Below, UniteBoston’s Executive Director Rev. Kelly reflects on the concept of “unity” as proposed by the new federal administration and shares her perspective on how biblical unity embraces diversity, disrupts unjust systems, and prioritizes the most vulnerable.

Note: These reflections are offered by a Christian leader in Boston and do not necessarily represent the official views of UniteBoston as an organization. Our city is home to many faithful, God-fearing, Bible-believing Christian leaders, and our blog exists as a space to “gather all the voices”—a place where individuals can come as they are, share authentically and vulnerably, and engage in learning together. As we seek to be the people of God, on the mission of God, for the flourishing of our city, we encourage honest and courageous conversations—rooted in truth-telling, listening, and story-sharing— with those we may disagree with. If you’d like to share a response or continue the conversation, feel free to reach out to us.

The numerous federal enactments and proclamations over the past two weeks, especially those framed under the banner of “unity,” have been unsettling to me. For example, last Friday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the elimination of all official monthly celebrations related to race and identity, stating, “Identity Months Dead at DoD. All official monthly celebrations related to race and identity in the Defense Department are banned effective immediately.” 

In an interview with Fox News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added, “We don’t have time for emphasizing differences. One of the dumbest phrases in military history is ‘our diversity is our strength.’ Our diversity is not our strength. Our unity and our shared purpose is our strength.”

When we hear this, alarm bells should go off. This isn’t just about DEI or identity politics, this is about a core principle that our nation is built on: E pluribus unum – Out of many, one. This means that Americans are to cultivate a sense of ‘we’ that preserves, rather than erases, our differences, because there is no real “unity” unless we see and honor one another in all our beautiful, God-given distinctions. Without our diversities, unity dissolves into uniformity, which distorts the imago Dei and weakens our God-given right to flourish.

Have you been shaped by being with people and cultures different than your own? I sure have. I currently live in an intentional Christian community home in a predominantly Black community in Dorchester, and I worship at a church that has people of many different ethnic backgrounds. I’ve learned that our differences are what make our world stronger, brighter, and truer – if we let them be.  

Yes, it can make things a little more complex, and there is the give-and-take of working out our differences that can be challenging at times. Yet, being in close relationships with people different than me has made me see my blind spots more clearly and recognize my own privilege as a White woman. I feel incredibly blessed to work with Rev. Devlin, a Black pastor originally from Chicago. His differing perspective, background, and life experiences has made me a better leader and has strengthened UniteBoston’s mission significantly. 

Above: The UniteBoston Community at a recent worship concert

Furthermore, research has shown that our diversity is a valuable national asset: immigrants contribute a collective impact of $100 billion in the Boston area. Diversity also makes teams smarter by enhancing organizational performance, decision-making, and innovation. In fact, companies with greater gender diversity on executive teams were 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability.

We need diversity not just for diversity’s sake, or to be “woke,” but because a world without a variety of voices present limits our imagination and what we can accomplish together. Like the tensile strength of a spiderweb, deep unity holds complex realities in tension, which makes it strong. 

The Biblical Model of Unity

Let’s be clear: a unity without diversity isn’t only ineffective and weak, it is unbiblical. Scripture is clear that unity does not mean uniformity. A key foundation of Christianity is that we are all made in God’s image, bestowed with inherent immeasurable dignity and worth (Gen 1:27). We are all parts of a larger body, where none of us are dispensable; in fact, the real sin is saying to another ‘I don’t need you’ (1 Cor 12:21-23). Our unity comes when we give greater honor and concern to the parts that are weak, lacking or suffering (1 Cor 12:21-26). In our world today, this includes the unborn, the very young, those living in poverty or with disabilities, refugees, immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable groups.

I’ve also learned that the term “unity” is not neutral; while it has always been a positive word for me, my friends of color have let me know how often their cultures and backgrounds have been left behind under the banner of “unity.” Unity can create an illusion of togetherness, the “hues in the pews,” while silencing differences and excluding marginalized voices, effectively turning ‘them’ into ‘us.’ Too often, “unity” often conflates into a White, western way, where whiteness operates as the default standard, exerting power and control to uphold narrow interests rather than the collective good.

Our nation is built on the idea that we are “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” True biblical unity calls us to uphold justice, dismantle inequities, and seek the flourishing of all people, especially the most vulnerable (Zechariah 7:9-10, Ezekiel 22:7) because “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)  Let’s be clear on this: Unity is not only an encompassing of diversity but also an abolition of unjust systems. A unity that does not recognize the systems and structures that allow some to flourish, and others to struggle to survive is not unity at all. Unity without justice is oppression in disguise. 

Distorted Unity and “America First”

Despite canceling official diversity celebrations, President Trump issued a proclamation for Black History Month. However, his statement omitted references to slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, or key civil rights legislation.

More troubling, recent executive orders have suspended U.S. foreign aid, halted refugee admissions, and begun dissolving USAID, placing global staff on administrative leave. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a new framework for foreign aid, asking, “Does it make America safer, does it make America stronger, does it make America more prosperous?” 

Make no mistake: There is nothing Christian about “America First.” Christians are to be united “in one spirit and one mind” by”valuing others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others” (Phil 2:2-4). While eliminating government waste is important, the priority should be given not to America, but to those most vulnerable among us: the poor, the widows, and the foreigners (Zec 7:10, Deut 10:18) so that there might be equality (2 Cor 8:13-15).

By halting the equivalent of less than 1% of the US budget, we are jeopardizing programs providing clean water, job training, education, and medical aid to 120 countries—initiatives that have long enjoyed bipartisan support. These initiatives do not only promote global stability and security but also serve American interests. Christian leaders of many backgrounds including Catholic Bishops, Episcopal Church leaders, Evangelicals, South African Church Leaders, and even Pope Francis have all spoken out against eliminating USAID and changing policies regarding immigration. Jesuit Fr. James Martin writes: “In its simplest terms, the apparent demise of USAID is the result of the world’s richest man ending a program that helps millions of poor people. You don’t need a Ph.D. in moral theology to see why this is evil. You can just read Jesus’ parables on the rich and the poor.” 

What is most tragic for me is how the Bible is being used to support these decisions and “America First” principles. JD Vance’s interview on Fox News describes, “there is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world.” America is not the apple of God’s eye; Just as Jesus never restricted His commitment to Judea or Israel, we must not limit our moral responsibility to the borders of our 50 states.

A Call to Action

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde is right: Our world needs a kind of unity that is humble, upholds dignity, extends mercy to the most vulnerable including our LGBTQ and immigrant neighbors, and serves the common good.

Jesus made it clear: We will be judged by how we treat “the least of these” (Matthew 25:41-43). President Trump may have the power to put forth executive orders, but he does not have the power to silence the American people for standing up for what is right, good, just, and Biblical. May we stand courageously for the unity that reflects the heart of Christ. A unity that embraces diversity, disrupts unjust systems, and prioritizes the most vulnerable is not a ‘woke’ agenda—it is God’s agenda.

“The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice. I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” (Ezekiel 22:29-30)

Dr. Reggie Williams compares our moment to Bonhoeffer’s era, warning, “The most glaring similarity between then and now is that too many well-meaning people of faith stared evil in the face and did nothing.” Here’s how we can take action:

• See and Honor One Another: We can check in with friends and neighbors in these challenging times, welcoming one another and building diverse friendships. We can honor one another, their particular culture and backgrounds and share the value they add to our lives. 
• Give Generously: Recent executive orders cut off and threaten federal funding for the most basic assistance for families acutely suffering and in need of food, shelter, and medical care. We can support organizations that are serving locally, nationally and internationally, such as World Relief.
• Hold Elected Officials Accountable: Our system is being flooded with new policies and orders which can leave people feeling isolated, disorientated, fearful, and powerless. We can resist this tactic by staying engaged and speaking out, especially on policies that are being proposed that are unconstitutional or unbiblical, remembering that politicians act by what is demanded of them by the people. Democracy thrives when people refuse to be silenced. I also recommend this piece by Ezra Klein, where he urges Americans to closely examine the first two weeks of Donald Trump’s second term to see a reality that may differ from what is being presented.
• We can be clear about the Way of Jesus. Jesus prioritizes kingdom over empire: “Jesus was not killed by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion, which is always a deadly mix. Beware those who claim to know the mind of God and are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform. Beware those who cannot tell God’s will from their own.” – Barbara Brown Taylor

Graphic Credit: Radici Studios

a blessing for when you’re tired of broken systems – by Kate Bowler

Oh God, I am done with broken systems
that break the very people
they are meant to serve.
Harness this anger.
Channel it into worthy action and show me
what is mine to fix and what boundaries to patrol
to keep goodness in and evil out.
Blessed are we who are appalled
that brute ignorance can so easily dominate
over decency, honesty, and integrity.
Blessed are we, who choose not to look away
from systems that dehumanize, deceive, defame, and distort.
We who recognize that thoughts and prayers are not enough.
We who stand with truth over expediency,
principle over politics,
community over competition.
Oh God, how blessed are we who cry out to you:
empower us to see and name what is broken,
what is ours to restore,
guide us to find coherent and beautiful alternatives
that foster life, hope, and peace.
Help us use our gifts with one another in unity.
Blessed are we who choose to live in anticipation,
our eyes scanning the horizon,
for signs of your kingdom—
heaven-come-down—
as we wait in hope
and act with courage.
~ Kate Bowler