Episcopal Diocese of Spokane’s approach to Christian nationalism gains national attention

Episcopal Diocese of Spokane’s approach to Christian nationalism gains national attention

News Story by Tracy Simmons | FāVS News

The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane’s response to Christian nationalism is being highlighted as a model for religious communities nationwide in a new book from the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops. 

Titled “The Crisis of Christian Nationalism: Report from the House of Bishops Theology Committee,” the book offers practical tools for addressing these extremist ideologies.

It was commissioned in 2022 by the presiding bishop, specifically because Christian nationalism had become an increasingly urgent concern at the intersection of religion, politics and social justice. 

While the book examines nationwide responses, the roots of Spokane’s approach trace back several years. Bishop Gretchen Rehberg said the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, organized by white supremacists and neo-Nazis, was a wake-up call for her to take a stand.

Raised as a “classic, white Western girl,” she said she grew up learning not to argue or protest. It wasn’t in her DNA, she said.

“On the other hand, Jesus took stands right? And Jesus called people out when necessary,” she said.

Asking the right questions

So Rehberg began speaking out, even though it felt unnatural to do so in such a public way.

Her first step was to examine how the issue of Christian nationalism was being framed, and how it could be addressed in a more fruitful way.

“How do we learn more about this so that we can speak against it without it just being Republican or Democrat?” she said. “How do you say actually, the message you’re saying about Christianity is contrary to the understanding I have of the message of the Gospel? How do you present a counter narrative, which also is something that people can hear?” 

The Diocese began with training on the topic from Faithful America, an online organization of Christians working to challenge Christian nationalism and white supremacy.

Nathan Empsall, Faithful America’s executive director, said in Baptist News Global, “Christians across the country are sick and tired of seeing right-wing extremists hijack the Gospel in an attempt to spread hatred and violently destroy American democracy.”

The organization provides resources to help Christians recognize and respond to Christian nationalist rhetoric and collaborates with local pastors and church leadership to speak out against Christian nationalist events.

The Diocese also did a workshop with Braver Angels, a non-profit dedicated to reducing political polarization in the United States.

The Rev. Susan Clevelely, Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese, said about 150 people from across the Diocese are working with the bishop on addressing Christian nationalism.

Finding common ground in love of Jesus and country

The Diocese soon had an opportunity to put their training into practice. When the ReAwaken America rally — a tour that promoted far-right and Christian nationalist ideologies — came to Post Falls, Idaho, in 2022 Rehberg joined other people of faith in a demonstration. The media showed up, amplifying their protest.

Rehberg said that was when her efforts really began.

“If someone’s a Christian nationalist, I’ve realized I need to start from the stance of believing that they’re Christians. OK? They call themselves Christians, so if I start with saying or believing that they actually love Jesus, too, it’s common ground. And then, if I could start from the premise that they love this country, and so do I, we have more common ground now and we might approach everything else differently,” Rehberg said.

For instance, she said on occasion she flies an American flag over her house. Afterall, she has a background in firefighting and was involved with Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But she acknowledges that that flag now comes with a connotation.

“I resent the fact that I wonder what my neighbors say,” she said. “And I resent the fact that I have opinions now about big trucks going down the street. How do I be a person who can help heal divides, a person who can build bridges?”

Remaining humble by knowing church history

These personal struggles with symbols and assumptions mirror the larger challenges facing her congregation, she explained. That’s why she wanted the entire diocese to engage in this work.

To help Episcopalians really understand the issue, she said, she wanted churchgoers to look deeper and learn tools for having these difficult conversations – and to look inward.

The Episcopal Church, she noted, comes out of the Church of England, so at its roots is a state church.

“The idea that the church and state are one goes back to Constantine. For those of us who came out of a colonizing church, we need to be really careful not to cast stones,” she said.

For instance, Rehberg believes the American flag doesn’t belong in sanctuaries. Although some see it as a way of honoring veterans, she says it has bigger connotations. 

God blesses every land, not just the U.S. she said.

“Manifest destiny and all that is really bad theology,” Rehberg said.

While these conversations can be challenging, Cleveley said she’s optimistic about the work the Diocese is doing and the progress they can make.

“If the few of us can find each other and continue to work toward justice and peace and mercy and kindness, as a unit, then there’s hope in that,” she said. “We can have a big impact.”