Interfaith America is delighted to announce the the Vote is Sacred Fellowship.
This fellowship brings together a diverse group of religious leaders who will center faith convictions to inspire democratic participation and values during the 2024 election cycle. The fellowship connects leaders and provides space for them to strategize on public actions they can take together to inspire confidence in election processes and outcomes and encourage peaceful democratic engagement after the election and inauguration.
Religious leaders can play a pivotal role as trusted messengers and bridgebuilders who create spaces for connection and cooperation. By countering the polarization plaguing American democracy, these leaders can help promote fair election outcomes and mitigate the likelihood of division and violence post-election. Fellow Jennifer Thomas, Co-Executive Director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government joined the fellowship because: “Threats to the vote are almost always accompanied by dehumanization and coercion. Working to protect the vote is a powerful way to assert the value of each individual.” The fellows’ work will be crucial in countering polarization and fostering a strong democratic society.
The fellows represent a diverse group of religious and worldview perspectives and political ideologies. They are united in their dedication to working together across lines of difference to elevate the national understanding of the sacredness of the vote. Fellows will speak out of their own traditions about why the vote matters. Imam Makram El-Amin who serves as Executive Director of Al-Maa’uun, a community center in Minneapolis, explained his commitment this way: “I believe that voting in today’s context is using our sacred voice to make change for the better. This is something I am deeply committed to doing.”
Democracy in the United States is under immense pressure and confidence in key institutions and processes is low. There are efforts to sow doubt in the election and growing concerns about election related violence. By speaking and acting together Fellows will demonstrate the impact of religious leaders working together across theological and ideological perspectives to promote confidence in the election. Greg Epstein, a Humanist Chaplain at Harvard and MIT believes the fellowship is important at this moment: “Sacredness is that to which we dedicate ourselves, above all other things. The act of voting, and the democratic and civic process it represents, is the fundamental building block of living in a healthy and ethical society. It must be preserved and strengthened – especially at this time, when I believe it is actively under attack.”
The fellows will meet in-person and virtually between September 2024 and March 2025 to build relationships, strategize, and act publicly to galvanize pro-democracy responses before, during, and after the election. The fellows will build lasting relationships that model interfaith engagement and will continue to have influence beyond the life of the fellowship.
We are honored to introduce the Vote is Sacred Fellows:
- Imam Makram El-Amin, Neighborly Needs Community Outreach Services
- PJ Andrews, Baha’is of the United States
- Jacob Dunlap, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
- Greg Epstein, The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard and MIT
- Moya Harris, Sojourners
- Darcy Hirsh, National Council of Jewish Women
- Suhail Khan, Institute for Global Engagement
- Rabbi Michael Namath, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
- Erica Ramirez, Auburn Seminary
- Qasim Rashid, Common Defense
- Stephen Schneck, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
- Harman Singh, Sikh Coalition
- Amy Sullivan, Sojourners
- Jennifer Thomas, Mormon Women for Ethical Government
- Eli Valentin, Virginia Union University
- Sunita Viswanath, Hindus for Human Rights
Scroll through to meet the Vote is Sacred Fellows. Click on a fellow to learn more about them.
PJ Andrews
Imam Makram El-Amin
Jacob Dunlap
Greg Epstein
Reverend Moya Harris
Darcy Hirsh
Suhail Khan
Rabbi Michael Namath
Erica Ramirez
Qasim Rashid
Stephen Schneck
Harman Singh
Executive Director, Sikh Coalition
Amy Sullivan
Jennifer Thomas
Eli Valentin
Sunita Viswanath
Interfaith America engages individuals and institutions during and between election cycles in pursuit of inclusive civic participation and an engaged public square as strong pillars of a democratic society. The Vote is Sacred fellows will spark a national conversation about how voting and civic participation are rooted in diverse faith traditions and bring to the forefront the practical ways those traditions and institutions can come together to protect our democracy. Working together the fellows will promote confidently engaging in a democratic system from a faith-based perspective, modeling for their respective communities, and the country, the power of interfaith and cross partisan collaboration in building a strong pluralist democracy.
Contact Us
Please contact us with any questions about the Vote is Sacred program.
Scott Rasmussen
Democracy Initiatives Consultant
Interfaith America
