Two years after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Christian leaders gathered Friday morning across from the Capitol in remembrance of the day for a sunrise prayer vigil.
With the Capitol building in the distance, a group of over 30 people came together, some wearing clergy robes and stoles. As the sun slowly rose, they often nodded in agreement to one another’s prayers for democracy and healing.
Organized by Faithful America and Christians Against Christian Nationalism, members condemned the political ideology of Christian nationalism and white supremacy that helped “inspire and intensify” the insurrection in 2021. Participants said that Christian nationalism is a great threat to both the country and church.
Amanda Tyler, a lead organizer of the event and executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC), said during the vigil that, “Christians bear a special responsibility in continuing to draw awareness to Christian nationalism, to working to explain how it is a threat to our democracy, and to showing how it is a gross distortion of the Christian faith that we hold dear.”
Rev. Nathan Empsall, executive director of Faithful America, described the vigil as “solemn but hopeful.”
While in prayer, many leaders sought to emphasize their opposition to nationalism and uplift those who want to see a multiracial, inclusive democracy. Jemar Tisby, a historian, said the vigil felt more like a reunion among people who work to draw attention to Christian nationalism.
Michael Vasquez, founder of the Maiden Group, which consults primarily for faith-based organizations, chose to attend to show a strong presence of those fighting the rise of autocracy in the U.S.
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