The Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer is an author, theologian and the ninth general minister and president of the United Church of Christ.
On Tuesday, April 11, he will give the lecture “Christian Nationalism: A Threat to Both Democracy and Christianity,” part of the Religious Literacy Project at Elmhurst University. During his talk, he will explore the challenge of faithfulness in the face of Christian nationalism, and the need for religious leaders and people of faith to openly discuss and confront it.
Dorhauer’s lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Admission is free but reservations are encouraged, at elmhurst.edu/cultural.
“When we’re talking about the preservation of democracy, the upholding of human rights, we can’t be silent,” Dorhauer said during a recent webinar on the November 2022 midterm elections hosted by the ecumenical Christian organization Faithful America. “I would strongly encourage clergy, especially, not to use the pulpit to promote a political ideology, but to talk openly about Christian nationalism.”
He added that churches should promote that “all voices will be heard and respected,” not demonized. Treating different points of view as legitimate, he stressed, is critical.
Dorhauer is the author of Beyond Resistance: The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World (2015). He is the former conference minister of the Southwest Conference of the UCC and former associate conference minister in the Missouri Mid-South Conference. He also has served local churches in rural Missouri. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary.