November Monthly Morning Prayer
2024-11-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
We are beyond honored to welcome Rev. Dr. William Barber II as our guest for November’s Monthly Morning Prayer.
Bishop William J. Barber II is President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Executive Board Member of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ, and Professor in the Practice of Public Theology and Public Policy and Founding Director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School. Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival, and a Kettering Foundation Senior Fellow.
He is the author of five books: We Are Called To Be A Movement; Revive Us Again: Vision and Action in Moral Organizing; The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and The Rise of a New Justice Movement; and Forward Together: A Moral Message For The Nation. White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy was released in June 2024.
Bishop Barber served as senior pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Disciples of Christ for thirty years and as president of the North Carolina NAACP from 2006-2017 and on the National NAACP Board of Directors from 2008-2020. He is the architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement that gained national acclaim in 2013 with its Moral Monday protests at the North Carolina General Assembly. In 2015, he established Repairers of the Breach to train communities in moral movement building through the Moral Political Organizing Leadership Institute and Summit Trainings (MPOLIS). In 2018, he co-anchored the relaunch of the Pour People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival—reviving the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign organized by women’s rights movement, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., worker’s rights movement, religious leaders, and people of all races to fight poverty in the U.S. As a moral leader Bishop William Barber II engaging in non-violent civil disobedience has been arrested more than 15 times in various states standing up with those who have been marginalized by systematic racism, poverty, and injustice.
A highly sought-after speaker, Bishop Barber has given keynote addresses at hundreds of national and state conferences, including the 2016 Democratic National Convention, one of few preachers in nations history to be invited to give the homily at the 59th Inaugural Prayer Service for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Vatican at Pope Francis’s encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. In June 2018, he addressed the 5th Uni Global Union World Congress to more than 25 countries.
Bishop Barber is regularly featured in media outlets such as MSNBC, CNN, NNPA, the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Nation magazine. He was named one of 2020’s BET 100 Entertainers and Innovators and one of the 2019 recipients of the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor. He is a 2018 MacArthur Foundation Genius Award recipient and a 2015 recipient of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award and the Puffin Award. Bishop Barber has had twelve honorary doctorate degrees conferred upon him. He earned a High School degree from Plymouth High, a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctorate from Drew University with a concentration in Public Policy and Pastoral Care. And has studied in a special fellowship at MIT.
Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove will be facilitating this time of reflection and prayer as always. We will be streaming live on all our socials; register to join us on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsf-yhqDktEtaFrLGo6ruPBpOkho6n2LLY
We will be live on all of our socials! 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!

Vote For Love for Victims of Violence
2024-11-01 20:00 - 21:30 | Virtual
It’s revival time.
On the four nights before the presidential election on November 5th, Red Letter Christians is hosting our final Red Letter Revival of this year to create a space for Christians who want to see love and justice at the center of our policies. Instead of solely condemning the way our faith is being manipulated for political gain this election season, we’re “practicing something better,” as our friend Richard Rohr says. There’s that old saying “Be the change you want to see in the world”… and we’re committed to being the change we want to see in the Church.
And we need YOU.
One of the promises of Scripture is this – “perfect love casteth out fear.” We are standing on that promise, and raising the questions –

What would our country look like if love rather than fear was shaping our policies?
What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves?
What does that mean on immigration? Guns? Militarism? Poverty? Criminal justice? And more?
What does love look like in public?
How does loving my neighbor shape the way I think about policies that affect their lives?

Together, we’ll challenge the way Christianity is often distorted and co-opted for political agendas that do not center Jesus and the needs of the poor and vulnerable, those Christ called “the least of these.”
Mark your calendar for these powerful, life-giving events taking place on November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. We’ll be broadcasting LIVE on all our platforms, and you won’t want to miss it!
Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Academic Dean, Bethlehem Bible College; Christ at the Checkpoint Conference Director

Ben Cohen, Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream

Rev. Sharon Risher, Author, Speaker, Pastor, Gun Violence Prevention activist

In conversation with Shane Claiborne
Music by Propaganda
REGISTER NOW
*** These events are free and open to the public with an optional donation. If you can chip in, every dollar helps Red Letter Christians continue to push our faith closer to one that looks like Jesus. Thank you for investing in this work!

Vote for Love for Immigrants
2024-11-02 20:00 - 21:30 | Virtual
The Urgency of Immigration Advocacy: Communities, Prisons, Borders and the Body of Christ
Co-sponsor: Nootbaar Institute on Law, Religion and Ethics, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Expert guests will explore the multifaceted nature of our country’s immigration crisis – both how it is deeply rooted in local communities at the border, and how these local injustices fit into a broken, inhumane national immigration system urgently needing reform in a world where 120 million people have been forcibly displaced.
Speakers will challenge attendees to consider how the church can more meaningfully respond to the Gospel’s clarion call to welcome the stranger. The speakers will also highlight the urgent need to care for immigrants within the prison system, many of whom are unjustly detained and face compounded trauma.
As fellow Christians, the advocates will call on the church to step into these spaces, offering both practical support and a prophetic witness that reflects the radical hospitality of the Gospel. Participants will be asked to grapple with how race, class, and systems of oppression intersect with the immigration crisis. This panel will challenge the church to reimagine its role in standing with the stranger, the prisoner, and the most marginalized in our society.
Moderator:
Jennifer Lee Koh, Associate Professor of Law & Co-Director of the Nootbaar Institute on Law, Religion and Ethics, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Panelists:

Guerline Jozef, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance

Tin Nguyen, Program Director, Decarcerate Orange County

Kimberly Serrano – director for the Center of Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council

*** These events are free and open to the public with an optional donation. If you can chip in, every dollar helps Red Letter Christians continue to push our faith closer to one that looks like Jesus. Thank you for investing in this work!
REGISTER NOW

This event is one of a series of four virtual Red Letter Revivals.
Learn more about the event series below.
It’s revival time.
On the four nights before the presidential election on November 5th, Red Letter Christians is hosting our final Red Letter Revival of this year to create a space for Christians who want to see love and justice at the center of our policies. Instead of solely condemning the way our faith is being manipulated for political gain this election season, we’re “practicing something better,” as our friend Richard Rohr says. There’s that old saying “Be the change you want to see in the world”… and we’re committed to being the change we want to see in the Church. And we need YOU.
One of the promises of Scripture is this – “perfect love casteth out fear.” We are standing on that promise, and raising the questions –
What would our country look like if love rather than fear was shaping our policies?
What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves?
What does that mean on immigration? Guns? Militarism? Poverty? Criminal justice? And more?
What does love look like in public?
How does loving my neighbor shape the way I think about policies that affect their lives?
Together, we’ll challenge the way Christianity is often distorted and co-opted for political agendas that do not center Jesus and the needs of the poor and vulnerable, those Christ called “the least of these.”
Mark your calendar for these powerful, life-giving events taking place on November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. We’ll be broadcasting LIVE on all our platforms, and you won’t want to miss it!

Vote for Love for Poor and Low-Income Families
2024-11-03 20:00 - 21:30 | Virtual
It’s revival time.
On the four nights before the presidential election on November 5th, Red Letter Christians is hosting our final Red Letter Revival of this year to create a space for Christians who want to see love and justice at the center of our policies. Instead of solely condemning the way our faith is being manipulated for political gain this election season, we’re “practicing something better,” as our friend Richard Rohr says. There’s that old saying “Be the change you want to see in the world”… and we’re committed to being the change we want to see in the Church. And we need YOU.
One of the promises of Scripture is this – “perfect love casteth out fear.” We are standing on that promise, and raising the questions –
What would our country look like if love rather than fear was shaping our policies?
What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves?
What does that mean on immigration? Guns? Militarism? Poverty? Criminal justice? And more?
What does love look like in public?
How does loving my neighbor shape the way I think about policies that affect their lives?
Together, we’ll challenge the way Christianity is often distorted and co-opted for political agendas that do not center Jesus and the needs of the poor and vulnerable, those Christ called “the least of these.”
Mark your calendar for these powerful, life-giving events taking place on November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. We’ll be broadcasting LIVE on all our platforms, and you won’t want to miss it!
Featuring:

Dr. Terence Lester, Founder and Executive Director at Love Beyond Walls, storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, & author

The Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice & Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign

Becca Forsyth, Freedom Church of the Poor and NYS Poor People’s Campaign

Music from Common Hymnal’s Jalen Seawright

REGISTER NOW
*** These events are free and open to the public with an optional donation. If you can chip in, every dollar helps Red Letter Christians continue to push our faith closer to one that looks like Jesus. Thank you for investing in this work!

Vote for Love for the Historically Marginalized
2024-11-04 20:00 - 21:30 | Virtual
It’s revival time.
On the four nights before the presidential election on November 5th, Red Letter Christians is hosting our final Red Letter Revival of this year to create a space for Christians who want to see love and justice at the center of our policies. Instead of solely condemning the way our faith is being manipulated for political gain this election season, we’re “practicing something better,” as our friend Richard Rohr says. There’s that old saying “Be the change you want to see in the world”… and we’re committed to being the change we want to see in the Church. And we need YOU.
One of the promises of Scripture is this – “perfect love casteth out fear.” We are standing on that promise, and raising the questions –
What would our country look like if love rather than fear was shaping our policies?
What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves?
What does that mean on immigration? Guns? Militarism? Poverty? Criminal justice? And more?
What does love look like in public?
How does loving my neighbor shape the way I think about policies that affect their lives?
Together, we’ll challenge the way Christianity is often distorted and co-opted for political agendas that do not center Jesus and the needs of the poor and vulnerable, those Christ called “the least of these.”
Mark your calendar for these powerful, life-giving events taking place on November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. We’ll be broadcasting LIVE on all our platforms, and you won’t want to miss it!
Featuring:

Aaron Niequist, Liturgist and Writer

The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church

REGISTER NOW
*** These events are free and open to the public with an optional donation. If you can chip in, every dollar helps Red Letter Christians continue to push our faith closer to one that looks like Jesus. Thank you for investing in this work!

Execution Alert: Carey Dale Grayson
2024-11-21 00:00 - 23:00
Join us to protest the execution of Carey Dale Grayson in Alabama on November 21, 2024. To learn more about how you can help, visit: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-carey-grayson-in-alabama/
To act/learn more, visit: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-carey-grayson-in-alabama/
Let us pray over the life of Carey Dale Grayson. Lord, have mercy.

RLC Book Club with Khristi Lauren Adams
2024-11-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
We’re delighted to have Khristi Lauren Adams as our November Book Club guest; she’ll be in conversation with Susan Wood to discuss her book, “Womanish Theology: Discovering God through the Lens of Black Girlhood.”
About the Book:
Khristi Lauren Adams’s faith was first shaped by her experiences as a Black girl-learning about Scripture from her grandmother, Mama Hattie; “playing church” with her seven cousins over summer vacation; and grieving the murder of her sixteen-year-old friend when she was just fifteen.
In Womanish Theology, Adams reflects on those experiences, inviting readers to learn from a new perspective and guiding them to a deeper understanding of their own spirituality.
This groundbreaking book introduces a new branch of theological thought Adams calls womanish, as a play on womanist (the theology of Black womanhood). “Womanish,” remembers Adams, is a term Black mothers used for young girls as they grew more interested in doing grown-up things. Adams draws on her own life story as well as the life stories of other Black girls to explore theological concepts such as Scripture, theodicy, salvation, prayer, neighborly love, and the image of God.
Through this journey, readers will learn that theology is for everyone and that the whole community of God can learn from the spiritual insights of Black girls.
About the Author:
Khristi Lauren Adams is a speaker, author, youth advocate and ordained Baptist minister. Khristi is the author of Parable of the Brown Girl which is published by Fortress Press. The book highlights the cultural and spiritual truths that emerge from the lives of young black girls. Parable of the Brown Girl has received awards for Best Young Adult Book from The African American Literary Awards and the New York Black Librarians Caucus.
Her second book, Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way was released in the Spring of 2022 with Broadleaf Books. A middle grade version of the book titled Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way was also released with Beaming Books. Unbossed was a 2023 runner up for the Los Angeles Book Festival and Black Girls Unbossed is a 2023 finalist for a Foreword INDIES Book of the Year award in the Juvenile Nonfiction category.
Khristi is the Executive Director of Community and Belonging for the St. Paul’s School’s, a family of independent schools in Baltimore County, MD. She previously worked as Dean of Spiritual Life & Equity and instructor of Religious Studies at the Hill School. She is the former Founder & Director of “The Becoming Conference”, an annual conference and leadership cohort designed to empower, educate & inspire girls between the ages of 13-18.
Khristi is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Advertising and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary where she obtained a Master of Divinity degree. She is a 2017 graduate of “Lead New Jersey”, a select group of thought-leaders from the public, social, and private sectors of NJ and the surrounding communities. She also currently serves as a mentor for The Garden Initiative for Black Women’s Religious Activism, a nine-month peer-to-peer and intergenerational mentorship program for black women leaders across religious traditions in the United States.
Khristi is also a 2024 Alumni Service Awardee for Princeton Seminary which highlights the outstanding efforts of alumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing the seminary’s mission and values.
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.

December Monthly Morning Prayer: An Advent Special with Friends from Bethlehem Bible College
2024-12-01 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
As we enter into the season of Advent, join us at Red Letter Christians for a Special Monthly Morning Prayer on December 1 at 9 AM ET, with our dear friends from Bethlehem Bible College. We are honored to be joined by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Tony Deik, Shireen Hilal and others, for a time of prayer and solemn reflection with Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.

Links mentioned in today’s gathering:

Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace – Take a Stand for the Holy Land!
Across the Divide Podcast
Christ at The Checkpoint Youtube Channel
Christians for a Free Palestine
Shepherd Society
RLC Advent Devotions

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!

Execution Alert: Christopher Leroy Collings
2024-12-03 00:00 - 23:59
Join us to protest the execution of Christopher Leroy Collings on December 3, 2024.
To learn more about how you can help, visit: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-christopher-collings-in-missouri
Let us pray over the life of Christopher Leroy Collings. Lord, have mercy.

Execution Alert: Joseph Corcoran
2024-12-18 00:00 - 23:59
Join us to protest the execution of Joseph Corcoran on December 18, 2024.
Join us to protest the execution of Joseph Corcoran in Indiana on December 18, 2024. To learn more about how you can help, visit: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-corcoran-in-indiana/
Let us pray over the life of Joseph Corcoran. Lord, have mercy.

Execution Alert: Kevin Ray Underwood
2024-12-19 00:00 - 23:59
Join us to protest the execution of Kevin Ray Underwood on December 19, 2024.
Join us to protest the execution of Kevin Ray Underwood in Oklahoma on December 19, 2024. To learn more about how you can help, visit:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-kevin-underwood-in-oklahoma
Let us pray over the life of Kevin Ray Underwood. Lord, have mercy.

Christ is Still in the Rubble: A Liturgy of Sumud featuring a Sermon by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
2024-12-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
This Advent, while global Christians prepare to commemorate the arrival of the Prince of Peace, our Palestinian kin in Gaza suffer unthinkable violence – again. Their cries for deliverance, echoing those of two millennia ago, seem to be falling unheard in the United States for the second year in a row.

To see their pain and hear their cries, US Christians must move beyond information to transformation…from webinar to worship.
On 20 December 2024, a number of organizations – Christ at the Checkpoint, Christmas Lutheran Church, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Global Immersion, Red Letter Christians, Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, Samud Initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – are joining forces in solidarity to simulcast a live worship gathering guided by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac and the team at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.
Last year, Rev. Munther Isaac’s Christ in the Rubble Sermon became a phenomenon in Christian communities and the world thanks to the service’s prophetic message calling for justice in Palestine. This year, Christ is Still in the Rubble, and Rev. Dr. Isaac will again deliver an Advent message to the world – live from Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. Join us via livestream at 10 AM ET / 5 PM Jerusalem on Friday, 20 December 2024 to hear his words. The worship service will be in Arabic with English captions and Rev. Dr. Isaac’s sermon will be delivered in English.

Registration is encouraged to stay up to date on the event with reminders, information about the livestream, and other offerings from our co-sponsoring organizations.

Register Now
Join us live on the Red Letter Christians Facebook page and website.

RLC Book Club with Rev. Kevin Riggs
2024-12-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
We’re delighted to have Rev. Kevin Riggs as our December Book Club guest. He’ll be in conversation with Shane Claiborne to discuss his book written with Rev. Kevin Burns (KB), Today! The Best Day of My Life.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs (Pastor Kevin) has been the Senior Pastor of Franklin Community Church for more than thirty years (www.franklincommunitychurch.org). He is also the founder and Executive Director of Franklin Community Development (www.franklincommunitydevelopment.com) and Williamson County Homeless Alliance (www.wilcohomeless.com) All three organizations are located in Franklin, TN.
Pastor Kevin believes one of the primary tasks of a pastor is to be the “conscience of the community.” He is extremely active in the community and is respected as an advocate for the poor and marginalized. Pastor Kevin is also involved in prison ministry, especially Tennessee’s death row, where his church has ordained one of the men on death row and helped him start a church on death row called The Church of Life. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Dr. Riggs taught Sociology for fourteen years at Nashville State Community College. He has written four books, Failing Like Jesus, Evangelism for the 21st Century, Church Health, and Today! The Best Day of My Life. Furthermore, Pastor Kevin has an active ministry in Honduras where he trains pastors and visits prisons. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Misty. Pastor Kevin is also an avid scuba diver. He and his wife live in Franklin, TN. Instagram: Instagram (@pastor4justice)

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.

January Monthly Morning Prayer with Abe Bonowitz (Death Penalty Action) and Noel Nickel (North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty)
2025-01-01 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
Join us for Red Letter Christians’ Monthly Morning Prayer on January 1, 2025, at 9 AM ET, with Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. This special New Year’s gathering celebrates significant victories in the movement against capital punishment, with 2024 ending with more commutations (52) than executions (25).
Special guests include Death Penalty Action’s Abe Bonowitz and Noel Nickel, Executive Director of North Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, who will reflect on recent victories and the challenges ahead in 2025. With several states planning to resume executions and ongoing cases in multiple jurisdictions, this gathering offers a moment for both celebration and renewed commitment to justice.
Following the liturgy from “Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals” (available at commonprayer.net), this inclusive gathering welcomes people of all backgrounds, reflecting Death Penalty Action’s secular mission while embracing spiritual reflection for social change.
This recording captures the live event that was broadcast across Red Letter Christians’ social platforms and Zoom, demonstrating the power of community in the ongoing work for justice reform
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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!

For Such a Time As This: Interfaith Service - A Prophetic Response to America’s Defining Moment
2025-01-20 19:00 - 23:00 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtWRHfZckWU
The inauguration of President Donald J. Trump’s second term coincides with the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on January 20, 2025. This symbolic overlap presents a critical moment for people of deep faith and moral conviction to rise together and respond to the deep injustices plaguing our nation.
Join Red Letter Christians and our partners for “Justice Rising: A Moral Call to Action in America’s Defining Moment.” This gathering will take place in Memphis, TN and unite faith leaders, community advocates, and people of goodwill, committed to amplifying justice, equity, and love in the face of divisive and regressive forces. Inspired by Dr. King’s legacy and prophetic vision, this event is a declaration of hope and a moral response to an immoral vision for America. You can join us in person or via livestream at 7PM ET. The livestream link will be posted on January 20, 2025.
A coalition of interfaith partners are hosting a national Interfaith Service and Moral Mass Meeting to address this critical moment. It is an invitation for people of faith and moral conviction to rise together and respond to deep injustices that exist within the nation.
King’s legacy demonstrates the need for people in the current moment to speak up, to speak out, and to be advocates. All are invited to gather For Such a Time As This: A Prophetic Response to America’s Defining Momenton Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET, which can be attended in person and virtually. The live event — which will also be live streamed — will be held at the Healing Cathedral Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, Tennessee (4523 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116), the city that King visited several times and where he spent his last days supporting the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike before his assassination in April 1968. People interested in attending in person or virtually are encouraged to register for the event. Speakers from the interfaith service and mass moral meeting, in addition to Thompson, include:

Bishop Yvette Flunder, presiding bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, United Church of Christ General Minister and President
Bishop William J. Barber, II, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival
Rev. Terri Hord-Owens, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Sofia Betancourt, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Shane Claiborne, co-founder and leader of Red Letter Christians
Rev. Moya Harris, director of Racial Justice for Sojourners

Registration to attend the event is available here: REGISTER – Interfaith Service & Moral Mass Meeting The livestream link will be posted on January 20, 2025.

AREA HOTELS Please see the links below for nearby hotel options. Guests are on their own for securing accommodations. Please note that rates and availability will vary.
Memphis Hotels – Visitors’ Bureau
Downtown Memphis Hotel Map

Tony Campolo's Celebration of Life: January 25, 2025
2025-01-25 14:00 - 16:30 | Church of the Saviour in Wayne, PA, 651 N. WAYNE AVE, Wayne, PA, 19087, United States
You’re invited to join us in celebrating Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo’s life and legacy on January 25, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Church of the Saviour in Wayne, PA. Doors open at 1 pm. If you plan to attend the service, please RSVP at this link. Your response will help to ensure we have seating for all who wish to attend Tony’s Celebration of Life. A livestream link will be posted the day of the service for those who would like to attend online.
Tony’s family kindly requests that you do not send flowers. For more information, visit eastern.edu/campolocenter.

RLC Book Club with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
2025-01-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Protestant minister, social activist, and Yale Divinity School professor Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, and celebrated spiritual writer and speaker Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove will join Shane Claiborne to discuss their book White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy.
A generational work with far-ranging social and political implications, “White Poverty,” promises to be one of the most influential books in recent years.
One of the most pernicious and persistent myths in the United States is the association of Black skin with poverty. Though there are forty million more poor white people than Black people, most Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, continue to think of poverty―along with issues like welfare, unemployment, and food stamps―as solely a Black problem. Why is this so? What are the historical causes? And what are the political consequences that result?
These are among the questions that the authors address in “White Poverty,” a groundbreaking work that exposes a legacy of historical myths that continue to define both white and Black people, creating in the process what might seem like an insuperable divide. Analyzing what has changed since the 1930s, when the face of American poverty was white, the authors address white poverty as a hugely neglected subject that just might provide the key to mitigating racism and bringing together tens of millions of working class and impoverished Americans.
Thus challenging the very definition of who is poor in America, the authors expose the lies that prevent us from seeing the pain of poor white families who have been offered little more than their “whiteness” and angry social media posts to sustain them in an economy where the costs of housing, healthcare, and education have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated for all but the very rich. Asserting in Biblically inspired language that there should never be shame in being poor, “White Poverty” lifts the hope for a new “moral fusion movement” that seeks to unite people “who have been pitted against one another by politicians (and billionaires) who depend on the poorest of us not being here.”
Ultimately, “White Poverty,” a ringing work that braids poignant autobiographical recollections with astute historical analysis, contends that tens of millions of America’s poorest earners, the majority of whom don’t vote, have much in common, thus providing us with one of the most empathetic and visionary approaches to American poverty in decades.
Register to join us on Zoom or join us live on our socials: Meeting 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 Marion Bowman in South Carolina
2025-01-31 00:00 - 23:59
Marion Bowman is scheduled for execution in South Carolina on January 31, 2025 for his alleged 2002 murder of KanDee Louise Martin. Bowman has always maintained his innocence.
The following is from our allies at South Carolinians for Alteratives to the Death Penalty. Learn more here.
Marion takes responsibility for making immature choices like selling drugs as a teenager, but he has steadfastly maintained his innocence of murder. His conviction was based on unreliable, incentivized testimony, with no forensic evidence connecting him to the crime scene. Studies show that incentivized testimony, where witnesses are rewarded for providing testimony that supports the prosecutors’ theory of the case, increases the risk of wrongful convictions.

Marion’s trial was marred by the deep-seated racism of his own trial attorney, who was more committed to his prejudice than his ethical duty to represent his client effectively. Despite having access to evidence to challenge the State’s case, his trial attorney failed to use it on behalf of Marion. His inaction stemmed from a disbelief in his Black client, rooted in racist stereotypes rather than an objective assessment of the facts.

Marion is not just a number or a statistic; he is a father and a grandfather, a man with strong ties to his family, even as he faces the harsh reality of death row. The outcome in his case will reverberate deeply in the lives of those closest to him, especially his daughter and grandchildren, who will grow up without the man who shaped their early years. For those who know him best, the prospect of his loss is more than just a family tragedy; it would mean the loss of a guiding presence, a source of strength, and a constant reminder of the power of love that transcends even the walls that separate them.

Known for his humor and charisma, Marion has become a beacon of support for his fellow inmates, offering kindness and encouragement in an overwhelmingly harsh and isolating environment. His peers seek him out and respect him for his ability to lift the spirits of those around him, tirelessly caring for others and even helping to bridge the gap between inmates and correctional staff.
***
In scheduling executions after more than a decade without one, South Carolina makes itself an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions, and increasingly, states are abolishing the practice altogether, including the southern state of Virginia, which repealed its death penalty law.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Henry McMaster to do everything within his 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 the days prior to the scheduled execution.

February Monthly Morning Prayer with Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra
2025-02-01 09:00 - 10:00
The RLC community is dedicated to coming together on the first of every month to center ourselves on Christ through prayer. Striving to build God’s Beloved Community here in our time is tough work, but we use this time to refuel and recommit to living into God’s plan for our lives. We welcome guests and co-conspiring organizations to join us for this time of reflection and centering to share news of their work, reflect on the political moment of our world, or guide us in prayer alongside Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and folks join us in a virtual meeting or via live-stream.
This month’s guest is the Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and academic dean for Centro Latino, where she coordinates the Diplomado en la Respuesta de la Iglesia a la Crisis Migratoria. A Lutheran pastor and community leader, she has pastored congregations, served as a missionary, and directed numerous nonprofit organizations. She is the co-founder of initiatives like the New Sanctuary Movement and the Evangelical Immigration Table and has contributed to various academic publications. Alexia’s work focuses on social transformation, the church’s role in justice, and equipping churches to engage in holistic mission, particularly with Hispanic immigrant communities.
Join us on Zoom to pray together and speak with Alexia, Shane, and Jonathan, or join us live on Facebook or YouTube. Register now: Meeting Registration – Zoom
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!

Stop the Execution of Steven Nelson in Texas
2025-02-05 00:00 - 23:59
In 2012, Steven Nelson was convicted of the capital murder of Clinton Dobson on March 3, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. He has been given an execution date in Texas for February 5, 2025.

Steven La’Wayne Nelson was convicted and sentenced to death for his involvement in a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of a life. However, the circumstances surrounding this case reveal a profound injustice that cannot be overlooked.

See Steven’s official web site here.
Steven’s Spiritual Advisor, Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, Blogs about the case here.
Sign the petition here

Case Background
On the day of the incident, Steven, along with two other people, were involved in a robbery at a church, which tragically ended in the loss of a life. Steven’s role was that of a lookout, a position that inherently carries less culpability than the actions of those who directly caused harm. He has consistently maintained that he was outside the church when the victims were injured, yet the two other individuals involved were never prosecuted.

Despite the clear disparity in involvement, he was the only individual convicted in this case and the only one to receive the death penalty. This raises serious questions about the fairness of his trial and sentencing. This situation highlights a grave injustice that undermines the very foundation of our legal system, which is meant to ensure that punishment is proportional to the crime committed.

Arguments Against the Death Penalty in Steven’s Case

Disproportionate Punishment – Steven’s actions do not warrant a death sentence. As a lookout, he did not commit murder, nor did he have any intent to harm anyone. It is fundamentally unjust to equate his actions with those of his co-defendants, who directly caused the death of Clinton Dobson.
Lack of Knowledge – At the time of entering the church, Steven was unaware that a murder had occurred. This critical fact must be taken into account when determining his culpability. Holding him accountable for a crime he did not commit is a violation of basic principles of justice.
Arbitrary Application of Justice – The fact that Steven is the only one convicted and sentenced to death raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of the death penalty in this case. Such a disparity undermines public confidence in the justice system.
Rehabilitation Potential – Steven has great potential for rehabilitation and has been positively contributing to society. He keeps showing love and compassion to his wife, friends and whoever has the chance to cross his path, demonstrating numerous times that he has grown as a person.
Steven deeply regrets his involvement in the robbery and has taken multiple opportunities to atone for his past actions.

The death penalty would eliminate any possibility for further growth and change, denying Steven the chance to continue his positive contributions to the world and make amends for his mistakes.

We urge Governor Abbott, Texas State Legislators, and all relevant authorities to review Steven’s case thoroughly. His death sentence represents not only a personal tragedy but a failure of the system to fully investigate the individuals involved. It doesn’t serve anybody’s interests to have an incomplete investigation. Justice should not be a one-size-fits-all approach; it must consider the nuances of each individual case

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_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

Stop the Execution of Demetrius Frazier in Alabama
2025-02-06 00:00 - 23:59
Demetrius Frazier is scheduled for execution in Alabama on February 6, 2025 by nitrogen gas asphyxiation. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1991 murder of Pauline Brown.
Case-specific details are pending. Please sign this petition to receive updates in this case, and watch for the follow-up email which will direct you to related petitions regarding transparency in Alabama executions and opposing the use of the gas suffocation method of executions.
Regarding Gas Suffocation Executions:
Kenneth Smith and Alan Miller were both fully conscious for several minutes as the nitrogen gas suffocated them. Carey Grayson was fully conscious for at least six minutes as the nitrogen gas suffocated him. This method of execution is the conscious suffocation of human beings, and it is abhorrent and absolutely torture. It amounts to cruel and unusual punishment which is barred by the U.S. Constitution.
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.
Alabama must delay all executions to allow for a thorough study of its capital punishment process and consider the serious objections raised as to how it administers the death penalty. Alabama has repeatedly shown that it is not capable of carrying out executions – amounting to cruel punishment and the torture of prisoners.
Please take action and sign the petition to stop this execution.

Stop the Execution of James Ford in Florida
2025-02-13 00:00 - 23:59
Florida has scheduled James Ford’s execution for February 13, 2025 for the 1997 murders of Greg and Kimberly Malnory.
The following information is from Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. This petition will be updated as additional information becomes available. It will be delivered in conjunction with FADP’s petition at a appropriate time ahead of the scheduled execution.
James Ford has been on death row for more than 25 years, and his childhood was marred by neglect and trauma. His death sentence was not handed down by a unanimous jury, and he missed the deadline for getting his death sentence overturned by just 27 days – after the United States Supreme Court declared Florida’s death penalty scheme unlawful.

Florida’s return to executions in 2023, after more than three years of not pursuing them, 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.
Petition to stop this execution.

Stop the Execution of Richard Tabler in Texas
2025-02-13 00:00 - 23:59
Richard Tabler was convicted in Texas of the 2004 capital murders of Mohamed-Amine Rahmouni and Haitham Zayed. He has been given an execution date for February 13, 2025.

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_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

RLC Book Club with Kazu Haga: Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm
2025-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
We’re delighted to have Kazu Haga as our February Book Club guest. He’ll be in conversation with Shane Claiborne to discuss his book Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm.
Kazu Haga is a trainer, educator, student and practitioner with over 25 years of experience in nonviolence and restorative justice. He weaves in lessons from decades of Buddhist practice and trauma healing work to advance social change and collective healing.
He is a core member of the Fierce Vulnerability Network, a founding core member of the Ahimsa Collective, is a Jam facilitator and author of the book Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm as well as the upcoming book Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging from Collapse.
He teaches nonviolence, conflict reconciliation, restorative justice, organizing and mindfulness in prisons and jails, high schools, universities and youth groups, faith communities and activist movements around the country.
Kazu was introduced to the work of social change and nonviolence in 1998, when at the age of 17 he participated in the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage; a 6-month walking journey from Massachusetts to New Orleans to retrace the slave trade. He then spent a year studying nonviolence and Buddhism while living in monasteries throughout South Asia, and returned to the US at age 19 to begin a lifelong path in social justice work.
He spent 10 years working in social justice philanthropy, while directly being involved in and playing leading roles in many movements. He became an active nonviolence trainer in the global justice movement of the late 1990s, and has since led hundreds of workshops worldwide.
Kazu is an avid meditator, enjoys being in nature and loves food more than most people do. He is also a die-hard fan of the Boston Celtics.
He is a resident of the Canticle Farm community on Lisjan Ohlone land, Oakland, CA where he lives with his family. You can find out more about his work at www.kazuhaga.com. Facebook is @‌kazuhaga, IG is @‌kazu_haga.
Register to join us on Zoom or join us live on our socials: Meeting 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.

Tony Campolo Celebration of Life (Virtual)
2025-02-25 19:00 - 20:15
As many of you know, our brother Tony Campolo would’ve turned 90 on February 25. In fact, we were planning his 90th birthday when he passed away a few months ago. So we decided we’ll still have a little celebration of his life… and he can join us remotely from the other side. We may even make this an annual event for Red Letter Christians.Will you join us at 7pm ET on February 25 to celebrate Tony’s life? Here’s a deal — it would be great if you not only joined, but if you would be willing to bring a few quotes from Tony that are meaningful to you, a book of Tony’s that has impacted you, or even a story you’d be willing to share. There will be a few points during this virtual celebration that I’ll leave it open for you and others to participate. It’s gonna be great. I hope you can join us. Here’s the Zoom link below and a graphic that you can post to help spread the word. —Shane

March Monthly Morning Prayer with Cece Jones-Davis
2025-03-01 09:00 - 10:00 | https://redletterchristians.org/event/march-monthly-morning-prayer-cece-jones-davis/
The RLC community is dedicated to coming together on the first of every month to center ourselves on Christ through prayer. Striving to build God’s Beloved Community here in our time is tough work, but we use this time to refuel and recommit to living into God’s plan for our lives. We welcome guests and co-conspiring organizations to join us for this time of reflection and centering to share news of their work, reflect on the political moment of our world, or guide us in prayer alongside Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and folks join us in a virtual meeting or via live-stream.
Our guest for March 2025 is Cece Jones-Davis, an ordained minister, artist, speaker, and advocate, has dedicated her life to pointing people to the ALL-powerful and the least-powerful. Working at the intersection of faith, art and social justice, she is especially passionate about seeing God’s Kingdom come in the areas of racial healing, women and girls’ issues, and criminal justice reform.

As a criminal justice advocate, she established the Julius Jones Coalition and is the backbone of the Justice for Julius campaign, raising awareness about Julius Jones, who has been on Oklahoma’s death row for over 20 years.
Cece is a 2021 Heartland Emmy Award Nominee for her work in co-hosting Painful History, Evolving Future on the KFOR news channel, was awarded the 2019 Phil Wahl Abolitionist of the Year Award by the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OCADP), and received a Special Congressional Recognition for her efforts in civil rights and social justice.
She has also served as a brand ambassador for Tampax to help reduce the stigma of menstruation, particularly among women of color.
Today, she continues to fight for equitable access to proper sanitation and menstrual products, while raising awareness of how girls’ and women’s wellbeing and advancement are harmed by the lack of access. Her work in menstrual advocacy has been featured in The Huffington Post, Essence.com, Self Magazine, Yahoo! Health, Teen Vogue and many more.

Join us on Zoom to pray together and speak with Cece, Shane, and Jonathan, or join us live on Facebook or YouTube. Register now: Meeting Registration – Zoom
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!

Struggle & Lament: Lenten Series 2025 with Freedom Church of the Poor
2025-03-05 00:00 - 2025-04-20 23:59
The Freedom Church of the Poor is a spiritual and political home for movement leaders. We believe in the fundamental dignity and value of all life and in a world of justice and abundance where all can thrive. We gather as a community of faith to support and care for each other. We commit to realizing the abundant world that God promises by identifying, developing, and uniting leaders who will build a movement to end poverty led by the poor. In this community and through our commitment to this struggle we also seek to re-discover and share a vision and a practice of religion that is rooted in truth, justice, and love.
LENTEN SERIES 2025
On The Way: Struggle & Lament w/ Freedom Church of the Poor
This Lenten season (Struggle and Lament) each of our Sunday services will focus on one of these final days of the last week of Jesus’ life. Each of these final days hold deep insights about the “way” that was revealed through Jesus’ life, his ministry, suffering, death, and ultimately, resurrection. This way leads to direct confrontation with a system of domination. It leads to violence and death, but it also leads to clarity about how we get organized and fight meaningfully and effectively for God’s promise of justice, love, and abundance for all. As the Freedom Church of the Poor we will gather for these seven Sundays to learn how to organize against the forces arrayed against our people today and to refine our tactics and strategy for building a broad social movement. Drawing primarily from the Gospel of Mark – a wartime Gospel that anticipated the forthcoming brutality of the Roman Army – we will gather as a political and spiritual community to sing, to lament, to pray, and to strengthen our collectivity by holding and caring for each other. We know that Jesus came not to condemn us, but to teach us how to fight for the justice and liberation of all of God’s children here on Earth.
Season Overview

Wednesday, March 5th – Ash Wednesday (Isaiah 58:1-10)
Sunday, March 9th – Day 1, Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-11)
Sunday, March 16th – Day 2, Monday: Overturning the Tables (Mark 11:12-19)
Sunday, March 23rd – Day 3, Tuesday: What God? Who Speaks for God? (Mark 11:27-13:37)
Sunday, March 30th – Day 4, Wednesday: Discipleship (Mark 14:1-11)
Sunday, April 6th – Day 5, Thursday: The Kingdom of God (Mark 14:12-72)
Sunday, April 13th – Day 6, Friday: Participation Not Substitution, Life Not Death (Mark 15:1-47)

Special Holy Week Services

April 15th Turning Tables Tuesday
April 17th Maundy Thursday
April 18th Good Friday
Saturday, Apr 19th – Day 7, Saturday: The Sabbath, a Taste of What is to Come (Daniel 12:2-3; Sibylline Oracles (3:751-55, 781-84); Matthew 27:51-53)
Sunday, April 20th – Easter Sunday: Pesach (Mark 16:1-8)

Sunday Services are available via Zoom Room + Live Stream* starting at 6:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM CT | 3:00 PM PT *Live-streamed Services will only be live for the first 30 minutes and then Zoom only for open reflections. Bible Study (Zoom Room Only) Wednesdays, March 5th- April 9th 3:00 PM PT | 5:00 PM CT | 6:00 PM ET *Spanish Interpretation Available | Interpretación en español
Freedom Church of the Poor gathers online every Sunday at 6pm ET | 5pm CT | 3pm PT via zoom and other social media platforms.
For more details: Freedom Church of the Poor – Kairos Center

Ash Wednesday National Call for Repentance & Truth-Telling
2025-03-05 11:00 - 15:30 | 301 A Street SE, Washington, D.C., 301 A Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
On Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 11 AM ET, clergy, faith leaders, and people of conscience will gather at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church (301 A Street SE, Washington, D.C.) for a National Call for Repentance & Truth-Telling. In the spirit of the prophets, we will stand together in prayer, lament, and moral resistance—calling on our nation to turn away from injustice, apathy, corruption, and oppression and recommit to the path of righteousness, truth, justice, and love. Following this sacred gathering, we will embark on a nonviolent walk from the Supreme Court to the U.S. Capitol, bearing witness to the urgent need for moral renewal in our public life. Clergy are asked to wear full vestments of their faith tradition. We invite all people of faith and conscience to join this prophetic movement and help reclaim the moral center of our democracy.
For more information: https://bit.ly/ROTB-AshWednesday

Stop the Execution of Brad Sigmon in South Carolina
2025-03-07 00:00 - 23:59
Brad Sigmon, 63, is scheduled for execution in South Carolina on March 7, 2025 for the murders of David Larke and Gladys Larke.

The following comes from our allies at South Carolinians for Alteratives to the Death Penalty.
Brad Sigmon’s case highlights the troubling flaws in the justice system’s treatment of people who’ve experienced childhood trauma and undiagnosed, inherited mental illness. His case also shows that nobody is beyond redemption if we are given the chance to become different people. Please take consistent action in the coming weeks for #ClemencyForBradSigmon
Brad is a caring and hardworking Christian man. Despite a childhood marred by his father’s alcoholism and physical abuse and his mother’s instability and neglect, Brad began working factory shifts as a teenager so that he could buy food for his brothers and sisters. Brad also worked to keep their spirits up, shielding them from the horrors of their childhood with jokes and acts of tenderness. When his younger brother was injured and could not walk without pain, Brad, then 13, would carry him everywhere on his back.
In his thirties, Brad, still reeling from his childhood traumas, succumbed to a severe, inherited mental illness that, at the time, went undiagnosed and untreated. The nature of the crime and his behavior at trial was the product of this disorder, which caused manic episodes that left him unable to recognize or control his irrationality.
Brad is deeply remorseful. In prison, he has dedicated himself to his faith as he seeks repentance and forgiveness. As one minister observes, Brad could be “an informal chaplain on Death Row because of the ways he pastors and mentors his fellow inmates.”
Brad has not been involved in a single violent incident in his more than twenty years on death row. Because of his maturity and respect for security officers, they recognize him as a good influence on his fellow prisoners and have trusted him with many responsibilities, including passing out food trays, cleaning, running the laundry, and “assist[ing] the community with whatever they need.”
Brad remains a source of strength, spiritual discernment, and support to all who know him. He has maintained a close bond with his siblings, who have depended on his deep faith and steadiness while navigating the death of their father and the disabling illnesses of their mother.
Brad is himself in deteriorating health. Now 67, he has suffered at least one stroke and, due to a near-total blockage of his carotid arteries, is at great risk for another.
Brad would be the oldest person ever executed by South Carolina. Executing the man who Brad is today because of the tormented and ill man he was more than twenty years ago, would accomplish nothing. It would only deprive the many people who have come to appreciate and even rely upon Brad—his family, prisoners, guards, and ministers—of his example and aid.
We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.
Thank you for your time and attention to this serious matter.

Under South Carolina law, Brad Sigmon has to make a choice to die by lethal injection, electrocution or by firing squad.
South Carolina is making itself an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions, and increasingly, states are abolishing the practice altogether, including the southern state of Virginia.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Henry McMaster to do everything within his 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.
Learn more & take action with us here.

Update: Execution Stayed! Stop the Execution of David Wood in Texas
2025-03-13 00:00 - 23:59
SOME GOOD NEWS! In Texas, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed this Thursday’s scheduled execution of David Wood “until further order of this court.” This is a solid stay and Thursday’s execution is definitely OFF for the time being, and hopefully forever!
