Many in our congregations feel uncertain, even hopeless, about what is happening in our country right now. In this time of extreme polarization and political disruption, they are looking for moral clarity, and honestly, sometimes it's hard to know what to offer. faith250 starts from the premise that faith communities have a significant role to play in restoring civic culture, and that sacred text study, which is practiced in our own traditions, is a powerful tool for doing it.
The program brings multifaith clusters of congregations together to study what we call American Scriptures: the Declaration of Independence, Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?," Emma Lazarus's "The New Colossus," and "America the Beautiful.” These texts, among many others which have been core to the founding and development of our country, articulate the values and ideals that can inform how people of faith respond to this particular moment in our shared history. The program has three components: clergy relationship-building and text study; clergy-led multifaith events for their congregations to gather; and a local public civic ritual. faith250 provides the resources and guidance so that local faith leaders can create something meaningful for their congregations and the broader community.
Thanksgiving is one of the most natural occasions in the US calendar for a public civic ritual, and we've put together a practical guide to help clergy work through the full faith250 process with a Thanksgiving public civic ritual as the destination. The guide walks you through forming your cluster and initial engagement with the texts alongside neighboring clergy through the summer, building congregational gatherings in the fall, and bringing your community together for a public event during the Thanksgiving season. Two flexible timelines are offered — one that overlaps the clergy and congregational phases, and one that sequences them — so you can choose the approach that fits your community. Planning for music, promotion, and the civic ritual itself are all addressed.
If you've been looking for a structured way to engage your community in civic life this year, one that's grounded in relationship and rooted in text study, this guide is your starting point. You can find it now at faith250.org. We would love to have your congregation be part of what is happening in communities across the country.