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Dear friend,
From detention centers in Atlanta to Pride services in our own Freedom Church, we are seeing both the pain of injustice and the beauty of a people-powered faith in action. This newsletter brings you reflections from our Georgia book tour, actions to free migrant leaders detained in Vermont, and new tools for resisting authoritarianism in your own congregation. We also share updates from Kansas and celebrate the bold witness of our queer and trans siblings this Pride season. Join us in taking action—and if you can, help sustain this work by becoming a Kairos Movement Builder.
In this issue:
* Become a Movement Builder!
* Book tour updates
* Upcoming Events + Actions
* In the news
You only get what you’re organized to take,
The Kairos Center
** Want to be a Movement Builder?
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Kairos Movement Builders are a community of monthly donors bound together in our commitment to build a movement to end poverty, led by the poor.
Become a Movement Builder today! ([link removed])
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Kansas, save the dates!
July 8-10, the Kairos team will be making tour stops in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City for the You Only Get What You’re Organized To Take book tour. We cannot wait to make community and learn more about the local organizing happening in Kansas.
Check out the new tour dates ([link removed])
Georgia Reflections by Min. Moses Hernandez McGavin
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This May, the Kairos Center visited Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia for the You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take book tour, meeting with leaders organizing with homeless folks, the disabled community, the movement to Stop Cop City, immigrants rights, and more.
One of my favorite parts of the weekend also happened during our walking tour, outside of the Atlanta Detention Center. While we were talking, a young person emerged from the doors, looked up at the sky and shouted, “I’M FREE!” Almost immediately, Anton, Steff and others broke out in song, singing, “Woke up this morning with my mind, stayed on freedom!” We danced together in what was a moment of pure joy and hope amidst real pain and suffering. It felt like a reminder from God – we were born to be free, and our work as organizers and people of faith is to fight for that freedom.
Read the complete reflection ([link removed])
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Photo credit: Steve Pavey, Hope in Focus ([link removed])
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** It’s Pride Month at Freedom Church of the Poor: Join us everyday Sunday & Wednesday
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This Pride Season, queer and trans leaders at Freedom Church of the Poor will uplift the power, strength, insight, and sacred commitment of our community. We will confront violent theologies while lifting up the ways God celebrates the diversity of Their creation throughout scripture. Together, we will care for our people, celebrate the divine image in every queer and trans body, and commit to building a movement that transcends division and takes aim at the real forces of oppression. This Pride, we proclaim: liberation, not just for ourselves, but for all.
Join us for Sunday Service! ([link removed])
** Faithful Fight Webinar
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Religious communities can play a pivotal role in protecting our neighbors and building a stronger democracy. Join Interfaith Alliance, Protect Democracy, and The Horizons Project on June 23rd @ 8pm ET for a virtual training to get tools for your faith community to counter authoritarianism.
Register and join ([link removed])
** Luke 10 Congregations–Register before July 6th
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Earlier this year, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and the Kairos Center launched Luke 10 Congregations: Equipping Churches to Do Justice. We’re excited to announce applications are now open for the next round, beginning in September!
Apply for Luke 10 ([link removed])
** Free Detained Vermont Community Leaders!
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Two Migrant Justice leaders were detained by Border Patrol agents in Vermont on June 14th. Jose Ignacio “Nacho” De La Cruz was driving with his stepdaughter Heidi Perez in Franklin County when they were pulled over. Agents smashed their car window and violently detained the two community leaders. Both are now at risk of imminent deportation. Send a message to ICE to free Nacho and Heidi!
Sign and share the petition ([link removed])
** Moral Sheriff Petition
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Faithful America, the Workers Circle, the Religious Action Center - Florida the social justice arm of the Union of Reform Judaism, Public Citizen, MoveOn, the National Council of Jewish Women and T’ruah in coordination with the Immigration Hub, FLIC, and the Not Above the Law Coalition are convening clergy, people of faith and conscience and activists to launch a series of #DisappearedInAmerica actions pushing back against the disappearances of our community members without due process.
Sheriffs nationwide are being pushed into cooperating with ICE in three main ways. ICE requests sheriffs to rent bed space in jails to ICE, hold people for longer so ICE can pick them up, and deputize local law enforcement to enforce civil (ICE) warrants. Take action below!
Support letter ([link removed])
Faith leader training (6/30) ([link removed])
National Sheriff’s Association pilgrimage (6/24) ([link removed])
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** The Nation: We Have a Lot to Learn From the Fight for Trans Rights
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Rev Dr. Liz Theoharis, Aaron Scott, and Min. Moses Hernandez McGavin take to the pages of The Nation to lift up the fight for queer and gender justice. Underscoring how the Bible names and respects the divinity of myriad genders, Theoharis, Scott, and McGavin urge Christians to proclaim a gospel that teaches love, inclusion, diversity, and justice.
Read the article ([link removed])
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Kairos Center is fiscally sponsored by Tides Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gift may be tax deductible pursuant to §170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Please visit www.tides.org/state-nonprofit-disclosures ([link removed]) for additional information.
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