At Seattle talk Rick Steves, Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee warn of Christian nationalism threat

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At Seattle talk Rick Steves, Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee warn of Christian nationalism threat

The travel writer and ELCA bishop drew hundreds to Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral for back-to-back talks on democracy, fascism and the misuse of Scripture.

By Morgen White | FāVS News Reporter

Main Points

In Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, hundreds filed into Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral to hear travel writer Rick Steves, and Lutheran Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee speak about the state of American democracy and the threat they say Christian nationalism poses to its stability.

“Here we are defending a democracy we didn’t think was so fragile,” Steves said as he spoke to the crowd at the cathedral’s pulpit. “Freedom is the right to speak truth to power, tonight, together, we are exercising our freedom.”  

The Rev. Emily Griffin, canon vicar of St. Mark’s, opened the event just after 4 p.m. welcoming eventgoers and the speakers. 

“This was an opportunity to articulate clearly the message of Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus,” Griffin said. 

Steves’ speech, which preceded Bryan Wee, primarily focused on the authoritarian playbook and examples of it utilized throughout history, including Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. 

“I don’t like to use the ‘f’ word, but today I must, we are dealing with fascists,” Steves said before later adding that generations of veterans have lost their lives to protect against fascism. “We are the troops now. We must defend our freedom.”

Steves’ speech concluded after about 40 minutes and was met by a standing ovation from attendees. After the crowd settled, Steves invited folks to take a brief break before handing the attention over to Bryan Wee.

Doing this ignores the rest of Scripture

Bryan Wee said she has been hearing Romans 13:1 used popularly in the current moment: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

“This single verse, written once, in a specific letter to a specific community, has been repeatedly weaponized to demand unquestioned obedience to those in power … is being used today against protestors and critics of the current administration. … But doing this ignores the rest of Scripture,” Bryan Wee said. 

During the speech Bryan Wee touched on Vice President JD Vance’s critique of Pope Leo XIV. 

“You know I find it heartbreaking that some of the loudest voices defending Christian values are the very ones breaking the first commandment again and again. … Just to be clear, Christian nationalism has no place in either Christianity or patriotism.” 

Mark and Liz Tomski attended the talk. Mark Tomski, who has attended tours led by Steves, was interested to hear Steves’ thoughts. Liz Tomski came to see actions she could take as an American. 

“The issues addressed are really heavy on my mind lately. I leave still not knowing what the answer is, but I am motivated to start looking into what I can practically do to make a change,” Liz Tomski said.

Bryan Wee echoed that sentiment, “We’ve been placed here for this moment now, so when we grow weary, remember this nation holds these words in our bones, we are a government of the people, for the people, by the people.”

Watch the full talk on Vimeo here.

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