RAU-RAY - PEOPLE FILES
- Paul Raushenbush - David Ravenhill - James Wesley Rawles - Jody Ray - Colin Rayburn -
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==Paul Brandeis Raushenbush======
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush (born 24 June 1964) is an American writer, editor, and religious activist. He currently serves as president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance and formerly served as Senior Advisor for Public Affairs and Innovation at Interfaith America (formerly the Interfaith Youth Core). He was Senior Vice President and editor of Voices at Auburn Seminary. From 2009 to 2015 he was the Executive Editor Of Global Spirituality and Religion for Huffington Post's Religion section, and formerly served as editor of BeliefNet. From 2003 to 2011, Raushenbush served as Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel at Princeton University, and served as President of the Association Of College and University Religious Affairs (ACURA) from 2009 to 2011. Raushenbush is the co-founder with Wolfgang F. Danspeckgruber of PORDIR, The Program of Religion, Diplomacy, and International Relations at the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University. An ordained Baptist minister in the
American Baptist tradition, Raushenbush is the great-grandson of 19th-century Baptist cleric and Social Gospel
proponent Walter Rauschenbusch (name spelled differently). He is also the great-grandson of Supreme Court Justice,
Louis D. Brandeis and cousin of Richard Rorty. He is a graduate of Macalester College and Union Theological Seminary in New York.
American Baptist tradition, Raushenbush is the great-grandson of 19th-century Baptist cleric and Social Gospel
proponent Walter Rauschenbusch (name spelled differently). He is also the great-grandson of Supreme Court Justice,
Louis D. Brandeis and cousin of Richard Rorty. He is a graduate of Macalester College and Union Theological Seminary in New York.
March 30, 2026: Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: It’s clear why Christian nationalists are trying to drown out this segment of religious America. The Christians who are currently most visible and resonant with the American people are those who are resisting the Trump administration’s cruelty and chaos. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington, Pope Leo XIV and the Catholic bishops, Christian leaders on the ground in Minneapolis and the millions of Christians protecting their neighbors against ICE — these are the people demonstrating the kind of Christian witness that America not only needs but wants right now. : Religion News Service; Christian nationalists are panicking because religious progressives are thriving
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Christian nationalists’ preferred framing of American politics as “secular left vs. Christian” is false. For one thing, while humanists and atheists rightfully take their place in the public square, Christians have been joined by Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Indigenous and many other faith traditions in our body politic. None of them fit neatly into partisan lines, and none of them are secular. To try to paint the left as entirely secular, and the right as entirely Christian, is to choose to be willfully ignorant of 250 years of history of Christian thought in America. Much of this thought can broadly be described as progressive, insofar as it has inspired the country toward broader liberty and justice for all. Virtually every era in American history has seen diverse Christians on opposing sides of political and social issues such as slavery, the rights of workers, the rights of women, the environment, civil rights and LGBTQ+ equality. It’s clear why Christian nationalists are trying to drown out this segment of religious America. The Christians who are currently most visible and resonant with the American people are those who are resisting the Trump administration’s cruelty and chaos. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington, Pope Leo XIV and the Catholic bishops, Christian leaders on the ground in Minneapolis and the millions of Christians protecting their neighbors against ICE — these are the people demonstrating the kind of Christian witness that America not only needs but wants right now.
Interfaith Alliance Condemns Brutal ICE Killing – Calls for Faith Communities to Reject Authoritarianism and Choose Love, Not ICE
January 8, 2026:
On Wednesday in Minneapolis, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good during an otherwise nonviolent encounter. Video and eyewitness accounts, which show the woman attempting to flee from ICE as they aggressively attempted to enter her vehicle, contradict the Trump administration’s claims that agents acted in self-defense. The killing has intensified outrage and grief across Minnesota and the nation, as calls grow for accountability and an end to ICE crackdowns that are driving fear and putting communities in danger.
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“This shocking killing is another tragic example of ICE’s brutality, and the deadly consequences of the Trump administration’s reckless and authoritarian immigration crackdown. Our hearts are with the victim’s loved ones and the Minneapolis community, as they grieve and respond to this horrific tragedy.
Wednesday’s shooting is the latest example of what happens when an administration makes dehumanization, aggression, and cruelty the foundation of its agenda. The American people don’t want blood on the streets or armed government forces surrounding our homes, schools, and places of worship.
Religious leaders and communities now face a fundamental choice: to choose love, not ICE. Across faith traditions, we are called to protect human dignity, care for the vulnerable, and resist systems that thrive on fear. When the Department of Homeland Security attempts to cloak ICE brutality in divine language, it draws directly from Christian nationalist ideology — one that teaches some human lives matter more than others. It’s an attempt to prime the public to accept violence against those deemed outsiders. People of faith must reject this distortion of religion and refuse to let our faiths be weaponized to serve the authoritarian whims of President Trump.
The way forward demands both moral clarity and courageous action. Faith communities must speak out, stand in solidarity with immigrant families, and insist on accountability for this killing and other acts of violent repression. We will continue to take to the streets in peaceful and principled resistance to authoritarian abuse. Choosing love over ICE is not just a slogan — it is a moral stance rooted in the belief that safety comes from solidarity, not terror, and that our shared future depends on dignity, compassion, and justice for all.”
January 8, 2026:
On Wednesday in Minneapolis, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good during an otherwise nonviolent encounter. Video and eyewitness accounts, which show the woman attempting to flee from ICE as they aggressively attempted to enter her vehicle, contradict the Trump administration’s claims that agents acted in self-defense. The killing has intensified outrage and grief across Minnesota and the nation, as calls grow for accountability and an end to ICE crackdowns that are driving fear and putting communities in danger.
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“This shocking killing is another tragic example of ICE’s brutality, and the deadly consequences of the Trump administration’s reckless and authoritarian immigration crackdown. Our hearts are with the victim’s loved ones and the Minneapolis community, as they grieve and respond to this horrific tragedy.
Wednesday’s shooting is the latest example of what happens when an administration makes dehumanization, aggression, and cruelty the foundation of its agenda. The American people don’t want blood on the streets or armed government forces surrounding our homes, schools, and places of worship.
Religious leaders and communities now face a fundamental choice: to choose love, not ICE. Across faith traditions, we are called to protect human dignity, care for the vulnerable, and resist systems that thrive on fear. When the Department of Homeland Security attempts to cloak ICE brutality in divine language, it draws directly from Christian nationalist ideology — one that teaches some human lives matter more than others. It’s an attempt to prime the public to accept violence against those deemed outsiders. People of faith must reject this distortion of religion and refuse to let our faiths be weaponized to serve the authoritarian whims of President Trump.
The way forward demands both moral clarity and courageous action. Faith communities must speak out, stand in solidarity with immigrant families, and insist on accountability for this killing and other acts of violent repression. We will continue to take to the streets in peaceful and principled resistance to authoritarian abuse. Choosing love over ICE is not just a slogan — it is a moral stance rooted in the belief that safety comes from solidarity, not terror, and that our shared future depends on dignity, compassion, and justice for all.”
October 26. 2025: USA Today reported: Rev. Paul Raushenbush, president of Interfaith Alliance, which works to counter the religious right, mobilized faith groups nationwide to participate in "No Kings" protests and connected local religious leaders with local activists. The protests were as much about religious freedom as they were about the rest of the First Amendment, he said. “We’re not inventing anything. We’re actually just recognizing how important faith leaders and moral commitments have played in every moment when the country has needed to push back against authoritarianism or targeting of marginalized communities,” Raushenbush said. “This is a moment for religious folks to show up.” People are waiting, he said, for Christians to push back on the idea of Christian Nationalism, which has gained increasing influence among Republican politicians since Trump's first term. The Trump administration's actions in the first 10 months of this year have alienated multiple denominations, Raushenbush said.
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
“It is disheartening to hear of today’s planned House impeachment vote, which is a frivolous political maneuver that seems more focused on scoring points than upholding its members’ duty as our elected representatives. The unfortunate reality is that many of our representatives seem willing to abuse the Constitution for short-term gains, eroding the very foundation that holds our democracy together. Rather than succumbing to partisan theatrics, Congress should redirect its focus to fighting our nation’s pressing challenges — the historic rise in hate that threatens the fabric of our society and passing critical federal spending bills to ensure the functioning of our democracy and safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Across diverse faiths and philosophies, Interfaith Alliance members remain united by a shared and unwavering faith in the U.S. Constitution and the democratic system of government it represents. As we witness today’s political maneuvering, let us remember the principles that bind us — the values of democracy, justice, and a commitment to the common good.” -Paul Brandeis Raushenbush; Interfaith Alliance 12/12/23
December 13, 2023: Baptist News Global reported: The only apparent same-day reaction from a religious leader came from Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president of Interfaith Alliance, who opposes the effort to impeach the president. “It is disheartening to hear of today’s planned House impeachment vote, which is a frivolous political maneuver that seems more focused on scoring points than upholding its members’ duty as our elected representatives,” he said before the vote was taken. “The unfortunate reality is that many of our representatives seem willing to abuse the Constitution for short-term gains, eroding the very foundation that holds our democracy together.
==david ravenhill======
Mar 31, 2015: David Ravenhill: Charisma: Leonard Ravenhill's Son Has an Idea for How Creflo Dollar Can Get a $65M Private Jet
==james wesley, rawles======
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Feb 22, 2023: Religion News Service: How big Christian nationalism has come courting in North Idaho
Earlier this month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican, addressed the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, whose purview runs from this small resort city up along the Washington state border. Before she spoke, a local pastor and onetime Idaho state representative named Tim Remington, wearing an American flag-themed tie, revved up the crowd: “If we put God back in Idaho, then God will always protect Idaho.” |
The origin of North Idaho’s relationship with contemporary Christian nationalism can be traced to a 2011 blog post published by survivalist author James Wesley, Rawles (the comma is his addition). Titled “The American Redoubt — Move to the Mountain States,” Rawles’ 4,000-word treatise called on conservative followers to pursue “exit strategies” from liberal states and move to “safe havens” in the American Northwest — specifically Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and eastern sections of Oregon and Washington. He dubbed the imagined region the “American Redoubt” and listed Christianity as a pillar of his society-to-be. Rawles made an exception for Orthodox Jews and Messianic Jews, saying they would also be welcome in the Redoubt because they “share the same moral framework” as conservative Christians. But the post, which has been updated multiple times since, concludes with a list of “prepper-friendly” congregations in the Reformed Church tradition (Rawles is a Reformed Baptist). “In calamitous times, with a few exceptions, it will only be the God fearing that will continue to be law abiding,” writes Rawles, who declined to be interviewed for this article. ---Jack Jenkins; Religion News Service; 2.22.23 |
==jody ray======
Evangelical leaders beg DeSantis and Florida Legislature not to make them criminals for transporting immigrants to church
A bill designed to make criminals of Floridians who provide transportation or shelter to undocumented immigrants is sending shockwaves through religious communities that minister to immigrants, a group of evangelical ministers say. Jody Ray “More than anything, what this legislation is creating is fear. It creates fear in the immigrant population, and it creates fear in the church. And with that fear you’re going to limit those who are willing to serve, and those who we can serve. And by doing that, we cannot live out our missional call, and therefore it is impinging on our religious liberties,” said Jody Ray, pastor of missions at Chets Creek Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Jacksonville. (Jeff Brumley/Baptist News Global 3/31/23)
Read More>>>>>
A bill designed to make criminals of Floridians who provide transportation or shelter to undocumented immigrants is sending shockwaves through religious communities that minister to immigrants, a group of evangelical ministers say. Jody Ray “More than anything, what this legislation is creating is fear. It creates fear in the immigrant population, and it creates fear in the church. And with that fear you’re going to limit those who are willing to serve, and those who we can serve. And by doing that, we cannot live out our missional call, and therefore it is impinging on our religious liberties,” said Jody Ray, pastor of missions at Chets Creek Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Jacksonville. (Jeff Brumley/Baptist News Global 3/31/23)
Read More>>>>>
==colin rayburn======
‘Devoid of God’
Colin Rayburn, the SBTC’s missions mobilization associate, said he is excited about the opportunity to mobilize churches to develop long-term partnerships in France—where he once served as a missionary himself. “Europe is not only lost, but it’s more often than not anti-religious,” Rayburn said. “But what makes France so interesting is that, while the French are famously anti-religious, there is rapid growth in gospel acceptance and church growth.” And that’s one of the things that’s most compelling for Patrick, who has immersed his family into a secular culture—as uncomfortable as that might be—for the greater cause of Christ. “To stay in places of comfort felt disobedient to us,” he said. “To step out in faith and go places where we are the only Christians in the room the majority of the time is actually the place we find the most peace because we know we’re right at the center of what God’s calling us to do.
(Southern Baptist Texan; 3.30.26)READMORE>>>>>>
Colin Rayburn, the SBTC’s missions mobilization associate, said he is excited about the opportunity to mobilize churches to develop long-term partnerships in France—where he once served as a missionary himself. “Europe is not only lost, but it’s more often than not anti-religious,” Rayburn said. “But what makes France so interesting is that, while the French are famously anti-religious, there is rapid growth in gospel acceptance and church growth.” And that’s one of the things that’s most compelling for Patrick, who has immersed his family into a secular culture—as uncomfortable as that might be—for the greater cause of Christ. “To stay in places of comfort felt disobedient to us,” he said. “To step out in faith and go places where we are the only Christians in the room the majority of the time is actually the place we find the most peace because we know we’re right at the center of what God’s calling us to do.
(Southern Baptist Texan; 3.30.26)READMORE>>>>>>