SojoMail - The trailblazing queer priest organizing with the NAACP

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners Good afternoon. This week we’ve watched a possible peace deal with Iran shatter into a fresh wave of violence while gambling markets encourage people to make cynical bets on social unrest. But before we go there, I’d like to start with a trailblazing priest who’s been confronting exclusion in the church for decades without spiraling into cynicism: Rev. Carter Heyward. She broke barriers. Now she’s fighting ‘Christofascism’ In the ’70s, Carter Heyward believed things many churches found radical—especially the idea that one could be faithfully Christian, a lesbian, a feminist, and an ordained woman priest. Due to her controversial ordination in the Episcopal Church, Heyward knows most people see her “primarily as a white lesbian, feminist, and Christian activist.” But as Cassidy Klein reports for Sojourners (co-published with The 19th), Heyward’s lifelong work for justice and inclusion has always been bigger than issues of gender and sexuality. One of the First Woman Priests Now Resists ‘Christofascism’ With NAACP From her ordination to organizing with the NAACP, Rev. Carter Heyward has always set a “place at the table” for those previously denied. Read the full article Advertisement Bombs for peace? Less than a week ago, President Donald Trump indicated that a peace deal with Iran was in the works; though previous peace talks had failed, I held my breath and prayed it was true. But over the course of the past few days, the U.S. and Iran have again delivered deadly strikes throughout the Gulf region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the recent U.S. strikes on Iran were an attempt to “negotiate with bombs” to get to a peace deal. But as Eli S. McCarthy points out, bombing our way to peace has never worked—and Christians have much more compelling ideas to offer. How Christians Can Offer Persuasive Alternatives to War Most politicians are comfortable debating if a war meets certain criteria for legitimacy. But there is a better framework for deciding moral action. Read the full article One that surprised me I’ve never been a bettin’ sort of gal myself, so I’ve watched the recent wave of prediction markets—digital platforms where people trade shares on particular outcomes—with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. The whole enterprise seems so obviously ripe for abuse and corruption; what kind of person would be tempted to make a buck in such a way? With this (self-righteous!) mindset, I read Joe Barry’s commentary. While Barry has no illusions that the prediction market is just or aligned with Christian values, he challenged me to respond to those drawn to these markets in a surprising way: with sympathy. The Betting Economy Runs on Misplaced Faith Idolatry and money-worship are telling us predictive markets should make moral decisions. Read the full article Advertisements Live Webinar: A Christian Response to America’s 250th Birthday How should Christians respond to the fusion of faith and nationalism as America turns 250? Join Sojourners online Wednesday, June 24, 1-2pm EST for a vital virtual conversation. Go behind the scenes of our June special issue to explore faithful discipleship in today's political landscape. Register for this free webinar event today! Action Alert: No War With Iran! Contact Congress now to demand peace and an end to the war with Iran. As Christians, we know that each and every life is precious and every step must be taken to avoid bloodshed. Instead of recklessly pursuing a policy of escalation, we demand an end to violence and vigorous oversight from Congress in pursuit of peace. Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842