Political Research Associates Webinar Invite
In Pennsylvania: New Apostolic Reformation, A Threat to Democracy
Dear Subscribers,
The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is one of the most significant anti-democratic religious and political movements of our time. Unsurprisingly, NAR and adjacent groups are playing an outsized role in public life. This came to the fore in Pennsylvania with the 2022 gubernatorial campaign of State Senator Doug Mastriano, which generated major coverage from Salon.com, The New Yorker, PBS station WHYY, and more. Since then, we have seen how Pennsylvania apostle Abby Abildness has played a quietly significant role in public life, and has drawn the attention of The Atlantic magazine, the Bucks County Beacon and Mother Jones.
More broadly, The New York Times featured a story about how Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has flown an NAR battle flag at his summer home. The New Republic published a disturbing story about “The Violent Implications of the “Jezebel” Attacks on Kamala Harris.” The Atlantic demonstrated that the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court is deeply involved in this movement. And Salon published a guide to “cracking the code of Christian nationalism.”
But through it all, Pennsylvania has been a continuing focus of NAR attention. Coming up are two events of particular note. Apostle Lance Wallnau is concluding a national tour by headlining a revival and voter mobilization event in Monroeville September 27-28. And Dominionist musician and rabble rouser Sean Feucht is also concluding a national tour of state capitals, coming to Harrisburg on October 5th.
That’s why I’m pleased to invite you to a public discussion titled, The New Apostolic Reformation and the Threat to Democracy in Pennsylvania. This webinar will be hosted on Zoom by Political Research Associates on Tuesday, October 1, from 1:00 to 2:30. If you can join us, please RSVP by registering here.
Several writers and researchers on NAR will engage in a colloquium style discussion followed by Q&A. The discussion will be moderated by Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Political Research Associates.
Presenters will include
Rachel Tabachnick, Former Associate Fellow at Political Research Associates
Julie Ingersoll, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Florida
Peter Montgomery, Research Director at People for the American Way
The Lancaster Examiner, Independent Researcher
Kira Resistance, Independent Researcher
Frederick Clarkson, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates
We look forward to seeing you!
P.S. Those who want to get up to speed on the NAR should check out these resources. “American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times” a book by André Gagné that is at once a primer and a concise and authoritative reference; Meet The New Apostolic Reformation: The Cutting Edge of the Christian Right by Paul Rosenberg; A Reporter's Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation by Frederick Clarkson and André Gagné; the story of NAR involvement in the insurrection of January 6th, by Matthew D. Taylor and Bradley Onishi, and The Christian Right’s Playbook to Elect Donald Trump in November: And how voters can use the tools of democracy to counter their plans, by Frederick Clarkson.
You can also see the recording of a PRA’s August national webinar, The New Apostolic Reformation and the Threat to Democracy.
Please share with your other social networks and let's save our state from Christian Dominionists together.
The Lancaster Examiner
Thank you! I've been hearing about the New Apostolic Reformation and other fringe extremist Protestant religious figured and movements on ex-Evangelical podcasts for some time now. I am glad this threat is receiving wider attention.
Unfortunately, the mainstream media are far too deferential to Christian religions. The same can be said of law enforcement, prosecutors and politicians. There's an undue respect for "religious freedom" as if the First Amendment's free exercise provisions trumped all other moral and legal considerations including the rest of the Bill of Rights, child welfare laws and statutes prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices. If Evangelical "purity culture" and certain child rearing practices were being practiced within a cult instead of a Protestant church, sheriffs and district attorneys would be spearheading a crackdown.
I'm not motivated just by my sense of fairness and my commitment to the separation of church and state. I am also a gay man who came out in the early 80s, when a sea change was underway in American society's attitudes towards gay people. Even 20 years earlier, it would have been almost impossible for me to pursue a career in the law as an out gay man. We were second class citizens. Throughout history, religious actors are the ones who have fanned the flames of homophobia. We beat them back - finally - to secure same-sex marriage. Not surprisingly, the Protestant and Catholic far right are bent on stripping away our hard-fought gains and pushing us back in the closet. The US Supreme Court has been far too receptive to Christians' demands that respecting gay rights in the public sphere - bakeries and web design companies come to mind - deprives them of so-called religious freedom. Those Christians' notion of freedom is a zero-sum game in that every time they win, we lose.