On Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Olmsted Community Church in Olmsted Falls, OH, the United Church of Christ (UCC) hosted a presentation titled, “The Global Rise of Religious Nationalism: Implications & the Church´s Response.” Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister & President-CEO of the UCC and president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), and Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, general secretary of the WCRC, spoke to a crowd at Olmsted Community Church and to viewers online.
Thompson spoke first, sharing insight into the particulars of religious nationalism in the United States. She reminded the audience that Christian Nationalism is not a new conversation but rather one that has been on the rise for the past 15 years. She went on to argue, “The naming of this ideology as Christian nationalism, in my opinion, is a misnomer. It is oxymoronic, given that the principles of nationalism are at odds with the Christian witness.”
As Thompson noted, the particular brand of Christian Nationalism discussed is often white Christian Nationalism, which gets its roots and ideology from white supremacist, not the teachings of Jesus Christ. She concluded her time by sharing the National Council of Churches policy statement, “The Dangers of Christian Nationalism in the United States.”
Peacock offered his remarks from a global perspective. He boldly began by saying, “Christian nationalism is not simply a political ideology that borrows religious language. It is a rival liturgical system, and it demands to be confronted as such.”
As he continued, Peacock affirmed that Christian Nationalism is a modern idea. “It is a modern political project wearing ancient religious clothing. It is, in the precise sense, a novelty — which means it can be named, analyzed, historically situated, and resisted. It has no claim on our theological loyalty. It arrived in history; it can depart from it.”
The leaders concluded the event with questions from the room. Most questions centered on how to have hard conversations with neighbors and address Christian Nationalism from a personal and local community perspective. Both agreed that it is a polarizing time and that these conversations are challenging but vital to ensure that what is described as Christianity centers on Jesus’ commandment to love God and love others.
WCRC is grateful to be part of these important conversations and eager to hear how member churches are discussing religious nationalism in their contexts.
Watch the recorded presentation of The Global Rise of Religious Nationalism here.
