Faithful Politics Faith, Power, and Becoming Courageously Uncomfortable – Bishop Dwayne Royster on Christianity in a Time of ICE Raids
In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Bishop Dwayne Royster, pastor and national faith leader with Faith in Action, to wrestle with what faith looks like when political power is being used to intimidate, exclude, and dehumanize. Royster traces how his theology was shaped early by organizing, community action, and a church tradition where justice and faith were never separate. From the roots of white Christian nationalism to the modern machinery behind ICE raids and political fear, he explains why Christianity was never meant to serve empire—and why power itself is morally neutral until it is used to liberate or to dominate.
We talk through the shooting of Renee Good, the contrasting Christian response to political violence, and what it means for churches to hold government accountable without abandoning nonviolence. Royster challenges Christians to move beyond sermons and into action, calling the church to become “courageously uncomfortable” in a moment that demands moral clarity, solidarity with neighbors, and a recovery of faith rooted in human dignity rather than political control.
Links and Resources
- Faith in Action: https://www.faithinaction.org
- Follow Faith in Action: @FIANational (Instagram, Facebook, X, Bluesky)
- Contact Bishop Royster: bishop@faithinaction.org
Guest Bio
Bishop Dwayne Royster is a pastor, organizer, and national faith leader working at the intersection of religion and public life. He serves as Executive Director of Faith in Action, a multiracial, multifaith organizing network mobilizing congregations around issues like voting rights, immigration, housing, and economic justice. With more than three decades of pastoral experience, Royster’s work focuses on building faithful power that advances dignity, equity, and liberation in communities across the United States and globally.
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