With the eyes of the political world turned to Georgia, everything is at stake in the state’s upcoming Senate runoffs. The elections, which will determine control of the U.S. Senate, will have a wide-ranging impact on the work of communities of faith. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we provide an update on where the race stands and take a closer look at how faith leaders are confronting the pandemic.
Investigative journalist and author Greg Palast has been laser-focused on both the presidential and Senate races in Georgia for the entire year. In Greg’s many books, including How Trump Stole 2020: The Hunt for America’s Vanished Voters, he analyzes the American electorate and motivates people to get out and vote. Continuing that same mission, Greg joins Rev. Welton Gaddy, host of State of Belief, to delve into the Georgia races and their implications for marginalized voters – many of whom are members of minority and faith communities.
Due to well-organized efforts from conservative factions within the denomination, the United Methodist Church voted to make the community less inclusive of LGBTQI+ persons almost two years ago. The conservatives had threatened to break away if their demands went unmet. Now, current and former Methodist leaders who see inclusivity and celebration of all lives as essential for faithful integrity have themelves taken a step away, creating the Liberation Methodist Connexion last week. Among the leaders is the Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer-Miller, who joins Welton with the inside story of this painful step.
Rabbi Jack Moline, President of Interfaith Alliance, has worked diligently to protect true religious freedom and push back against perversions of the term “religious liberty.” On behalf of Interfaith Alliance, Jack has led efforts to mobilize faith-minded voters in the past election. Along with an analysis of where religion stands today, Jack joins the show to provide an update on Interfaith Alliance’s political engagement, on Capitol Hill and in the new White House.
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