In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he poses questions that give us pause in 2026: “Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?”
Professor Andrew Stone Porter illuminates Dr. King’s strategy for collective action as a force of love in opposition to policies of domination we face today: racial profiling as a tactic for mass deportations; the attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; surging white Christian nationalism; and the attempt to mythologize American history. Find out what can be learned from King’s strategy to galvanize the national conscience, and how people of faith can be “creative extremists” for love in this moment.
Resources from the Presenter:
“A Testament of Hope” is a posthumously published essay by King that indicates his evaluation of the Black freedom struggle’s successes and limitations at the end of his life.
Ready for More?
Bring together people in your community and consider one of our Racial Justice Series programs:
Faith and Racial Equity: Exploring Power and Privilege awakens participants to the economic systems, public policies, cultural norms, and hidden biases that empower some and oppress others.
Faith and Racial Healing: Embracing Truth, Justice, and Restoration guides participants in truth-telling about the history of racism in the U.S., that we might work toward reconciliation and restoration.
Faith and Racial Justice: Changing Systems and Structures invites participants to formulate their own Christian-rooted responses to racism in their churches, workplaces, and communities.
Gather a group and host JustFaith’s Faith & Immigration Justice Program. Newly updated to reflect recent policy changes, this program facilitates holy and healthy dialogue around immigration.
Want to learn how to get started?
Join JustFaith Ministries staff, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 11:30am PT/2:30pm ET as they introduce the programs of JustFaith Ministries and share stories of impact. They will offer how JustFaith programs can be used to equip individuals, congregations, organizations, or communities to be light for the world and be a positive force for change.
2/3/26 Faith that Does Justice: Equipping Communities for the Common Good
About Andrew Stone Porter:
Andrew Stone Porter is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies. His teaching, scholarship and service focus on religious symbols and institutions in light of social justice issues especially around race, gender, and class. Andrew received a Ph.D. in Religion, Ethics and Society from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Andrew’s work has appeared in the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, the Journal of Religious Ethics, the American Journal of Theology and Philosophy, CrossCurrents, Journal for Religious and Cultural Theory, The Other Journal, and the Political Theology Network. He also serves as music minister at St. William Church in Louisville and on the leadership team of the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice. He lives in Louisville with his partner Shannon and their three children.