Local Groups

BJC’s local groups are doing the work across the country on the issues that matter most to their communities. Local groups are people who show up, organize, and refuse to let religious freedom become a principle on paper rather than a reality on the ground.

From stopping immigration detention centers, fighting government mandated religious instruction in schools, and rallying communities to stop federal rules that would evict tens of thousands of families from their homes, local groups work on the civic conditions that keep religious freedom alive.

Find a group. Or start one.

A group of people is gathered around a table, engaged in discussion with notebooks and food items present.

Find a Group Near You

New groups are added regularly — check back often. Look for a list at the bottom of this page.

See a list of local groups

Start a Group

You do not need a title, a big budget, or years of experience. You need a willingness to bring people together and take the first step.

  • Get started.

    Download our three-step guide for getting your group off the ground.

    Access the Guide

  • Build your map

    Use our community power mapping guide to identify the relationships, resources, and decision-makers in your area.

    Start Your Power Map

  • Register your group

    This is for groups that have started to gather and organize, working for religious freedom and against harmful policies in their community. Registering is the first step to affiliating with our national movement and accessing organizing resources.

    Register Your Group

  • Questions? We can help!

    If you’ve done these steps and have more questions, contact Devin Withrow, BJC’s Community Engagement Associate, at [email protected].

    Contact Devin

Connect with a Local Group

While BJC and our campaign staff provide resources and support, local groups operate independently to respond to the unique needs and challenges of the local context. We honor the autonomy and agency of these groups, trusting their leadership to build relationships and drive change rooted in our shared values of pluralism, democracy, and human dignity.

Click on the list of states to see where we are right now, and check out the map below for a broader view. New groups are being added on a regular basis, so return to this page often!

Texas

Alaska

Anchorage: Click here to learn more and get involved with Anchorage Against Christian Nationalism. For questions and more information about upcoming events, contact [email protected].

Georgia

Illinois

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide initiative in Illinois. Contact Rev. Karen Atkins & Mike Iverson with questions at [email protected] and [email protected].

Indiana

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide initiative in Indiana. For questions, contact Dr. Steve Ivy at [email protected].

Louisiana

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide initiative in Louisiana. For questions, contact Rev. Laura Stephenson at [email protected].

Massachusetts

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide initiative in Massachusetts. For questions, contact Rev. Corey Sanderson at [email protected].

Michigan

Minnesota

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide group. Contact Jerry Gale with questions at [email protected].

New Jersey

New Brunswick: Click here to learn more and get involved in the New Brunswick area. Contact the Rev. Scott Rush with questions at [email protected].

North Carolina

Oregon

Portland: Click here to learn more and get involved in the Portland area. You can contact group leaders with questions at [email protected].

Rhode Island

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide group in Rhode Island. which also is the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. Contact Jeremy Langill for more information at [email protected].

South Carolina

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide group in South Carolina, known as the Interfaith Coalition of South Carolina. Contact Scott Songer with questions at [email protected].

South Dakota

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide initiative in South Dakota. Contact Aaron Matson with questions at [email protected].

Virginia

Central Virginia: Click here to learn more and get involved in the Central Virginia region. Contact Kenneth Feldt with questions at [email protected].

West Virginia - NEW!

Statewide: Click here to learn more about the West Virginia group, called “Justice and Jubilee.” Contact Rev. Jenny Williams with questions at [email protected].

Wisconsin

Statewide: Click here to learn more and get involved in the statewide group in Wisconsin, called the Wisconsin Coalition for Religious Freedom. For more information, contact Rev. Tim Schaefer at [email protected].

Support Local Groups

If you aren’t ready to start a group yourself, you can support this work in communities across our country with a gift to our designated fund for local groups. These funds are set aside to support groups in their various stages of development, providing supplies, training group leaders, hosting workshops and fostering collaboration.

Give Now
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Faith is Lived. Freedom is Won.

Religious freedom does not sustain itself. Your support puts supporters of religious freedom in courtrooms, classrooms, and communities across the country.

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