Rev. Jen Butler
Rev. Jen Butler has spent the last three decades strengthening and rebuilding the progressive faith movement. She has dedicated her life to helping individuals and communities ground themselves in liberative spirituality that empowers them to speak out with a faithful voice to change the world.
In 2005, she founded Faith in Public Life (FPL) to amplify progressive faith voices and forge multi-racial, multi-faith, and ideologically diverse faith coalitions to work for justice and the common good. In founding FPL, Rev. Jen drew on her decade-long experience countering religious extremism with a faithful argument for democracy, the rights of women, and LGBTQ people. Her book, Born Again: The Christian Right Globalized (Pluto Press), remains a go-to resource for those tracking white Christian nationalism globally.
Rev. Jen served as CEO of FPL from 2005 to 2022. Highlights of her tenure include mobilizing a multi-state faith strategy to secure the passage of the Affordable Care Act and defeating Republican efforts in 2017 to gut the bill. She spearheaded faith-based campaigns to defeat fake religious freedom bills at the state level by empowering ideologically diverse religious leaders to oppose discrimination in the name of faith. During the Trump years, she led FPL in drawing a bright moral line against rising authoritarianism and racism.
In 2022, Rev. Jen stepped down from Faith in Public Life to launch an international network of faith-based democracy defenders, expanding her mission to combat authoritarianism and protect human rights worldwide. She also served as the national faith engagement director for the Harris for President campaign, bringing faith voices into the political arena.
Today, Rev. Jen is a sought-after speaker and consultant, working with nonprofits and government agencies to strengthen human rights and democracy in the U.S. and around the world. Her most recent book, Who Stole My Bible? Reclaiming Scripture as a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny, makes a compelling biblical case for multi-racial democracy in the face of rising white Christian nationalism and authoritarianism.
In 2022, she was named one of Center for American Progress’ Faith Leaders to Watch. She previously served as chair of the White House Council on Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships (2015–2016). Her writing appears in Religion News Service, Sojourners, and Red Letter Christians.
Rev. Jen was a Peace Corps volunteer in a Mayan village in Belize, Central America. She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Rutgers University with a focus on public policy and community organizing, and earned her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary. She lives in Atlanta, GA.
TOPICS:
We Were Made for This Moment: A Keynote adddres or Lecture Series with Rev. Jennifer Butler
At a time when democracy is under threat and justice feels fragile, our faith reminds us that we were made for this moment. Rev. Jennifer Butler, founder of Faith in Democracy, invites you to an inspiring lecture series exploring how history, scripture, and faith call us to bold action in times of crisis.
From Pharaoh’s oppression to Caesar’s rule, the faithful have always been called to resist tyranny. The story of Shiprah and Puah—the midwives of Exodus—offers a powerful example. Faced with a brutal decree, they chose defiance, using courage and wit to expose injustice and protect the vulnerable. Their actions, one of history’s earliest recorded “dilemma actions,” forced oppressors into a lose-lose scenario, showcasing the power of nonviolent resistance.
History is filled with such moments—from the children's marches in Birmingham to the silent protests in Turkey’s Gezi Park. These acts of moral clarity expose oppression and ignite movements for change. Today, we must be the Shiprahs of our time, standing firm in the face of injustice.
Join Rev. Butler as she explores how our faith prepares us for this moment. Discover how spiritual resilience, moral courage, and collective action can challenge systems of oppression and build a future rooted in justice.
NOTE: This topic can be focused into a single session or developed over a series of session for a two to three day retreat.
How to help friends and loved ones who have been drawn into QAnon and other conspiracy theories
During the Trump Presidency and the pandemic, many of us saw friends, family members, congregants and colleagues succumbing to conspiracy theories and extremist viewpoints. While speaking around the country about my book, Who Stole My Bible?I am always asked how to handle those drawn into cult-like conspiracy theories and ideologies, particularly QAnon and white Christian nationalism. My workshop explores how conspiracy theories attract people and offers scientifically tested methods to break through to those captivated by such beliefs. This is an interactive workshop where participants put these methods to the test?
Christian Nationalism and the threat to Democracy
What is Christian nationalism and how can we live faithfully address its negative impact on our faith communities and our democracy? Rev. Butler explores the history and modern impact of Christian nationalism and shares inspiring stories of how people of faith can respond individually and as a community.
Developing a Spiritual Practice to find Courage in an Era of Rising Tyranny
These are frightening times in which violence and autocratic rule are on the rise. Fortunately we have deep spiritual resources, including scripture which is actually a handbook for resisting tyranny. From the Creation story to Revelation it is the story of people walking with God through the shadow of oppressive empires. Rev. Butler uses Lectio Divina, an ancient way of reading scripture, to explore biblical texts as “living word–” as speaking to us now, in our current context in radical ways. She helps people understand some of the familiar scriptural passages in the context of resistance to oppression, drawing spiritual practices that can help them find meaning and courage to take action in troubled times.
Faith and Democracy
The Christian Right has dominated the narrative around the role of faith in our democracy, but that is not the full story. Throughout history, progressive people of faith have pushed back on Christian nationalism and advocated for policies that honor the dignity of all people. Learn more about how communities of faith have organized in the past. This can be done as a speech or as a workshop for those who want practice putting their faith voice in action.
