The Second Church in Newton

Contemporary Issues: Where Faith & Culture Meet

2025's Theme: Standing Against White Christian Nationalism

(October 10 - 12, 2025)

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Second Church has always been a bold prophetic voice when it comes to the social issues of our day. The Christian faith demands that we love our neighbors and work for justice in our world. In October of 2024, we held an adult education series learning about the dangers of White Christian Nationalism. We showed the Rob Reiner documentary, God & Country, read Jim Wallis' new book The False White Gospel, and had a four-week sermon series on a famous Bible passage (Micah 6:8) about what God desires of people of faith. When people came out of the woodwork we realized we'd stumbled onto something important - a church that stands up against Christian Nationalism. 

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This October, we are hosting a larger symposium for the wider community to help more people understand the serious dangers of Christian Nationalism. We're bringing in some experts from around the country to help us understand:

     1. What is happening in our culture right now?

     2. How did we get to this place of such division and destruction?

     3. What can be done to stop and repair the damage that's being done? ​

 

REGISTER HERE ASAP: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/christian-nationalism-symposium

​NOTE: Registration will be closing October 7th/8th as we need catering numbers, seating plans, etc.  

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WEEKEND SCHEDULE​

FRIDAY, October 10th - 60 Highland Street Main Office Entrance (Parking Lot)

6:30 p.m. Doors open.

7:00 p.m. Showing the documentary 'Armor of Light' featuring The Rev. Rob Schenck in Fellowship Hall.

Rob will be with us to do some Q&A afterwards.   

 

SATURDAY, October 11th – Main Sanctuary entrance on Highland Street.

8:30 a.m.         Doors Open

9:00 a.m.         Welcome                    The Rev. Corey J. Sanderson

9:15 a.m.                                              Dr. Taino Palermo, Esq.

10:30                Break

10:40                                                    The Rev. Dr. Rob Schenck

12:00 p.m.       Lunch

1:00 p.m.                                             Katherine Stewart

2:30 p.m.          Break

2:40                                                      The Rev. Janna Louie            

4:00 p.m.         Closing                       The Rev. Corey J. Sanderson

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SUNDAY, October 12th – 10:00 a.m. Worship Service in Main Sanctuary (entrance on Highland Street)

Guest Preacher: The Rev. Janna Louie.

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Our four main speakers include:​​

1. The Rev. Dr. Rob Schenck is an evangelical minister who worked at the highest levels of Christian nationalist circles. He raised money for the pro-life movement, pushed to have the Ten Commandments displayed in public schools, sponsored a nativity scene on Capital Hill, organized evangelical Pastors to pressure government officials, and lobbied Supreme Court justices and their clerks. Yet, Rob began to see the harm he was causing and began to question his efforts. He was quickly ostracized by evangelicals and Republican leaders for not toeing the party line. Yet, his faith compelled him to ask the hard questions about what a sincere follower of Jesus would do. We will be watching the award winning documentary about Rob's journey on Friday night, October 10th. Rob will be joining us in person to do Q&A and help us see how Christian Nationalism works. He will also be speaking on Saturday morning. Do not miss this.

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2 Katherine Stewart is an incredible investigative journalist who has dedicated the last sixteen years to writing about the destructive forces of Christian nationalism. Her book, The Power Worshipers, was the basis of the Rob Reiner documentary, God & Country. Katherine's New York Times Best selling 2025 book, Money, Lies, and God, is a must read if you want to see how the Christian Nationalism agenda is undermining our democracy. Katherine has an incisive mind, a heart of gold, and a powerful way of pulling all the different strands of this movement together. In particular, she understands the essential role that religious communities - of all kinds - need to play in standing up to the Christian nationalist agenda. Katherine will be with us on Saturday.

 

3. The Rev. Janna Louie is the Baptist Joint Commission’s chief of staff. Janna directs BJC’s programs and leads the BJC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA, Rev. Louie joined the BJC in 2023 after working for more than a decade in the university context with graduate students and faculty. The BJC is responsible for the ‘Christians Against Christian Nationalism’ campaign which is an essential tool in uniting diverse Christians, churches, and denominations to stand up to Christian Nationalism. She will be speaking on Saturday and will also be preaching at our Sunday morning worship service.

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4. Dr. Taino J. Palermo has worked for more than twenty years to affect change in policy and practice in the areas of nonprofit management, community and economic development, and education reform. After completing his law degree at Roger Williams University School of Law, he co-founded the American Indian Law Student Association and co-founded the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights, the only pro bono legal services and policy center on the east coast. He teaches Federal Indian Law and Tribal Courts & Governments courses at Roger Williams University School of Law. Since this symposium is on Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend, Tai is going to help us see the White Christian Nationalist origins in the colonization of First Nations Peoples and the founding of our country. 

 

 REGISTER NOW for the entire weekend event HERE. 'Like' our Facebook page and the event itself as that is where we will be putting the most up to date info. Spread the word, friends! Let's make this impactful!