A Public Statement

Concerns about the "Rededicate 250" event & Remembering Juniper Blessing

The New Hampshire Council of Churches is deeply saddened as well as disconcerted by the May 17, 2026 Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving held in Washington DC. The measure of Christian discipleship is rooted in Jesus’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, to welcome the stranger, to care for those who are vulnerable, and to recognize the humanity of every person. Being a Christian is not about amassing political power or dominance. Jesus lifted up the Good Samaritan to exemplify moral courage and compassion across lines of difference.

In alignment with these beliefs and in stark contrast to the Rededicate event, yesterday the Council attended a vigil for Juniper Blessing, a 19 year old trans woman who was brutally stabbed to death last week. Contrary to the deliberate federal policy assaults aiming to deny their and the LGBTQ+ community’s humanity, our faith teaches us that every person is beloved, deserving of safety, belonging, and love.

The Council is particularly concerned by Secretary Pete Hegseth’s misrepresentation of George Washington, along with the event’s narrow interpretation of sacred scripture. Faith traditions are strongest when grounded in humility, compassion, justice, and reverence for human dignity, not when scripture is selectively used to advance exclusionary political narratives.

Our 7 denominations (Episcopal, Unitarian Universalist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, the Friends, and the Lutherans) hold the steadfast belief that God's love is inclusive. No exceptions. We affirm the wisdom of maintaining clear boundaries between the responsibilities of the church and the responsibilities of the state. Faith must never be used as a tool of government power, nor should government claim authority over the sacred work of belief. The 300 member churches across our beautiful Granite State respect the separation of church and state as an essential protection for both religious freedom and democratic pluralism.

Our sacred texts inspire our vision for a just world in God’s name. We understand that our liberation is deeply bound up with one another. The prophet Amos declared, “let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an overflowing stream” (Amos 5:24). We envision a Granite State where Churches are full of diverse and empowered members, and exist in communities where all people are supported to grow into their full potential and live free from oppression and for one another.

Lisa Beaudoin, Executive Director, on behalf of the Board of Directors

To download a pdf of this statement, please click HERE