Standing for Justice: The Christian Call to Advocacy

Letter From the Pastor

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Standing for Justice: The Christian Call to Advocacy

Summary: Christians are called to advocacy and protest as a faithful response to injustice, rooted in Scripture and the example of Jesus.

Last weekend, over 5 million people across the United States gathered in cities and towns—more than 2,100 of them—to protest during the nationwide "No Kings" movement. The size and spirit of these demonstrations were a powerful reminder: people of faith are called not to silence in the face of injustice, but to courageous witness.

Christianity has always had a deep connection to advocacy. The prophets of the Old Testament cried out against oppression and called for righteousness: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). Jesus himself spoke truth to power, overturned tables in the temple to protest corruption, and stood with the marginalized. The early church proclaimed a gospel that challenged the injustices of the Roman Empire with a vision of God’s kingdom of peace, equity, and love.

In today’s world, protest can be a holy act. When we advocate for justice—for the stranger, or the poor, the oppressed, the excluded—we are living out our baptismal promise “to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” This is not political posturing; it is discipleship in action.

Advocacy is not always easy. It requires moral clarity, courage, and community. But Scripture assures us: “Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9). When we raise our voices for justice, we echo the voice of the One who hears every cry.

May we continue to be a people who stand for justice, walk humbly with God, and love our neighbors fiercely—on the streets, in the pews, and in our daily lives.

In Christ’s peace,

Pastor Anny+



The Rev. Dr. Anny Genato+

Rector, St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church