Travis Stovall, the first Black mayor of a major city in the Portland Metro area, joins to discuss the intersection of faith and politics. He shares his experiences navigating inclusivity while holding public office, addressing the complexities of being a Christian leader today. Stovall highlights the importance of fostering community through respect and understanding diverse beliefs. He also reflects on the stereotypes that surround Christians in politics and the need for a more open, humble dialogue to bridge generational gaps in faith and social justice.
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Disillusionment with Church Experience
Travis Stovall experienced disillusionment with church due to its exclusion and focus on retribution instead of love.
He visited other faith communities that felt more inclusive and welcoming than his home church.
insights INSIGHT
Faith Versus Church Institution
Stovall separates personal faith from the institutional church, accepting flaws in its operationalization.
He believes faith should influence leadership without controlling it, seeking engagement over disengagement.
insights INSIGHT
Faith Influences but Doesn't Drive Leadership
Stovall lets his faith influence but not drive his leadership decisions as mayor.
He acknowledges the diversity in Gresham and practices inclusive governance over imposing personal beliefs.
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This book provides a thorough and accessible introduction to the New Testament, covering its historical background, literary characteristics, and theological themes. It is tailored for students and includes detailed explanations and analyses to facilitate a deeper understanding of the New Testament texts.
The Bible
Various Authors
The Bible is a comprehensive collection of texts that form the central religious text of Christianity and Judaism. It is divided into the Old Testament, which includes books such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and others that narrate the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, and the prophetic messages. The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the early Christian church and its spread. The Bible contains a wide range of genres, including historical narratives, poetry, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and epistles[2][3][5].
If you’ve caught even a little bit of national news this year - let me first say I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. The kind of Christianity I often see as I scroll through my social media feeds can be really devastating - and I often find myself wondering how two people can read the same Bible and come to such different conclusions about what it says, especially when it comes to society and politics.
We aren’t the first people to wrestle with this. Since the very beginning days of this country, Christians in the United States have struggled to separate their national identity and all its cultural norms from the kind of faith and lifestyle Jesus called us to. In the New Testament we find a Jesus that drew people to him - especially people who had been beaten down and hurt by both their government and their religious leadership. We find a Jesus that put His love for people above all religious laws and traditions, and even the laws of the land. It can be tough to reconcile our faith with our politics, and when Christians find themselves in positions of leadership they will always be faced with a question: “How will my faith influence how I lead?”
Travis Stovall has served as the mayor of Gresham, Oregon since 2021, and made history as the first Black mayor of any major city in the Portland Metro area and across the state of Oregon. As an involved member of his community and a lifelong Christian, Mayor Stovall has had to navigate how he chooses to allow his faith to show up in how he leads the city of Gresham - and it might not be exactly how you think. We’ll have him share those experiences himself as we explore all that and more in this episode of Bridges Over Walls.
Bridges Over Walls 
