As Christians, we are called to follow in Jesus’s footsteps by loving our neighbors, striving for justice, and proactively addressing systemic inequities that divide us.
This page launched as a resource in the midst of the ongoing crisis due to Operation Metro Surge, to support the St. John’s community to learn and take action in troubling times. We continue to focus on how to support our neighbors across intersecting issues, including racial reconciliation and healing, disability justice, housing access, environmental justice, and LGBTQ+ equity.
If you have questions or recommendations to add, please reach out to the Justice Team.
Key Resources
Disability Justice
Striving toward greater and more purposeful Disability Awareness and Inclusion, centered in our mission to “welcome all people into this community of faith.”
Read the Disability Pride series, written by parishioners who experience disabilities, both visible and invisible, and by parishioners with disabled family members. In these reflections, they share how disability intersect with their faith and participation in the church community.
If you have any questions about St. John’s goals of greater Disability Awareness and Inclusion, or would like to learn about how you can join in this work, please reach out to Craig Lemming, Judy DesHarnais, Trevor Sannes, or Susan Creel.
Be In Community
Support St. John’s Faith in Action ministry partners, all of whom are doing amazing work in direct relief to folks who are most impacted by crisis and systemic inequities.
Our partners at Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Food Shelf are in great need of volunteers! Weekday opportunities include: packing bags of food (mornings); handing out food (afternoons); grocery delivery (1-3pm); and their upcoming free Farmers’ Market (1-4pm).
Reach out to parishioner Patty Byrne Pfalz to get involved or ask questions; please include your phone number and what you are interested in helping with.
First Nations Kitchen is a ministry of All Saints’ Episcopal Indian Mission in Minneapolis that serves traditional Indigenous food every Sunday evening. This ministry is led by Indigenous people for Indigenous people. Its primary intent is to provide food to Indigenous people who would not otherwise have access to high-quality, fresh organic food in an environment of radical hospitality and cultural empowerment.
Several times a year, we volunteer to help prepare and serve their meal. Please see the parish calendar for this year’s dates which include sign-up links as they become available.
Ending Christian Nationalism
Promoting Christ’s command to love one another and to repair current distortions of the Christian message.
The Rev. Angela Denker will join us during Faith Formation on Sundays Sept 20 and Sept 27, 2026 to lead sessions on Reckoning with White Christian Nationalism: Repentance, Conversion, and Reconciliation. Rev. Denker is an ELCA Lutheran pastor in Minneapolis and writes for the Star-Tribune.
Connect with Christians Against Christian Nationalism – Minnesota via their Facebook page or mailing list. This is a chapter of the national Christians Against Christian Nationalism, working to address a serious threat to the freedom of religion, the separation of Church and State, and our democracy.
- E-vangelist article: Sharing the Message of Christ’s Love and Joy as an Act of Resistance by Terri Fishel and Betsy Wehrwein
- The False White Gospel by Jim Wallis
- How to End Christian Nationalism by Amanda Tyler
- Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood by Angela Denker
- Strange Worship: Six Steps for Challenging Christian Nationalism by Drew J. Strait
Immigration & Supporting Our Neighbors
Mutual aid is important right now, and we know there are myriad places doing good work. Check out Stand With Minnesota or MN50501 Mutual Aid, which list many wonderful options.
Continue to help us support migrant families impacted by the crises in the Twin Cities. Give online here (choose “Non-Pledged Donation” from the funds drop-down and put “Migrant Support” in the memo.)
Support urgent housing and food assistance requests in our community. The need for this fund is increasingly urgent as federal aid once again gets cut. Give online here (choose “Rector’s Discretionary” from the funds drop-down.)
Good work with migration ministries is happening through the Episcopal Church all over our state. Give online here.
Donate to our Faith In Action partners: Hallie Q. Brown, First Nations Kitchen, and Project Home at Interfaith Action.
The ECMN Migration Caucus meets on the second Monday of each month at 7pm via Zoom. Joining the group offers opportunities for prayer, resource sharing, organizing, and calls to action around migrant support, accompaniment, and advocacy.
To receive the meeting Zoom link, please contact Deacon Rex McKee at [email protected].
Because of the crisis, families who were stable just weeks ago are facing eviction notices. Sign up to adopt a family’s rent, or contribute to one of the many rent relief efforts in your neighborhood. A single month covered can prevent eviction, keep a family housed, and save thousands in downstream public costs that come when people are forced into shelters or onto waiting lists that are already full.
- Prayers for Asylum Seekers, For Those in Immigrant Detention, For Those Living in Fear of Deportation, and For Those Who Accompany Migrants
- Monarca Rapid Response Line
- Immigrant Defense Network
- ICE Out of MN
- Minnesota Immigrant Aid Tool Kit
- Know Your Rights Information
- Guide for Visiting Immigrants in Minnesota Detention Centers
Policy and Advocacy
In a year of midterm elections, we have a unique opportunity to catalyze change during and beyond current crises.
Please note: these recommendations are nonpartisan and do not reflect any agenda beyond participation in community.
St. John’s is a member of ISAIAH, a statewide multiracial group of faith communities, Black barbershops, childcare centers, and more fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota, and Faith in Minnesota, ISAIAH’s 501(c)4 arm. Opportunities to support these efforts at St. John’s are shared via the Justice Discussion Forum.
5 Calls is a great app that makes it easy to call elected officials about issues. Spend 5 minutes making calls every day, as tallies are counted daily. Fun fact: calls to your representatives have more power than emails!
Not fond of the phone? Have a call party with friends: this boosts the impact while having a supportive space to do what might feel uncomfortable or outside your comfort zone.
Season of Creation
Coming Soon
Love Out Loud
Coming Soon
Voting Information
Coming Soon
