When we began discussing the need for multi-faith, congregation-based, local celebrations of America’s 250th, we had no idea what kind of response we would receive. The initial conversations were with a handful of local clergy friends, and Reform rabbinic colleagues around the country. When we launched on July 4th, 2025, we hoped to attract maybe 10 clusters, or 25 if we were wildly successful. As I write this we have 41 clusters including 261 congregations around the country.
While we are still collecting feedback, and it is too soon to draw conclusions from this experience, we have learned a few definite lessons. First, local clergy find deep spiritual meaning in connecting with the colleagues in fellowship. Second, studying our nation’s shared “sacred” texts has a unique power to strengthen relationships between clergy and between members of various congregations. Third, Americans are ambivalent about the meaning of this historic birthday, and anxious about the nation’s future.
None of these lessons will change after July 4th, which means we have an opportunity to continue healing our nation’s civic health beyond this summer. For those of you running congregations, and working on your program calendars for 2026-2027, now is the time to think about how to incorporate this inspiring work into your community’s spiritual life. To help, here are some tools that can jump start your preparations.
Check this 9-minute video about faith250 which serves as an easy introduction for staff, colleagues, and lay people. Forward it to potential partners in your congregation and neighborhood as you propose a faith250 cluster.
Take a look at our fall 2026 programmatic timeline which centers Thanksgiving as a time for shared civic reflection.
Attend one of our info sessions this summer to learn about the program, meet colleagues, and ask questions. We, the people running faith250, are ordinary neighborhood clergy just like you. Register here for July 2 @4:00PM EDT, or here for July 23 @4:00PM EDT.
Start your learning: our website contains step by step resources to guide you through our three components—clergy relationship building, congregational gathering, and hosting a public civic ritual. All of this is a methodology designed to help you and your neighbors express hopes, anxieties, inspiration, struggles, and collective commitment to the project of American democracy.
The work of healing our civic life is not a summer project; it is a calling. We’re convinced that clergy and their congregations are uniquely positioned to answer that call. This is the perfect time to bring this work to your community. Now is the time to gather people, open a text, and together ask hard questions about the future of our democracy. together. I hope you will join us.