April 29, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Byron Kimball, byron@gomixte.com, (619) 732-0789 ext. 297

April 30: Multi-Faith Vigil and Open-Letter Call Upon Congress to Fight Back Against Executive Overreach

Speakers include Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie (National Council of Churches), Rabbi David Saperstein (Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism), Bishop Dwayne Royster (Faith in Action), Sister Simone Campbell (fmr. NETWORK Lobby), Rev. Adam Russell Taylor (Sojourners) and Bridget Moix (Friends Committee on National Legislation)

Non-partisan and multi-faith coalition issues sign-on letter to Congress

Washington, DC, April 28, 2025 – On Wednesday April 30th, a multi-faith coalition led by Sojourners and partners in the Washington Interfaith Staff Community (WISC) will host a vigil to  call on Congress to exercise greater moral courage to uphold its Article 1 powers to prevent executive overreach and abuse of power. 

As the Trump Administration marks its first 100 days, the executive branch has expanded its powers well beyond its constitutional mandate, often at the expense of the powers afforded to Congress such as the power of the purse and the responsibility to provide oversight over the executive branch. Checks and balances represent a cornerstone of our Constitutional system and a healthy democracy. Alarming examples include: freezing Congressionally authorized spending, seeking to dismantle agencies that were established by Congress such as the US Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; abusing the Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants and green card holders without due process and suggesting the same for citizens and permanent residents, attempting to end birthright citizenship; banning “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" programs across the Federal government; and more. 

In response to these and other examples of executive overreach and abuse of power, faith leaders have organized weekly vigils since March that have mobilized thousands of people to pray and speak out for Congressional courage. Additionally, faith leaders have signed onto a joint letter to Congress that has been endorsed by more than 21 faith-based organizations and will be hand delivered to congressional leadership. 

The vigil will be hosted from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. EST at Upper Senate Park, Area 2 (bounded by Constitution Ave, NW/NE; Delaware Ave NE) with a virtual livestream that will be hosted on YouTube.

Speakers at this week's vigil will include: 

- Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches

- Rabbi David Saperstein, Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism

- Sister Simone Campbell, former Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby

- Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director, Faith in Action

- Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President, Sojourners

- Bridget Moix, General Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation

"The overreach and abuse of power by the Trump Administration in its first 100 days is threatening our Constitution and causing serious harm, particularly to vulnerable communities. This growing threat transcends partisanship or politics.  Congress has a moral responsibility to exercise and protect its Article 1 powers as a co-equal branch of our government and check against the abuse of power.  Now is the time for Congressional courage," said Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President of Sojourners

"We are called to love our neighbors, no exception. As the Trump administration continues to upend our democracy and enact cruel, dangerous cuts to vital life-saving programs, we urge Congress to uphold our system of checks and balances, including the power of the purse vested in it," said Bridget Moix, General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. "As lawmakers take up budget proposals this week, we call on all Members of Congress to reject more tax cuts for the rich, more war and weapons, and more deportation and detention, and instead invest in human needs and a better future for our families, our communities, our country, and our world."

As a Catholic Sister and member of NETWORK, I urge all members of Congress to remember that democracy requires not just the enrichment of those who have much, but care for those who have too little. As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, I urge Congress to take to heart his challenge to civil leaders to stand close to those who suffer, to not add to their burden and to ensure that children have what they need to flourish," said Sister Simone Campbell, former Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby. "Acting with justice will make us a great nation. Giving more tax breaks to the ultra wealthy is the antithesis of honorable action. I call on Congress to be men and women of courage to meet the needs of our people. Such action will be the blessing that we need in these turbulent times."

"America’s democracy and rule of law have provided Jews with more freedom, more rights, more opportunities than we have ever known in 2,600 years of Diaspora life.  All of that is imperiled by the beginning of our slide into authoritarianism the whole world is witnessing with astonishment and alarm. At such a time as this, America’s civil society, its religious communities, and, above all, the Congress, through its own actions and its protection of the integrity and independence of our federal judiciary, must act together now – before it is too late," said Rabbi David Saperstein, Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism.

"Now is not the time for Congress to cower; now is the time for every member of Congress to showcase what it means to be an elected leader. We are navigating ontological shock while working tirelessly to ensure our communities have access to due process, clean air and drinking water, equitable education, and affordable housing," said Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director of Faith in Action. "We're in dire times, and dire times call for dire measures. All God's children deserve to flourish and thrive, but that can only happen if our elected officials step up."

Co-sponsors include the following faith-based organizations, denominations and religious bodies:

- Washington Interfaith Staff Community (WISC)

- Sojourners

- American Friends Service Committee

- Baptist Joint Committee

- Bread for the World

- Children’s Defense Fund

- Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

- Creation Justice Ministries

- Episcopal Church

- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

- Faith in Action

- Faith in Public Life

Franciscan Action Network

- Friends Committee on National Legislation

- General Board of Church and Society UM

- Georgetown University: Center for Faith and Justice

- Interfaith Alliance

- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd 

- National Council of Churches

- National Council of Jewish Women, Inc.

- National Religious Campaign Against Torture

- NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

- Presbyterian Church USA

- Religious Action Center Reformed Judaism

- Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc.

- Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Justice Team

- United Women of Faith

- Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice

- United Church of Christ

Interviews with organizations involved in these efforts, including Sojourners, may be requested by contacting Byron Kimball at byron@gomixte.com. 

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Sojourners is a Christian organization committed to religious pluralism and inspiring and equipping faith-based campaigns, policy advocacy, and grassroots mobilizations to build and strengthen movements for social justice and peace. To access Sojourners' digital magazine, get up-to-date information on actions you can take, explore organizing materials, and join the Sojourners community visit www.sojo.net.