Read more at sojo.net ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ View this email in your browser [[link removed]] [[link removed]] It's Time to Be the Conscience of American Politics
[[link removed]] Adam Russell Taylor, with contributions from: Jim Simpson, Terrance R.
McKinley, Melody Zhang, Paola Fuentes Gleghorn, Rose Marie BergerYesterday’s inauguration felt like a hopeful and dramatic reset: President Joe
Biden’s inaugural address called for an end to “this uncivil war pitting
red-versus-blue, urban-versus-rural, liberal-versus-conservative;” Kamala Harris
became the first woman, the first Black person, and the first Indian American to
be sworn in as vice president; and Amanda Gorman, the brilliant young poet,
reminded us that “ being American is more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past
we step into and how we repair it.” And before his first day in office ended,
Biden signed 15 executive actions (and two additional directives), including
orders to expand coronavirus relief, rejoin the Paris climate agreement, and
reverse the travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries, among others.

It was a stunning preview of how character, honor, and integrity matter
immensely for presidential leadership. I pray that in the days ahead, the Biden
administration will demonstrate that good governance, sound management, and bold
policy change also matter.

I believe fervently in the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said
that “the church is not called to be the master or servant of the state, but to
be the conscience of the state.” In that vein, we will be neither chaplain nor
sycophant to our new political leaders. Instead, we seek to be a faithful
conscience, serving as a bridge-builder and offering prophetic critique (and
pressure) when necessary.

Below are some of our hopes for the new Congress and presidential
administration. This is not an exhaustive wish list; it’s a list of what we
believe is both possible and necessary in the days and years to come.

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