Local groups

Christian nationalism gains strength when communities are silent. To challenge its influence, our Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign is dedicated to empowering local communities to organize across church denominations and faith traditions.

What is a local group?

When people gather intentionally to make a difference, that can be called a “local group.” These communities work to build relationships rooted in the values of human dignity and caring for our neighbors. They also ensure their efforts are championing religious freedom for everyone. 

Whether focused on a single neighborhood or an entire state, local groups are the backbone of grassroots action. Together, these groups create spaces to strengthen connections, support vulnerable communities, and take tangible steps to uphold the dignity and inclusion of all people.

These groups might be:

  • Geographically Local: These groups are made up of residents from a specific town, city, or county who want to work together in their community. They might address issues related to local schools or county-level concerns. 

  • Geographically Statewide: This includes organizations and individuals united across a state to address statewide legislation, challenges and possibilities.

  • Coalitions of Groups Already in Existence: Perhaps there are six churches in your town that want to form a “coalition” to work together about an issue. This can be a formal or informal coalition.

All of these groups lead to work in coalition with others. These collaborative efforts bring together partners across denominations, faith traditions and community organizations. Often, geographically local groups will connect with other organizations, formally or informally. Coalitions amplify collective voices and build stronger networks to address the specific challenges posed by Christian nationalism in local communities.

It’s crucial to get connected to community organizations in your local city or county. There are likely several organizations in your community already working to combat the policies and rhetoric that are hallmarks of Christian nationalism, even if these organizations do not use that specific term. 

We do not have to agree on every issue to call out Christian nationalism when we see it, and we encourage you to consider partnering and connecting with local groups in your community where you see the overlap.

    • Organizations advocating for the separation of church and state. These groups often focus on maintaining a clear distinction between religious beliefs and governmental authority, including how the separation of those institutions ensure religion can freely flourish.

    • Interfaith coalitions. These groups bring together people of different faiths to advocate for shared values like justice, equality, and freedom. Interfaith partnerships strengthen the work by showing solidarity across religious lines, and they are places where you can bring your full religious identity and beliefs alongside others who are bringing theirs.

    • Organizations protecting the dignity and freedoms of those most vulnerable to policies inspired by Christian nationalism. This can include groups focused on caring for refugees, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ community members.

    • Public school and education-focused organizations. Supporting religious liberty for everyone means ensuring that public schools are well-funded and they continue to treat all students similarly, without regard to religion. For many students, public schools are where they first encounter the diversity that exists in our country, and they learn and live together.

By coming together, we can build collaborative, justice-oriented communities that uphold the dignity of all people and champion a pluralistic society. We believe that mobilizing local communities towards grassroots actions is where real change can happen. This is where we are now most effective in protecting vulnerable communities and practicing the call to love our neighbor.

Connect with a local group

While BJC and our campaign staff provide resources and support, local groups operate independently to respond to the unique needs and challenges of the local context. We honor the autonomy and agency of these groups, trusting their leadership to build relationships and drive change rooted in our shared values of pluralism, democracy, and human dignity. 

Click on the list of states to see where we are right now, and check out the map for a broader view. New groups are being added, so return to this page often!

    • North Texas: Our first pilot project is underway in North Texas, where faith leaders and community members are organizing to resist Christian nationalism and support vulnerable communities. Visit their website page to learn more and sign up for their updates.

    • Fort Bend County: We have a group coming together based in Missouri City, Texas. To connect, contact Pastor David Sincere at ds@sincerelifecoach.org.

    • Other areas of Texas: If you’re outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, other groups are emerging across Texas, including in Waco and Houston. Contact us for details.

    • A growing network is building momentum across Minnesota. To connect, contact Jerry Gale at jerrygalemn@gmail.com.

    • Winston-Salem: Our newest group had its first meeting in February 2025, and almost 100 people are interested in joining together. To connect, contact the Rev. Dane Martin at dmartin@ardmorebaptist.org.

    • Statewide: A group for the entire state of North Carolina is emerging. To connect, contact Suzanne Miller at director@pastorsforncchildren.org.

    • Central Virginia: A group is developing in the Richmond area, with a special interest in organizing in Hanover County. To connect, contact Kenneth Feldt at kenfeldt@comcast.net.

    • New Brunswick: A group of different faith communities are working together in New Brunswick. To connect, contact the Rev. Scott Rush at pastor@emanuelnb.org.

    • A statewide group is working to counter Christian nationalism, based in Oklahoma City. To connect, contact Thomas Hoffmann at connect@okcacn.org.

Start a local group

Right now, we have more than 100 people across the country who have registered to start a group with our campaign. If a local group doesn’t exist in your community yet, consider organizing one! 

Anyone can create a group. You don’t need a title, a big budget or years of experience — just a willingness to bring people together and take that first step. Whether you’re starting with a conversation, a meeting or a small project, your leadership matters. 

Here are three steps to begin:

  • Get started

    Check out our guide for getting your group off the ground. It has strategies for getting the right people together and a template for hosting your first meeting.

    Three steps guide

  • Organizing resources

    We all bring skills, gifts, and connections to the table — together, we can go further. Here are some resources to support your work in your community.

    Get organized

  • Register your group

    Registering is the first step to getting your group listed on our website so others can find you. Plus, we’ll give you access to organizing resources.

    Register

Support local groups

If you aren’t ready to start a group yourself, you can support this work in communities across our country with a gift to our designated fund for local groups. These funds are set aside to support groups in their various stages of development, providing supplies, training group leaders, hosting workshops and fostering collaboration.