Homebrewed Christianity Aaron Stauffer: The Future of Faith & Justice
Jul 7, 2025
Dr. Aaron Stauffer, an ethicist and organizer at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, discusses the urgent need for progressive Christianity to create meaningful social change. He explores the decline of mainline Protestant public witness and critiques charity-driven approaches. Stauffer highlights initiatives like Solidarity Circles that empower faith leaders to engage with their communities. The conversation delves into the historical roots of progressive Protestantism, the importance of relational dynamics, and how faith can drive justice in an increasingly complex world.
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Mainline Protestantism's Struggle
- Mainline Protestantism has struggled to articulate a clear religious basis for progressive politics.
- The decline of strong, community-grounded institutions weakens progressive public witness.
Why Strong Community Trust is the Secret to Progressive Christian Power
Building deep trust and agency within faith communities transforms passive membership into active leadership. Aaron Stauffer emphasizes that institutions must be understood as communities where relationships, trust, and shared values create the foundation for real social change.
Key factors include:
- Cultivating ongoing relationships that empower natural leadership.
- Moving beyond charity and consumerism to relational engagement.
- Grounding organizing and theology in deep, practical community listening and storytelling.
This relational thickness thickens the narrative and ethical commitments, enabling congregations to connect faith with social justice action effectively. As Aaron says, true leadership is about "earned deference from peers," not authoritarian control. Solidarity Circles exemplify this approach by fostering such community-based praxis among faith leaders.
Reframe Institutions as Committed Communities
- Think of institutions as communities of people bound by relationships and accountability.
- Strengthen communities by nurturing shared practices, rituals, and trust.
