Baboons & Building a Better Tomorrow
This Great Idea is a response to Rebecca Solnit’s Meditations in an Emergency, Revolutionary Weather (and the Baboon in the Ruins) from November 25, 2025.
Solnit writes, ‘Everything changed in the last few weeks.’ She then lists political evidence to support that statement.
But she admits this is more than a binary split between Republicans and Democrats. She quotes the second president of the United States, John Adams, writing, ‘”But what do We mean by the American Revolution? Do We mean the American War? The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the Minds and Hearts of the People.”
Adams declares that, ‘the revolution was when Americans broke with their deference and loyalty to Britain and the throne (our original #nokings moment).’
Revolution – beginning the future – begins and ends in the minds and hearts of ‘the People’.
Holding the tension of ‘good’ people doing ‘bad’ things and ‘bad’ people doing ‘good’ things, Solnit writes, ‘Something deep is shifting… there’s a new wave of white Christian Democrats running for office, reclaiming God and faith too (outside the Black communities in which progressive Christian candidates are more familiar).’
Please note: Solnit is not shy about using the term ‘progressive’. She is not shy about pointing out the direct links between progressive faith and progressive politics.
She does not provide easy answers or absolutes. In fact, she admits that, ‘No one knows where we go from here… The past is not a template for a viable future… The end of Trump will either be the beginning of a national reconstruction/recovery project, or the point at which this country falls apart. How we go forward is improvisational, which is to say, it’s up to us.
It always was.’
She then shares a screenshot of an Indivisible #ICEWatch training in ‘a city with a history of segregation and violence’ (Greensboro, NC). The person who posted the photo wrote, ‘When #authoritarianism is headed our way, we bond together to protect each other! Silence is complicity. Take a stand!’
Read the full post here.
Those words are the crux of this Great Idea:
Across Minnesota congregations have opportunities to shape minds and hearts. Silence is complicity with cruelty and deeply unChristian agendas.
As Rev. Pam Fickenscher (St John’s Lutheran, Northfield) said, ‘My community is deeply concerned as we see the word “Christian” being weaponized to hoard power and profit – that just doesn’t line up with our faith. We want to lift up what Jesus was actually about: standing with the poor, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and welcoming the stranger. Right now, we’re worried about the threats to programs and healthcare we rely on here in Rice County.’
This is Good News!
Go ahead and share it!!
Be a vocal, public witness of the Gospel!
ISAIAH puts it this way:
‘How many of us have asked ourselves: What would I have done during the Civil Rights movement? Would I have shown up? Linked arms with my neighbors? Chosen courage over fear?
Right now we have the opportunity to answer with our actions.
Authoritarian leaders are stoking fear and targeting Minnesotans based on where we were born or how we pray. Why? To try and change the subject from skyrocketing healthcare costs and everyday expenses, fueled by federal cuts and tax breaks for billionaires.
On December 13th, thousands of Minnesotans from every background and belief system will gather to reject the divide-and-conquer tactic and claim our shared power.
We’re coming together to learn how to take strategic action, resist authoritarianism, and launch a statewide plan that protects every one of us.
Future generations will ask what we did in this moment.
Let us be able to say: we stood together and never stopped fighting for a Minnesota where we all belong.’
This Great Idea is direct:
In preaching and worship, teaching and faith formation, clergy and ministry leaders have opportunities to shape minds and hearts. This is a sacred calling!
Congruent and in support of congregation-based faith-work, individuals and congregations are encouraged to:
- Participate in A Light in the Storm
- ISAIAH’s Agenda Launch and Anti-Authoritarianism Strategy Training
- Saturday, December 13, 2025
- 1:00 – 6:00 PM
- Registration and concessions open 11:00 AM – 12:45 PM
- Minneapolis Convention Center / 1301 – 2nd Ave S / Minneapolis / 55403
- Learn more and RSVP here.
- Utilize The Ministry Lab’s forthcoming Toolkits
- Our soon-to-be-named Lenten Toolkit will:
- support intergenerational community organizing and community building skills
- via grounding spiritual practices, bonding Bible discussions, embodied organizing practices, enriching children’s books, and engaging sermon prompts
- prepare congregations for ISAIAH’s Palm Sunday Path (March 29, 2026) and the EcoFaith Summit of the Upper Midwest (April 18, 2026)
- Our From Fear to Fire Toolkit walks with congregations from Jerusalem’s fear-filled Upper Room, along the Emmaus road of resurrection revelation, and into igniting and building up communities of New Life for the sake of all creation.
- Our soon-to-be-named Lenten Toolkit will:
- Take advantage of the numerous upcoming community organizing trainings offered by ISAIAH.
Dialogue, community organizing, visioning of a better future (how hopeful is that?!), advocacy and public witness – all work together to move us as individuals, congregations, and as a nation, into a better tomorrow.
Our congregations are at the forefront.
Deep courage, friends!
