Remembering Rachel Held Evans

By DON ROLLINS

“True evangelicalism spoken from the lips and words of Jesus places concern for the poor, and the broken, and the battered, and the imprisoned...and those made to feel unacceptable, at the center of faith.” - Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

Believers in monochromatic theology are usually confounded when the words progressive and evangelical are uttered in the same sentence - two designations that have long been considered theological oil and water, kept separate by divergent beliefs, traditions and politics.

This is no doubt owing to the fact religion American-style was founded and has been maintained according to tidy, simplistic categories without nuance or overlap. So embedded in the national psyche are these theological lines of demarcation, even many otherwise forward-thinking liberals are wont to lump full-tilt fundamentalists like Mike Pence and Rep. Darlene Taylor with prophetic evangelicals such as Jim Wallis and William Barber.

But acknowledged by the single-minded or not, progressive evangelicalism is a thing. It’s a melding of faith in the traditional cornerstones of Christianity (incarnation, atonement and resurrection) with a scathing critique of society and politics rooted in the Hebrew and Christian prophetic traditions.

Although mostly championed by males until the last decade or so, the progressive evangelical movement is increasingly identified with women and nonbinary leaders (lay and ordained). From the bombastic Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, to the rank-and-file female and LGBTQ+ activists marching for reproductive rights, there is a clear emphasis on diversity within the ranks.

But that effort was stunted earlier this month by the untimely death of Rachel Held Evans, 37, author and lecturer dubbed by New York Times reporters Elizabeth Dias and Sam Roberts as one who “… gave voice to a generation of wandering evangelicals, wrestling with their faith.”

Although at odds with much of the evangelical fold from which she came, Evans nonetheless encouraged those choosing to remain by affirming their anti-oppression cause. Calling for an end to the male dominance at the core of orthodox evangelicalism, Evans regularly disparaged leaders like Southern Baptist Convention official, Russell Moore, earning her other, less flattering descriptions: “the most polarizing woman in evangelicalism” and an “arsonist with a pen.”

In truth Evans was a virulent and regular critic of Trump’s, but also the religious figures that enable him. Like King in his haunting Letter from Birmingham Jail, Evans held accountable the preachers and politicians who by their silence or affirmation perpetuate oppression, marginalization and corporatization.

Evans’ legacy also includes a primer for Christian activism in this century. She was a prolific instigator of quarrels, using blogs, tweets and social media to delve deeply into controversial topics. Intense bordering on nasty at times, her use of technology to spark true and considered debate set her apart from personalities bent on purely sensationalizing an issue.

The cause for a better Christianity, evangelicalism first and foremost, was lessened by Evans’ death. While she eventually decided to address that communion from the outside, her work speaks to and for a progressive evangelical presence sorely needed in such times as these.

Don Rollins is a Unitarian Universalist minister and substance abuse counselor living in Pittsburgh, Pa. Email donaldlrollins@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, June 15, 2019

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