An Episcopal parish in Washington, DC has launched a banner campaign in an attempt to express what they describe as a progressive Christian perspective that is often overlooked.
The Rev. Alex Dyer, the priest in charge of the 126-year-old parish, is the one who designed the banner campaign. He told HuffPost that his congregation saw the signs as an “opportunity to give voice to a side of Christianity that many people may not associate with Christianity.”
“There are many people who think Christians are close-minded, judgmental, and oppose science,” he said. “This is not the people in the congregation or many congregations around the country.”
He believes the signs capture the feelings of a lot of people in D.C. about the state of American politics.
“We are a very progressive church in a very progressive city,”
The banners have an image of Jesus with his face in his hand, colloquially known as a “faithpalm,” with a brief statement. The statements include;
- Yes, science is real
- The President said what?
- I never said I hated anyone m,
- What is it with America and guns?
The campaign has not been without its critics who question to what extent faith should have a partisan political expression. Though when Local TV Reporter Evan Koslof asked whether religion should embrace political messages, most responded positively.
@StThomasDC put up these 4 photos of Jesus doing the #FaithPalm with political messages… What do you think? Should religion embrace a political message? @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/8nWLT8DqvV
— Evan Koslof (@ekoslof) November 30, 2017
In response Dyer has said that avoiding politics isn’t a possibility for a progressive Christian community in DC and noted that the congregation has also participated in direct action such as marches, protests, and vigils.
“The hope is that people will walk by and think about things a little differently,” Dyer said of his banners. “It will remind people of a God who loves them and feels their frustration.”
“I know there are Christians out there who are definitely in line with what our president is doing, but there is also a voice in Christianity that says this is not in line and this is not OK.”
Additional banners are planned touching on immigration and the proposed border wall.