visit our allies at Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty for additional information.
Glen Rogers was repeatedly failed by the very systems that were supposed to protect him. From the age of ten, he endured unspeakable abuse, including sexual violence and trafficking, during the most critical years of brain development. These early, untreated traumas shaped the course of his life long before the crime for which he is now sentenced to die.
We believe in accountability, but true accountability does not require execution. A sentence of life without the possibility of parole protects society while also recognizing the human capacity for redemption and the role of childhood trauma in shaping adult behavior.
Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. Glen Rogers’s execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death. Florida’s continued use of executions marks the state as an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Board of Executive Clemency to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

March4Mercy in Nashville: Sunday May 18
2025-05-18 12:45 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Executions are scheduled to resume in Tennessee after a two-year pause. As people of faith and conscience, we are called to respond.
Join Shane Claiborne at the March4Mercy on May 18, 2025, a peaceful public action carrying the ongoing plea from those on death row for mercy—not silence.
This march is about dignity, justice, and accountability in a broken system.
Location: 7400 Cockrill Bend Blvd, Nashville
Time: 12:45pm CT gathering / 1pm march
More information, postcards, and sign-up: https://deathpenaltyaction.org/march4mercy

Stop the Execution of Matthew Johnson in Texas
2025-05-20 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Matthew Johnson was convicted in Texas for the 2012 murder of Nancy Harris. He has been given an execution date for May 20, 2025.

Call Governor Abbott at 512-463-2000 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. Abbott follows the teachings of his faith and intervene to stop the execution of Matthew Johnson on May 20, 2025. Thank you.”

Texas’ aggressive execution schedule marks it as an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. In the last few years, Texas has been one of only a handful of states that have carried out death sentences – and it continues to do so targeting the poor, the mentally ill and people of color.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.
Additionally, you may reach out now to the Board at bpp-pio@tdcj.texas.gov and the Governor at https://gov.texas.gov/contact/and (512) 463-1782. You can simply leave a voice message, or choose to speak to a representative if you prefer.
Please note: In Texas, the Governor does have limited power when it comes to the death penalty. But the story we are told that “it’s out of the governor’s hands,” is only true if we allow it to be. Yes, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles must recommend clemency in that state in order for the Governor to grant clemency (mercy) by commuting a death sentence. But the fact is that the governor appoints the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. He can choose to appoint members who will take valid claims and concerns more seriously, instead of acting like rubber-stamping gate-keepers. He can still use his position of power and influence to enact justice in the State of Texas

Stop the Execution of Benjamin Ritchie in Indiana
2025-05-20 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
An execution date has been set for Indiana death row prisoner Benjamin Ritchie on May 20, 2025 for the 2000 murder of William Toney.
While the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Indiana is out of step with national trends. In late 2024, Indiana performed its 1st execution in 15 years, and continues to schedule more execution dates.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Braun to do everything within his power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Stop the Execution of Oscar Smith in Tennessee
2025-05-22 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Tennessee has set an execution date of May 22, 2025 for Oscar Smith, who was convicted for the 1989 shooting and stabbing to death of his estranged wife, Judy Smith, and her sons, Jason and Chad Burnett.

Call Governor Lee at 615-741-2001 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. Lee follows the teachings of his faith and intervene to stop the execution of Oscar Smith scheduled for May 22, 2025. Thank you.”

Original petition language:
Read more about the case here, an article discussing Smith’s motion for a stay of execution to conduct further DNA testing. Oscar Smith has always maintained his innocence. In addition to forensic concerns, multiple issues of fairness regarding Smith’s jury have been raised. Read a detailed list here.
Governor Lee continues to ignore a letter asking him to come pray with the men on death row that was signed by 32 death row inmates in Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Lee to do everything within his power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

RLC Book Club with Caleb Campbell "Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor"
2025-05-30 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
We’re delighted to have Caleb Campbell as our May Book Club guest to discuss his book “Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor”.
Rev. Caleb E. Campbell is the lead pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where he has served since 2006. A passionate advocate for theological depth, ecumenical unity, and cultural engagement, Caleb is committed to helping the Church navigate the complex realities of faith in America today.
He is the founder of Disarming Leviathan Ministries, an organization dedicated to equipping Christians to engage their Christian nationalist neighbors with empathy, hospitality, and the transformative power of the gospel. His book, Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbors, provides practical tools and biblical wisdom for engaging these conversations with courage and grace. Beyond his pastoral and writing ministry, Caleb is a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary, the statewide regional director of the Surge Network, and a co-founder of the J29 Coalition, all of which reflect his commitment to missional leadership, justice, and reconciliation.
Pastor Caleb Campbell has watched as Christian nationalism has taken over large swaths of the United States. And he’s suffered the relational fallout of standing against it, both in his community and his church. While it’s possible to be both a Christian and hold Christian nationalist ideas, Christian nationalism itself is an un-Christian worldview, rooted in ideas about power, race, and property that are irreconcilable with Christian faith. Campbell has come to see himself as a missionary to Christian nationalists, reaching out to them with the love and freedom of Jesus Christ.

In Disarming Leviathan, Campbell equips Christians to minister to their Christian nationalist neighbors. He introduces the basics of Christian nationalism and explores the reasons so many people are attracted to it. He also addresses a variety of American Christian nationalist talking points and offers questions and responses that humbly subvert these claims and cultivate deeper, heart-level conversations.

Christian nationalism is an established feature of the American landscape. Disarming Leviathan can help prepare us to confront it with compassion and hospitality, and with the truth of the good news of Jesus.
Follow Caleb Campbell and Disarming Leviathan…

Disarming Leviathan – official website: https://www.disarmingleviathan.com
Instagram: @disarmingleviathan – https://www.instagram.com/disarmingleviathan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086643226342
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DisarmingLeviathanUSA

June Monthly Morning Prayer with Mike Martin & Hannah Martin
2025-06-02 08:00 - 08:40 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us for Monthly Morning Prayer on Monday, June 2 at 8 AM ET with Mike Martin & Hannah Martin!
Note: This session was recorded during our Zoom meeting on June 1st and will be streamed on June 2nd, 2025. Watch on any of our social media channels or right here at RedLetterChristians.org/live
This special gathering for Gun Violence Awareness Month will focus on peace-making for all ages. We’ll begin with Mike Martin, founder and Executive Director of RAWtools, who will share stories from his work forging nonviolence—literally turning guns into garden tools and cultivating spaces for restorative justice, conflict mediation, and healing in our communities.
Then, we’ll spend time with Hannah Martin, Associate Pastor and reading interventionist, as she introduces her brand-new children’s book, Sparking Peace. With warmth and wisdom, Hannah offers a story that helps kids explore what it means to be peacemakers in a hurting world. This is a perfect opportunity to bring your children to morning prayer and hear the message of peace together as a family.
This Monthly Morning Prayer follows the liturgy from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals and is open to all—whether you’re joining with coffee in hand, children by your side, or a heart ready for renewal.
You can follow along with the readings from Common Prayer at commonprayer.net for free!
🗓️ Monday, June 2, 2025
⏰ 8 AM ET
📍 Live on all RedLetterChristians.org/live and all RLC social media platforms
🔗 Originally recorded June 1, 2025
Let’s gather to pray, learn, and grow together in the way of Jesus—rooted in peace, community, and courageous love.

Social Media:
Mike’s Socials: @rawtoolsinc on Facebook and Instagram
Hannah’s Preferred Social Media Handles: IG @psalty_pastor and FB facebook.com/HannahMartin

Moral Mondays in DC
2025-06-02 09:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | 1 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20543, 1 1st St NE, Washington, dc, 20543
Moral Mondays in DC is a recurring, spirit-led series of nonviolent actions confronting the immoral federal budget. These budgets are not mere numbers; they are moral documents. They reveal what our nation values—and whom it is willing to sacrifice. On May 5th, we continue taking a stand against an immoral budget that hurts and harms people.
Clergy and people of conscience will gather at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A Street SE, beginning at 9:00 a.m. for a moral overview and grounding, and at 10:45 a.m. to prepare and march to the Supreme Court for a public moral witness and moral action at 11:00 a.m. This sacred action is a bold response to an immoral budget and unjust policies that harm the poor, women, children, and workers. Grounded in Micah 6:8 and the prophetic traditions of justice and mercy, we will stand together to say No to oppression and Yes to love, justice, and the sacred dignity of all. Sign up now and declare: “We will not be silent anymore.”
Monday, June 2, 2025 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET

Supreme Court in DC, 1 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20543
Virtual/Online Locations

Moral Mondays in DC at the Capitol: A National Call for Justice, Love, & Truth-Telling, convened by Bishop William J. Barber, II, and faith leaders nationwide. Join us in this movement for justice and share this call to action with your communities. We must stand together.

Take Your Faith to the Streets This Pentecost: Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget
2025-06-10 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Take Your Faith to the Streets This Pentecost
On Tuesday, June 10, people of faith will gather at the U.S. Capitol for A Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget.
We are witnessing against a proposed federal budget that slashes life-saving support for the most vulnerable. Together, we’ll sing, pray, and speak truth to power. This is a moment for moral courage.
📍 U.S. Capitol – Washington, DC
📅 Tuesday, June 10 | Morning start
✍️ Sign up now to join us: https://tinyurl.com/3cxmt5ar
Get all the details here and join us!
#PentecostWitness #MoralBudget

Stop the Execution of John Hanson in Oklahoma
2025-06-12 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
John Hanson is on death row in Oklahoma for the 1999 murder of Mary Bowles and is scheduled for execution on June 12, 2025.

Join the Virtual Sit In
Call Governor Stitt at 405-521-2342 with the following message:
‘Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. Stitt stops the execution of John Hanson on June 12, 2025. It is inconceivable that the State of Oklahoma would so aggressively charge forward with plans to execute a man who suffers from mental illness, brain damage and autism– all of which make him significantly less culpable in the crime he partook in. I am also concerned that prosecutors manipulated the facts of the case such that both Mr. Hanson and his co-defendant were made out to be the ringleader of the crime– rather it was Mr. Hanson’s poor judgment brought on from his triad of diagnoses that led to his participation in the crime.”

John Hanson suffers from major mental illnesses, brain damage, and autism, conditions that contributed to his participation in the crime that resulted in his death sentence. Mr. Hanson’s co-defendant, Victor Miller, was the ringleader of the crime and had a long history of manipulating Mr. Hanson, whose disorders cause him to have significant difficulties understanding social interactions and to make poor judgments. However, rather than acknowledging each defendant’s likely role in one coherent, consistent theory of the crime, the State argued at both Mr. Hanson’s and Mr. Miller’s trials that each man was the supposed ringleader of the crime.
Although the United States Supreme Court has long emphasized the importance of presenting developmental disorders and other brain-based issues for the jury’s consideration, Mr. Hanson’s trial and appellate attorneys failed to investigate and present evidence of his disorders, which would have explained his susceptibility to manipulation and his resulting involvement in the crime. As a result, Mr. Hanson’s jury never learned of his underlying conditions.
Mr. Miller’s trial, like Mr. Hanson’s, resulted in a capital sentence, but, due to procedural errors at trial, Mr. Miller was later resentenced and is now serving life without parole. In contrast, Mr. Hanson remains under sentence of death, at risk for execution. While on death row, Mr. Hanson has become a model prisoner, being entrusted by staff with a job. We are confident that the Pardon and Parole Board will remedy this injustice by taking his disabilities into consideration and granting clemency for Mr. Hanson.

Mr. Hanson’s execution is just one in a series of 25 executions scheduled by Oklahoma in the coming months, despite serious concerns around the state’s lethal injection protocols and drugs.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Stitt and the Pardon and Parole Board to do everything within their power to ensure Mr. Hanson does not face execution and to seek a path to clemency in the case.

Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty
2025-06-29 00:00 - 2025-07-02 23:45 (America/New_York) | 1 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20543, 1 1st St NE, Washington, dc, 20543
Death Penalty Action and Abolitionist Action Committee are continuing the Starvin’ for Justice: Fast and Vigil for a 32nd consecutive year in 2025. Registration is now open, so please register now if you are joining so they can keep you updated on the plans.

Register: https://abolition.org/register/
Donate: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/fast-and-vigil-sponsorship-2025/

WHAT IS THE FAST AND VIGIL? For four days, death penalty abolitionists from around the country will gather at the steps of the Supreme Court to call for an end to capital punishment in the United States. It is an energizing grassroots week of training, advocacy, action, community and education. Tens of thousands of tourists and locals, from all over the U.S. and throughout the world, pass by our vigil and table, so the opportunity for dialogue and discussion at a real grass-roots level is invaluable to the movement.

Additionally, each evening we hear stories from murder victim family members, death row exonerees, death row families and leaders in the national abolition movement.

We hope you will consider joining the more than 75 anti-death penalty activists who come regularly from across the U.S. and Canada – from Florida to California and everywhere in-between – to join together for public education and outreach at the steps of the Supreme Court.

If you are unable to attend but would like to support the annual event that reaches tens-of-thousands of people on the streets of DC, donations are greatly appreciated to make this effort possible. See the sponsorship page for details.

And as always, help spread the word to your networks, groups, and local media: http://www.abolition.org

Moral Mondays in DC: June 30, 2025
2025-06-30 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 1 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20543, 1 1st St NE, Washington, dc, 20543
Moral Mondays in DC is a recurring, spirit-led series of nonviolent actions confronting the immoral federal budget. These budgets are not mere numbers; they are moral documents. They reveal what our nation values—and whom it is willing to sacrifice. On June 30, 2025, we continue taking a stand against an immoral budget that hurts and harms people.
Clergy and people of conscience will gather at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A Street SE, beginning at 9:00 a.m. for a moral overview and grounding, and at 10:45 a.m. to prepare and march to the Supreme Court for a public moral witness and moral action at 11:00 a.m. This sacred action is a bold response to an immoral budget and unjust policies that harm the poor, women, children, and workers. Grounded in Micah 6:8 and the prophetic traditions of justice and mercy, we will stand together to say No to oppression and Yes to love, justice, and the sacred dignity of all. Sign up now and declare: “We will not be silent anymore.”
Monday, June 30, 2025 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET

Supreme Court in DC, 1 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20543
Virtual/Online Locations

Moral Mondays in DC at the Capitol: A National Call for Justice, Love, & Truth-Telling, convened by Bishop William J. Barber, II, and faith leaders nationwide. Join us in this movement for justice and share this call to action with your communities. We must stand together.

RLC Book Club with authors of "God’s Stories as Told by God’s Children"
2025-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
We are excited to announce a very special book club for June! This will be a group book club with several of the authors of “God’s Stories as Told by God’s Children”.
We’re thrilled to host a very special family-friendly edition of the Red Letter Christians Book Club this June!
Join us as we welcome several contributors to the beautiful and imaginative new book, God’s Stories as Told by God’s Children — in conversation with RLC co-founder Shane Claiborne, who is also a contributor to this powerful project.
God’s Stories as Told by God’s Children is a richly illustrated book that invites us to see Scripture through the eyes of children and adults from all walks of life. Written in the poetic and thoughtful voices of theologians, parents, pastors, poets, and artists, this book reimagines sacred stories for a new generation with depth, honesty, and playfulness.
Contributors joining us include:Pete EnnsTamice Spencer-HelmsMarlena GravesShannon K. EvansBrian KoliaMari JørstadJarrod McKennaTerry J. Stokesand our very own Shane Claiborne

This unique gathering will be a chance to hear from some of the writers behind the book, explore how storytelling shapes our faith, and celebrate the sacred perspectives of children.
This is a “bring your kids” Book Club! Whether your little ones are sitting in your lap or doodling nearby, we invite them to be part of this joyful conversation.
Special time: 6pm ET on Monday, June 30
Register to join us on Zoom or join us live on our socials: Registration – Zoom
We will be live on all of our socials. Register to join us on Zoom!
Find us streaming live on Red Letter Christian’s Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube channels.

July Monthly Morning Prayer: Christian Nationalism / "special" MMP
2025-07-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us at Red Letter Christians for a special Morning Prayer on Christian Nationalism on July 1, 2025, at 9 AM ET.
Just days before the nation celebrates Independence Day, we are hosting a special Monthly Morning Prayer to grapple with the critical issue of Christian Nationalism and its profound impact on our country.
This event will offer a vital time of reflection and engagement with leading scholars and activists who have been at the forefront of understanding and combatting Christian nationalism and how it corrupts our faith, our politics, and our nation.
As we approach July 4th, we’ll delve into the true meaning of “liberty and justice for all” and explore what these foundational values genuinely require of us in the current political moment. Our expert guests will illuminate how Christian nationalism is currently shaping the political landscape we find ourselves in, prompting us to consider our call to faithful citizenship and a more just society.

Guests include (other may join us as well):
Samuel L. Perry (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is the Sam K. Viersen Presidential Professor of Sociology at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Perry is a widely recognized expert on conservative Christianity and American politics. He has authored or co-authored five books, including “Taking America Back for God” (2020, with Andrew Whitehead) and “The Flag and The Cross” (2022, with Philip Gorski).
Andrew Whitehead is a professor of sociology at Indiana University Indianapolis and is one of the foremost scholars of Christian nationalism in the United States. He is the author of “American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church,” an award-winning book that provides crucial insights into this movement.
The Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, Ph.D., is currently the Visiting Professor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School. From 2017 to 2023, she served as Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary. An ordained Episcopal Priest, she is the Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral and Anglican Communion Canon at Newcastle Cathedral in England. Dr. Douglas is the author of numerous articles and books, including the 2023 Grawemeyer Award-winning “Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter.” Her academic work focuses on womanist theology, racial justice issues, and the Black church.
We will be live on all Red Letter Christians socials and on our website. To engage with our guests directly, register to join us on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SfUJE8BMRNWht8bim3mrXQ#/registration
Morning prayer takes place at the beginning of each month based on the book, Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. You can follow along with the readings from Common Prayer at commonprayer.net for free!

Philadelphia People’s Tribunal on War Crimes & Genocide in Gaza
2025-07-16 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
On May 31, 2025, the people of Philadelphia conducted a People’s Tribunal to hold the United States Government, the U.S. Executive Branch, the U.S. Congress, & U.S. Senator John Fetterman and other designated members of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Congressional Delegation Accountable for Genocide & War Crimes in Gaza.
Hundreds of people attended in person at Friends Center and via Zoom. (People’s Tribunal on War Crimes and Genocide in Gaza)
Read and listen to WHYY’s coverage here.
View photos of the Tribunal here.
The jury, a group of nine community leaders representing a cross section of Philadelphia, are deliberating and will release their findings on July 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia.
Register to attend the Tribunal Jury Findings Release Event.
The Tribunal was modeled after a grand jury hearing; the jury will determine if evidence of complicity was sufficient to warrant indictment of certain government institutions and specific state actors.

RLC Book Club with Malcolm Foley, author of "The Anti-Greed Gospel"
2025-07-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
We’re thrilled to welcome historian, pastor, and truth-teller Dr. Malcolm Foley as our July Book Club guest. He’ll be in conversation with Shane Claiborne to discuss his timely and convicting book, “The Anti-Greed Gospel”.
In this bold and necessary work, Malcolm Foley uncovers the greed at the root of American racism—and invites Christians to confront it with the values of the gospel. Drawing from deep wells of historical scholarship and lived pastoral experience, Foley exposes how the pursuit of wealth and power has fueled racial violence from slavery and lynching to present-day injustice. But he doesn’t stop there.
Through the witness of figures like Ida B. Wells and the framework of racial capitalism, Foley calls on the church to become a community marked by solidarity over selfishness, truth over silence, and generosity over greed. With clarity and conviction, The Anti-Greed Gospel challenges us to take the next faithful step toward racial justice and economic repair.
Register to join us on Zoom or join us live on our socials: Registration – Zoom
We will be live on all of our socials. Register to join us on Zoom!
Find us streaming live on Red Letter Christian’s Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube channels.

Stop the Execution of Edward Zakrzewski in Florida
2025-07-31 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Florida has scheduled US Air Force veteran Edward Zakrzewski for execution on July 31, 2025 for the 1994 murders of his wife, Sylvia, and his two children, Edward and Anna.

Join the Virtual Sit In
Call Governor DeSantis at 850-717-9337 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to express my concern about the direction Florida is headed with regards to the death penalty. For at least the third time this year, Florida is set to execute an individual who served our country honorably. Additionally, the fact that in both cases the jury only recommended death with a 7:5 split should be deeply troubling. In no other state would it be possible to impose the death penalty with such a split – even by today’s threshold in Florida(which is the lowest in the country). I am calling to encourage Gov. DeSantis halts all plans to execute Edward at the end of the month.”
REGISTER FOR THE 7/31 VIRTUAL VIGIL SHOULD THE EXECUTION GO THROUGH.

Edward’s death sentences were the product of two simple majority votes (7-5 each) plus a judge’s override of a jury’s life verdict. In no other state in the nation, including under Florida’s current law, would Edward even be eligible for execution. This is Governor DeSantis’ 9th death warrant of 2025.
We believe in accountability, but true accountability does not require execution. A sentence of life without the possibility of parole protects society while also recognizing the human capacity for redemption and the role of childhood trauma in shaping adult behavior.
Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. This execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death. Florida’s continued use of executions marks the state as an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Board of Executive Clemency to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

August Monthly Morning Prayer with Kevin Riggs
2025-08-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | https://redletterchristians.org/event/august-monthly-morning-prayer-with-kevin-riggs-recorded-prayer-from-kb/
Join us for Monthly Morning Prayer on Friday, August 1 at 9 AM ET with Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs
Join us for Monthly Morning Prayer on August 1 at 9 AM ET with Pastor Kevin Riggs, a longtime pastor, educator, and community advocate based in Franklin, Tennessee. For more than 30 years, Pastor Kevin has led Franklin Community Church while also founding organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness and advance justice on a local and global scale.
Pastor Kevin believes that one of the church’s deepest callings is to be the conscience of the community—and he lives that calling boldly, through ministries rooted in advocacy, accompaniment, and hope. From his work in Tennessee prisons to his outreach in Honduras, Pastor Kevin brings a prophetic word grounded in compassion, presence, and the gospel of liberation.
Pastor Kevin will share powerful reflections from his decades-long work on Tennessee’s death row, including his pastoral relationship with Pastor Kevin Burns, a death row inmate and co-author of the book “Today! – The Best Day of My Life.”
This Monthly Morning Prayer follows the liturgy from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals and is open to all.

Friday August 1, 2025 9 AM ET Live on all Red Letter Christians social media platforms + Zoom! Register at Meeting Registration – Zoom
Let’s gather to pray, learn, and grow together in the way of Jesus—rooted in peace, community, and courageous love.

Social Media:
Kevin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastor4justice/

Stop the Execution of Bryon Black in Tennessee
2025-08-05 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Tennessee has set an execution date of August 5, 2025 for Bryon Black, who was convicted for the 1989 murders of Angela Clay and her two daughters, Latoya and Lakeisha.

Call Gov. Lee at 615-741-2001 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. Lee follows the teachings of his faith and intervenes to stop the execution of Byron Black scheduled for August 5, 2025. Thank you.”

Please sign the petition asking Governor Lee to do everything within his power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

The Consequences of Courage: We Will Not Comply (virtual event)
2025-08-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Event Recap: Tuesday, August 5 @ 12pm ET
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this powerful virtual event with Israeli Refusers. We heard incredible stories of courage and the real consequences of refusing to participate in violence. Our guests challenged us all to ask the question, “What does courage look like for me?”
We heard from Itamar Greenberg who spent 197 days in prison for refusal to serve in the IDF, Sofia Orr who spent 85 days in prison for refusal to serve, and from an Israeli who will be refusing in October. We also heard from American Conscientious Objector Diana Oestreich, Iraq war veteran and Peacemaker, and learned about the history of conscientious objection through both a Christian and Jewish lens from RLC’s Shane Claiborne and FOR’s Ariel Gold.

📺 Watch the Full Event Recording
Missed the live event? You can watch the complete recording here:

“The Consequences of Courage: We Will Not Comply”

📋 Resources & Links from the Event
All the organizations, support forms, and resources mentioned during the event are compiled below.

RLC UK: Extreme Love in Extreme Times
2025-08-06 15:30 - 20:00 (Europe/London)
Extreme Love for Extreme Times UK RLC

Stop the Execution of David Roberts in Alabama
2025-08-21 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
David Roberts is scheduled for execution in Alabama on August 21, 2025 for the 1992 murder of Annetra Jones.

Join the Virtual Sit In
Call Gov. Ivey at 334-242-7100 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to encourage Gov. Ivey to stop the 8/21 execution of David Roberts. We are not advocating for the release of Mr. Roberts, but given the complex mental illness he suffers from, we believe that he is deserving of mercy not death. Please grant clemency to David Roberts so that he can live the remainder of his natural life in a hospital prison. Additionally, the practice of judicial override has been outlawed all across the US, including in Alabama – meaning if Mr. Roberts was tried today, they would have been unable to impose death.”

Mr. Roberts has suffered from inherited, generational mental illness since his teens. He has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia. These conditions along with persistent growing threats against his family from a known criminal created a situation where Mr. Roberts could be – and was – substantially dominated and manipulated into violent acts by another person. Further details are at Clemencyfordavidlee.com.
Mr. Roberts’ jury voted for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole which the judge overrode.

The execution method to be used, nitrogen gas asphyxiation is neither quick nor painless, but agonizing and painful as was demonstrated at the executions last year. It amounts to cruel and unusual punishment which is barred by the U.S. Constitution.
If carried out, it would be the nation’s seventh execution by nitrogen gas, a method Alabama began using last year as an alternative to lethal injection.
While the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Alabama has continued to go against trend by carrying on with scheduled execution dates. Additionally, the State of Alabama has repeatedly shown blatant incompetence in carrying out executions – they need to pause ALL executions to allow for meaningful review of their protocols.
In Partnership with Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Additional Information and Action Opportunities Regarding Alabama Executions

Click here for information about Gas Suffocation Executions

Click here for The Pull Back The Curtains Campaign to Demand Full Transparency in Alabama Executions

Sign the Petition

RLC August Book Club w/Chaz Howard
2025-08-28 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
We’re excited to announce our next Book Club selection: “Uncovering Your Path: Spiritual Reflections for Finding your Purpose” by the Rev. Charles “Chaz” Lattimore Howard.
In this profound and lyrical book, Rev. Howard, the University Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity & Community at the University of Pennsylvania, invites us to explore life’s biggest questions: “Who am I?”, “What is my purpose?”, and “What should I do with my life?” Drawing on his extensive experience as a priest, professor, parent, and social justice advocate, Chaz shares poignant anecdotes and insightful reflections that reveal how everyday moments can help us discern our unique path. From enlightening conversations to heartwarming coaching experiences, Uncovering Your Path offers a guide to slowing down, embracing life’s journey, and allowing our purpose to unfold.
Rev. Howard’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including Sojourners Magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Christian Century. He is also the author of several other books, including Black Theology as Mass Movement and Pond River Ocean Rain.
Join us for what promises to be a deeply enriching conversation as we delve into the themes of purpose, introspection, and finding our place in the world.
Register to join us on Zoom or find us live on Red Letter Christians’ Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels.

Monthly Morning Prayer Special: Friends from Palestine and Conveners of the Church at the Crossroads Conference
2025-09-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us for this powerful conversation with the conveners of the Church at the Crossroads conference as we explored honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action amid escalating violence in Israel and Palestine. Watch the replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qE_TzSkSAg

Guests include:
Daniel Bannoura
Daniel is a Palestinian theologian and podcaster. He received his PhD degree in Qur’anic studies at the University of Notre Dame, and his research focuses on the redaction of the Qur’an, Syriac in Late Antiquity, Christian-Muslim relations, and Palestinian theology. Daniel is the advocacy officer of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, and is also a co-host of “Across the Divide”, a podcast that provides a space for thoughtful conversations about Palestine-Israel through the lens of faith and peace-making.
Tony Deik
Anton Deik is a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem, Palestine. He is married to Sara Améstegui, a Bolivian, and they are the proud parents of Nour Sofia. Since he committed himself to Christ in 2010, Anton has ministered in different capacities in East Asia, England, Palestine, and Bolivia. Anton was the Director of Online Education at Bethlehem Bible College and served with Operation Mobilization onboard MV Logos Hope. Previously, he had worked on large-scale computer science research projects with Birzeit University and the Palestinian government.
Destiny Magnett
Destiny Magnett is the Programs and Outreach Manager at Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) where she serves as the primary liaison for church partners, collaboratively builds CMEP’s online and in-person programming, and co-leads the regional coordinator program. Destiny holds a Master of Theological Studies Degree and Religion & Public Life Certificate from Harvard Divinity School, where her work focused on decoloniality, religious ethics, peacebuilding, and religion in the public sphere. She also holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Grinnell College. Prior to joining CMEP, Destiny has experience working at the intersection of religion and peacebuilding in a variety of spheres, including the Office of International Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State, Search for Common Ground– Jordan, Harvard’s Office of Religion and Public Life, and on the digital humanities project Mapping Islamophobia. While born and raised in Kansas, she is now based in the Boston area.
Crystal Silva-McCormick
Crystal Silva-McCormick is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC) where she serves on the steering committee of the UCC Palestine Israel Network. She is a visiting instructor of evangelism and missions at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a scholar with the Hispanic Theological Initiative.

Morning prayer takes place at the beginning of each month based on the book, Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. You can follow along with the readings from Common Prayer at commonprayer.net for free!
Learn more about Church at the Crossroads: https://churchatthecrossroads.com

Resources & Links

Church at the Crossroads Conference – Sept 11-13, 2025 churchatthecrossroads.com
Christians for a Free Palestine christiansforafreepalestine.com
Christians for a Free Palestine on Instagram @christiansforafreepalestine
Churches for Middle East Peace cmep.org
Decolonizing Palestine by Mitri Raheb Available on Amazon
God Loves Gaza (Coming Soon) www.GodLovesGaza.com — keep an eye out!

Stop the Execution of Ralph Menzies in Utah
2025-09-05 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Ralph Menzies is scheduled to be executed on September 5, 2025 for the 1986 murder of Maurine Hunsaker.
Call Gov. Cox at 801-538-1000 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to express deep concern that the State of Utah is about to shoot Ralph Menzies to death – a man confined to a wheelchair, who is oxygen dependent and suffers from severe dementia. Regardless of what Ralph did to land on death row, we should set an example that we cannot kill our way to ‘justice’. He should be allowed to live the little time remaining of his natural life in prison. Thank you.”

Wheelchair-Bound Man on Oxygen with Severe Dementia…
Menzies’ lawyers have argued he has dementia and cannot be executed under the Constitution. Arguments made in court on July 9, 2025 focused on a new assertions that his medical condition has worsened since he was most recently evaluated by medical professionals. Judge Bates did not rule out halting proceedings in the future based on a new petition for competency filed by his defense team.
This petition will be updated with additional information. Please opt-in to the email list when signing this petition in order to receive updates.

Church at the Crossroads Conference
2025-09-11 00:00 - 2025-09-13 23:59 (America/New_York)
RLC is proud to sponsor this special gathering in the Chicago area. Registration is now open!

Church at the Crossroads is a national gathering of Christians who recognize that the church stands at a defining moment–Jesus is urgently calling us back to the narrow way of the cross. As violence escalates in Israel and Palestine, and some in the Church use Scripture to justify war, occupation, or silence, we must ask: Have we traded the gospel of peace for the false promises of security and comfort? At this crossroads, the Church must choose. Will we follow the political idols of our day—or Jesus, who disarmed the powers and made peace through His blood? Rooted in Scripture and led by Palestinian Christian leaders—alongside pastors and peacemakers from across North America—this conference invites American Christians to engage in honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action. Through worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship, we are called to repentance, renewal, and courageous discipleship. This is a space to confront harmful theologies, rediscover the gospel of the Kingdom, and stand with all who seek justice in the land. Jesus is calling the Church—not to comfort, but to faithfulness, peace, and costly love. Will we follow?
Learn more and register here:
Church at the Crossroads – Conference for Christians Committed to Peacemaking

When you register, please use RLC’s coupon code for 10% off your registration fees: rlc

Stop the Execution of Blaine Milam in Texas
2025-09-25 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Blaine Milam has an execution scheduled in Texas on September 25, 2025 for the 2008 murder of Amora Carson.
Call Gov. Abbott at 512-463-2000 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to express deep concern that the State of Texas is moving ahead with plans to execute Blaine Milam in September – a man with significant intellectual limitations. He has the reading ability of a 13 year old – that is a CHILD not adult. 23 years ago, the US Supreme Court ruled that executing those with intellectual disabilities was unconstitutional. Texas ought to follow the guidelines set forth by our highest court.”

Blaine Milam is an East Texas man who’s on death row for the 2008 beating death of 13-month-old Amora Carson. Milam was scheduled to be executed in 2021, but a Texas appeals court granted a request to stay his execution; his lawyers argued he displayed significant limitations in intellectual functioning.
The State argues that the limits of his intellectual capacity are insufficient to exclude him from eligibility for execution, however everyone agrees that he reads at an eighth grade level, which is typical of people 13-14 years of age. That’s not an adult. He should not be executed.
Blaine Milam is intellectually disabled. Related to this critical death penalty case, The Arc of the United States, The Arc of Texas, Disability Rights Texas, and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), along with law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief urging the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to protect people with intellectual disability from unconstitutional executions. The groups took a stand in support of accurate identification of intellectual disability in the case of Blaine Milam, an inmate now on death row. Their message to the court was clear: when it comes to determining who has intellectual disability, courts must refer to clinical standards—not stereotypes. Unfortunately, the US Supreme Court did not grant relief to Mr. Milam and he has again been scheduled for execution.
Learn more about these issues here and here.
Texas’ aggressive execution schedule marks it as an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. In 2019, Texas accounted for 9 of the nation’s 22 state executions, and in 2020 accounted for 3 of the 7 state executions.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.
Petitions will be delivered on your behalf in advance of the execution.
Additionally, you may reach out now to the Board at bpp_clemency@tdcj.texas.gov and the Governor at https://gov.texas.gov/contact/ and (512) 463-1782. You can simply leave a voice message, or choose to speak to a representative if you prefer.
Please note: In Texas, the Governor does have limited power when it comes to the death penalty. But the story we are told that “it’s out of the governor’s hands,” is only true if we allow it to be. Yes, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles must recommend clemency in that state in order for the Governor to grant clemency (mercy) by commuting a death sentence. But the fact is that the governor appoints the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. He can choose to appoint members who will take valid claims and concerns more seriously, instead of acting like rubber-stamping gate-keepers. He can still use his position of power and influence to enact justice in the State of Texas.
Sign the petition

Stop the Execution of Geoffrey West in Alabama
2025-09-25 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Geoffrey West is scheduled for execution in Alabama on September 25, 2025 for the 1997 murder of Margaret Berry.

Call Gov. Ivey 334-242-7100 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to express deep concern that the State of Alabama is moving forward with the execution of Geoffrey West in September. Beyond the concerns we hold regarding the method Alabama has chose to implement starting last year, there are issues in Mr. West’s case – not limited to the Court allowing prosecution to disparage defense counsel and not allowing testimony by expert witnesses. We encourage the State to immediately halt plans to kill Mr. West!”

If carried out, it would be the nation’s eighth execution by nitrogen gas, a method Alabama began using last year as an alternative to lethal injection.
While the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Alabama has continued to go against trend by carrying on with scheduled execution dates. Additionally, the State of Alabama has repeatedly shown blatant incompetence in carrying out executions – they need to pause ALL executions to allow for meaningful review of their protocols.
Concerns in Mr. West’s case:
1. The trial was marred by the Court allowing the prosecutor to disparage, denigrate, and insult defense counsel when he argued to the jury in closing argument that a statement made by defense counsel was ‘part of the fairy tale that y’all have been hearing from the defense side.’
2. Expert witnesses were not allowed to testify.
3. There is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the use of nitrogen gas for human execution, and the American Veterinary Medical Association advises against its use for most mammals because it can cause panic and distress. We continue to condemn the use of nitrogen hypoxia – it is neither quick nor painless and we believe it constitutes torture or at the least amounts to cruel and unusual punishment which is barred by the U.S. Constitution.
4. Alabama has a duty to carry out executions under the protection of the U.S. Constitution. For this reason we believe there should be a stay of executions to allow for a thorough study of the state’s capital punishment practices in light of the serious objections raised over how it administers the death penalty.

Additional Information and Action Opportunities Regarding Alabama Executions

Click here for information about Gas Suffocation Executions

Click here for The Pull Back The Curtains Campaign to Demand Full Transparency in Alabama Executions
