RLC Book Club with Kazu Haga: Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm
2025-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | 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 (America/New_York)
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 (America/New_York) | 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 (America/New_York) | dc
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 (America/New_York) | 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 (America/New_York) | dc
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 (America/New_York) | dc
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!

What Do I Do with My Anger? (hosted by Richard Rohr and Brian McLaren)
2025-03-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | dc
**Two long-time RLC friends are hosting this event, Richard Rohr and Brian McLaren**

Richard Rohr and Brian McLaren host a 90-minute live online gathering on March 14, 10:00 – 11:30 am PT

Cost: $95, $30, $10, $5

Register Now

About This Event
Many of us feel growing anger about politics, economic opportunities, persistent racism, our threatened environment, and broken institutions. What do we do with our anger—and can ancient wisdom from the contemplative Christian tradition offer guidance for us in these times?
Join us in a shared online space to explore these important questions alongside CAC founder Fr. Richard Rohr, author of the new book, “The Tears of Things,” and CAC Dean of Faculty, Brian McLaren.

Event Details
Richard Rohr and Brian McLaren will guide attendees through teachings, conversations, and practices designed to help us explore where our anger fits within the contemplative Christian tradition. The gathering will take place on March 14, 2025 from 10:00 – 11:30 am PT. Participants will need a device with reliable Internet access, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer to access Zoom.
Registration
Registration for this event is open from January 29 through March 13, 2025. This event will be recorded. Whether you attend live or watch later, all registrants will have access to the replay for one full year.
Cost
The cost of attending this online gathering is $95. We believe that finances should not be a barrier to participation. For that reason, we have made additional price levels available at $30 and $10. You can also choose any amount at $5 or above. We encourage you to select the price you are most able to afford.
Register Now

“I have become convinced that most anger comes, first of all, from a place of deep sadness.” —Richard Rohr

The Cross of Christ: Justification for Redemptive Violence or a Call to Gospel Nonviolence
2025-03-15 10:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | https://redletterchristians.org/event/the-cross-of-christ-justification-for-redemptive-violence-or-a-call-to-gospel-nonviolence/
The Alternative Seminary, a partner of Red Letter Christians, invites you to an online gathering: “The Cross of Christ: Justification for Redemptive Violence or a Call to Gospel Nonviolence.”
As we witness the growing power and influence of a militant white Christian nationalism in the United States, followers of Jesus must assert more urgently than ever the radical gospel of love, justice, and Beloved Community.
Part of this task is reclaiming the core image of our faith: the Cross of Christ. The founder of our faith was sent to the cross as an execution by empire – yet for thousands of years, that same cross has been wielded by empire to justify and bless human violence.
We will explore the history of “redemptive violence” that has flowed from theologies of atonement. We will revisit the crucifixion of Jesus in its historical context and explore the questions: How and why did Jesus die? How is his death related to his ministry in the Gospels? How did the early communities grasp his death, and how does it make us think differently about the Resurrection? We will reflect on how a more radical understanding of the passion of Christ can impact our discipleship, and particularly our efforts to witness to justice and shalom in a world of empire, violence, and degradation of creation.
Join us for the online gathering:
🗓️ March 15
⏱️ 10:30am – 12:30pm ET
💻 Virtual, registration required: https://bit.ly/CrossofChrist2025
💳The cost is $20 (or whatever you can afford).
This session will be facilitated by Will O’Brien, coordinator of The Alternative Seminary. The Alternative Seminary is a program of biblical and theological study and reflection designed to foster an authentic biblical witness in the modern world.
If you have any questions, please contact Will O’Brien at willobrien59@gmail.com.
Register Here

Stop the Execution of Jessie Hoffman in Louisiana
2025-03-18 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
Jessie Hoffman was convicted in Louisiana for the 1996 killing of Mary “Molly” Elliot. He is scheduled to be executed via nitrogen gas suffocation on March 18, 2025.

Call Governor Landry at 225-342-0991 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. Landry grants clemency to Jessie Hoffman, who is scheduled to be executed by nitrogen suffocation on March 18, 2025. We do not need the death penalty to be safe from people who have committed great harm– a life sentence is punishment enough. Thank you.”

Please sign this petition specific to Jessie, and also this other petition from our partners in Louisiana, which opposes the resumption of executions in Louisiana in general.
Mary Elliot, an account executive for an advertising agency, was reported missing the day before her murder. Soon after her body was found, Hoffman was identified as a suspect. After providing inconsistent statements during his police interviews, he eventually confessed to kidnapping and robbing the victim, engaging in sexual intercourse, then shooting her. Jessie’s videotaped confession, along with DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene, was used to secure his conviction. Although Jessie’s defense team never disputed that he had shot Mary, they argued that she had been shot accidentally, rather than purposefully, during a struggle over the gun.
During the penalty phase, the defense presented testimony from eleven witnesses to show that Jessie had no prior issues with the law and, therefore, would not pose any future danger to society. However, the jury unanimously agreed on a death sentence because the offense had been committed in an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner.
Louisiana also intends to be the second state to implement nitrogen suffocation executions after years without an execution due to troubles sourcing lethal injection drugs. Alabama became the first state to implement this experimental method when it executed Kenneth Smith January 2024. The public was promised an execution method that resulted in an almost immediate loss of consciousness and a quick and painless death, yet Kenneth’s execution went very differently than how the state insisted it would. Kenneth thrashed, convulsed, gasped and heaved for more than 20 minutes. The 3 nitrogen suffocations that followed went similarly.

The State of Louisiana has not had an execution in 15 years. Its scheduling of an execution at this time makes the state an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend away from executions.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Jeff Landry 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 Aaron Gunches in Arizona
2025-03-19 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
Aaron Gunches is scheduled for execution in Arizona on March 19, 2025 for the 2002 murder of Ted Price.

Call Governor Hobbs at 602-542-4331 with the following message:
“Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to ask that Gov. Hobbs not move forward with Arizona’s plan to resume executions on March 19, 2025 with the execution of Aaron Gunches. Gov. Hobbs promised an administration centered around transparency yet is allowing for the resumption of executions before an investigation into Arizona’s execution protocols could be completed. It is not too late to turn back now.”

In November 2002, the victim, Ted Price, went to visit his ex-wife, Katherine Lecher, in her apartment. Ted planned to stay with her until his school grant came in. The two argued a week and a half into his stay, which led to a physical altercation. Katherine hit Ted’s face with a telephone, causing him to appear dazy and unresponsive but conscious. Later that evening, Aaron came to see Katherine, who was his girlfriend at the time. After talking to her, he instructed her two roommates to put Ted and his belongings in Katherine’s car so that he could take him to a bus station. Jennifer, one of the roommates, drove the car to the station. Upon arrival, Aaron realized he did not have money to pay for Ted’s bus ticket, so he ordered Jennifer to drive out of the city and into the desert. When the car stopped and Ted got out, Aaron shot him four times. Aaron was subsequently charged with his kidnapping and murder and eventually sentenced to death. He represented himself at trial, pleaded guilty, and has consistently requested to be executed since.
Aaron’s execution in Arizona will be the state’s first since the practice was halted in 2022 after a series of botched lethal injections. Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered a state-wide moratorium until the situation could be properly investigated. She appointed David Duncan, a retired federal judge, to conduct the review but fired him before he could finish his investigation. Thereafter, she decided that an internal review would suffice, and the moratorium was subsequently lifted in November 2024.
Lethal injections are challenging to perform, and complications frequently arise. Inmates can bleed to death, experience mental torment or severe physical pain, and create a sensation of choking or burning. Lethal injections carry a significant unconstitutional risk of cruel and unusual punishment and should not be used, especially not by a state so seemingly desperate to execute its citizens.

While the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend away from executions, Arizona is continuing to go against this trend by carrying out executions.
Arizona, which has 112 prisoners on death row, last carried out three executions in 2022 following a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched and because of difficulties obtaining drugs for execution.
Please sign the petition asking the Arizona governor to do everything in her power to stop this.

Stop the Execution of Wendell Grissom in Oklahoma
2025-03-20 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
Oklahoma has scheduled Wendell Grissom’s execution for March 20, 2025 for the 2005 murder of Amber Matthews. He was denied clemency by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on February 5, 2025.

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 Wendell Grissom on March 20, 2025. We can be safe from people who have committed great harm and hold them accountable without killing them. It is what we do in most cases.”

On November 2, 2002, Wendell drove across state lines into Oklahoma where he picked up a homeless hitchhiker, Jessie Johns. The two became well acquainted and discussed plans to make money through robberies or burglaries. The next day, they drove through a rural Oklahoman county, looking for a house to burglarize. Eventually, they settled on the house of Matt and Dreu Kopf. After parking in their driveway, Wendell told Jessie to wait in the car until the shooting had ceased, then come and help him burglarize the property. Wendell found Dreu Kopf, her friend Amber Matthews, and two minor children inside the house. After shooting his way in, he seriously injured Dreu, and shot Amber. Dreu managed to escape using Wendell’s vehicle, which Jessie had momentarily left to investigate the scene. After her escape, Wendell and Jessie fled in a vehicle stolen from the Kopf’s garage and were arrested shortly after. Amber died on her way to the Oklahoma City Hospital.
Wendell’s defense team argues that there were several mitigating factors, including neurological deficits, which contributed to the crime and which they were not able to use during the trial – most significantly, brain damage and alcohol and drug dependency. Three jurors, who had initially sentenced him to death, wrote letters saying that they wished this information had been available to them before they had made that fateful decision. Juror Deborah Givens wrote that she no longer feels confident in her decision to sentence Wendell to death.

Wendell’s defense team argues that there were several mitigating factors, including neurological deficits, which contributed to the crime and which they were not able to use during the trial – most significantly, brain damage and alcohol and drug dependency. Three jurors, who had initially sentenced him to death, wrote letters saying that they wished this information had been available to them before they had made that fateful decision. Juror Deborah Givens wrote that she no longer feels confident in her decision to sentence Wendell to death.
On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied him clemency.
Oklahoma’s 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, Oklahoma 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.
This particular 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 this execution does not go forward, and to seek a path to clemency in the case.

Stop the Execution of Edward James in Florida
2025-03-20 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
Florida has scheduled Edward James‘s execution for March 20, 2025 for the 1993 murders of Betty Dick and Toni Neuner.
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 Edward James on March 20, 2025. We can be safe from people who have committed great harm and hold them accountable without killing them. It is what we do in most cases. Eddie has also expressed sincere remorse for his devastating actions. Surely that has to count for something.”

Shared from Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:
Eddie’s death sentence is the product of Florida’s broken and arbitrary death penalty scheme. His jury verdict for the death penalty was not unanimous, and in only one other state in the nation, Alabama, would his 11-1 jury vote render him even eligible for the harshest punishment.
Eddie has spent the last nearly three decades in prison and since the date of his arrest has expressed deep regret and remorse for his devastating actions. Executing Eddie for the worst thing he has ever done does not make the people of the State of Florida any safer. Without a doubt, he is not the same person who committed his crimes so many years ago.
Every execution dehumanizes us all. The people of the State of Florida deserve better.

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.
Sign the petition

RLC Book Club with Stanley Hauerwas: Jesus Changes Everything: A New World Made Possible
2025-03-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
We’re delighted to have Stanley Hauerwas as our March Book Club guest. He’ll be in conversation with Shane Claiborne to discuss his book Jesus Changes Everything: A New World Made Possible.
Stanley Hauerwas, a theologian and Christian ethicist, is professor emeritus of theological ethics and of law at Duke University. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony (1989), which he co-authored with William H. Willimon. His lower-middle-class upbringing informed his later approach to theological and ethical questions (at one point, he was apprenticed to his father, a bricklayer). In 2001, Time magazine named Hauerwas “America’s Best Theologian”; he replied that “best” is not a theological category.
Of his newest book, Plough Books says:
For decades, Stanley Hauerwas has been provoking Christians with his insistence that if they would only follow their Master, it would impact all areas of life, from the personal to the societal. The lanky Texan, whom Time magazine dubbed “America’s theologian” for his zinging insights into today’s ethical questions, says Christians should stop bemoaning their loss of cultural and political power and instead welcome their status as outsiders and embrace the radical alternative Jesus has had in mind for them all along. These accessible readings selected from Hauerwas’s seminal books will introduce a timely, prophetic voice to another generation of followers of Jesus tired of religion as usual.
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.

Christ in the Rubble: A Lenten Conversation Featuring Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
2025-03-31 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | 320 Arch Street Philadelphia PA 19106, 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, United States
Christ in the Rubble: A Lenten Conversation Featuring Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
With Guest Respondent Professor Noura Erakat
Moderated by Lisa Sharon Harper and Shane Claiborne
March 31, 2025, 7pm ET
Location:
Arch Street Meeting House
West Room
320 Arch Street
Philadelphia PA 19106
Join us for this very special live in-person conversation with Theologian and Pastor, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Director of Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. Noura Erakat, Human Rights Attorney and Professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick will join the conversation, moderated by Lisa Sharon Harper and Shane Claiborne. Dr. Isaac will reflect on his new book, Christ in the Rubble. Together they will then consider the theological and ethical implications of US foreign policy in Palestine and Israel in this Lenten season.
Reserve your seat at www.bit.ly/ChristintheRubble.

April Monthly Morning Prayer with Joash Thomas
2025-04-01 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | https://redletterchristians.org/event/april-monthly-morning-prayer-with-joash-thomas/
Rev. Joash Thomas is an author, speaker, and global advocate for justice. Drawing from his St. Thomas Indian Christian roots and a decolonized, justice-centered understanding of Scripture, Joash helps audiences reimagine a faith that unites rather than divides—and that stands firmly with neighbors on the margins. Through speaking engagements, teaching, and advocacy, he calls Christians to a more contemplative yet courageous activism, motivated by the grace-filled, non-violent way of Jesus.
Born and raised in India, Joash served as a U.S. political consultant and lobbyist before pivoting to global human rights advocacy. Now based in the Toronto area, he holds a master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University and is completing master’s degrees in Christian Leadership and Systematic Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. An ordained Deacon in the Diocese of St. Anthony, Joash is the author of the forthcoming book The Justice of Jesus (published by Brazos Press).

Instagram / X (Twitter) / Threads / Bluesky / Substack: @‌JoashPThomas
Facebook: Joash Thomas

Join us on Zoom to pray together and speak with Joash, 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!

Good Trouble on Good Friday at Lockheed Martin
2025-04-18 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Lockheed Martin, 230 Mall Blvd, King of Prussia, PA, 19406
11-1 ET (King of Prussia, PA)
As we continue to try to find ways to stand against the violence in Gaza and across the globe, we will be hosting another prayer vigil and day of direct action on Good Friday at Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest weapons contractor.

Register Here:
Good Friday @ Lockheed Martin, Philadelphia:
Prayer Vigil & Direct Action Registration Form

Stop the Execution of Moises Mendoza in Texas
2025-04-23 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
Join us to protest the execution of Moises Mendoza in Texas on April 23, 2025.
To learn more about how you can help, visit:
Stop the Execution of Moises Mendoza in Texas via Death Penalty Action
Let us pray over the life of Moises Mendoza. Lord, have mercy.
Moises Mendoza was convicted in Texas for the 2004 capital murder of Rachel Tolleson.

Sign the Petition
To: Governor Greg Abbott & Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
From: [Your Name]

We are writing to ask that you to stop the execution of Moises Mendoza, who​ was convicted in Texas for the 2004 capital murder of Rachel Tolleson​. He has been given an execution date for April 23, 2025.
We are concerned that while the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Texas has continued to go against trend by carrying on an aggressive execution schedule.
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 time and attention to this urgent and serious matter.

Stop the Execution of James Osgood in Alabama
2025-04-24 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
James Osgood is scheduled for execution in Alabama on April 24, 2025 for the 2010 murder of Tracy Lynn Brown. James gave up his appeals and asked to be executed. Learn more from our friends at Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty.

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 express concern about how Alabama carries out its executions. Alabama has repeatedly shown that it cannot carry out executions without there being serious complications. I am urging Gov. Ivey to halt executions in Alabama to allow for thorough examination of protocols. Thank you.”
Register for Virtual Vigil HERE.

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.

RLC Book Club with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac - "Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, & the Genocide in Gaza"
2025-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Links from this livestream:

Rev Munther Isaac’s podcast – Christ at the Checkpoint – https://pod.link/1799433160

RLC resources for conscientious objectors – https://redletterchristians.org/conscientious-objector-resources/

The Book: Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac – “Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, & the Genocide in Gaza” – https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802885548/christ-in-the-rubble/

Church at the Crossroads – September 11—13, Parkview Community Church, Glen Ellyn, Illinois – https://churchatthecrossroads.com/

Give to the work of Rev Munther Isaac via the Shepherd Society – https://shepherd-society.org/donate

We’re delighted to have our friend the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac as our April Book Club guest. He’ll be in conversation with Shane Claiborne to discuss his book (named after his sermon heard across the globe) “Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, & the Genocide in Gaza”.
In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the modern State of Israel. Speaking from his unique vantage point as a prominent Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, he proclaims a truth that is rarely acknowledged in Christian circles: Israel’s campaign to eliminate the Palestinian people did not begin after October 7, 2023. Rather, the campaign is a continuation of a colonial project with nineteenth-century roots that has, since 1948, established systems of entrenched discrimination and segregation worse than South Africa’s apartheid regime.
Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac urges readers to recognize that support for Zionism’s genocidal project entails a failure to bring a properly Christian theological criticism to bear upon colonialism, racism, and empire. He calls on Christians to repent of their complicity in the destruction of the Palestinian people. And he challenges them to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.
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 Jeffrey Hutchinson in Florida
2025-05-01 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | dc
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) | dc
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) | dc
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) | dc
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) | dc
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) | dc
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.
