UCC clergy running for political office feel a calling to do more in their communities

“Doomscrolling” through social media and reading depressing headlines about the current state of world events and national unrest can cause angst and anger, but Rev. Jonathan Bradner, pastor of Immanuel United Church of Christ in St. Bernard, Ohio said for him, this political landscape inspired him to do more in his community. He’s running for a Statehouse seat in Ohio’s 29th District in 2026.

“My campaign is about opportunity and hope,” he explained. “My logo actually has a sun behind it. Because, as the psalm says, ‘tears may carry the night, but joy comes in the morning and whatever you call this opposition to human needs and human civility.'” Bradner has studied political theology and has a Master’s degree in ethics and justice from the United Seminary of the Twin Cities.

The need for civility in our dealings with one another is a common theme through the campaigns of all the United Church of Christ clergy interviewed for this story. “The current administration wants us to be paralyzed and depressed,” said Bradner. “When we argue amongst ourselves, it’s what they want.”

“I feel like I’m campaigning to be the pastor of District 29,” said Bradner. “I’ve had more calls for assistance at my church for everything from food assistance, rental assistance, all kinds of economic assistance, and I know people in this area are hurting. I was inspired to run by a group of black clergy in the Cincinnati area I’ve been meeting with regularly. We began gathering earlier this year in response to the rollbacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Pastor Rev. Damon Lynch called for us to run for office to help beyond our churches.” This request spoke to Bradner. “It felt like the moment I was called to become a pastor.”

A call beyond the role in the church

The Rev. Darrell Goodwin is the first Black Queer Executive Conference Minister in the Southern New England Conference of the UCC, and he too, saw a need to serve others beyond his role in the church. He’s currently running for a two year term on the Bloomfield, Connecticut Town Council, where he is an endorsed Democratic candidate.

“In my particular town,” said Goodwin, “we really struggle around civility, the councilors’ ability to talk with each other. Of course I had thoughts about that and wished it was more communal. I wish people were more civil in their engagement with each other. I wondered if someone could try to offer, could we work together differently? So that was on my mind and that’s been what I’ve run on.”

Goodwin recalled his feeling of wanting to do more. “In reflection, my role as the conference minister and what I bring to that role and how even though I’m not the local church pastor in my town, it made an impact in the town I live in around civility and community engagement.”

An extension of faith

Goodwin was appointed to serve on the council for the six weeks leading up to the November election when a vacancy occured, making him the first Black Queer member of the council in his town, even if he doesn’t get the votes for a full term come Nov. 4. In a statement following his swearing in, Goodwin shared that he is grateful for the responsibility. “Yesterday evening I was humbled to be appointed to serve on the Bloomfield Town Council, and today I had the privilege of being sworn in at Town Hall. As far as I know, I am the first openly LGBTQ+ Black man to serve in this role in our town’s history. I carry that reality with both gratitude and deep responsibility.”

He continued, “For me, stepping into public office is an extension of my faith. Our tradition reminds us that the call to ministry does not end at the church door it extends into our neighborhoods, our schools, our civic life, and yes, our local governments. Serving on Town Council is another way of living into my baptismal vow to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

Civility is a health crisis

Civility is a topic that has often been on the lips, heart and mind of Rev. Anthony Williams, the former pastor of the First Congregational Church of Berwyn just outside of Chicago. Williams worked to unanimously pass a resolution called ‘Nehemiah’s Life: A Call for Congressional Hearings on Violence in America’ in Milwaukee back in 2019, named for his son, who died from gun violence. And now Williams is running for office himself, with civility being the main thrust of his campaign for a U.S. Senate seat.

“Violence is the number one problem of the 21st Century,” said Williams explaining his call to run for office. “And my understanding theologically of what this is, and socially of what this is, I had to get involved to properly correct the issue as it relates to violence being a public health crisis.”

Williams shared, “We continue to put a Band-Aid on the issue instead of addressing the issue properly. There is a way to deal with our American violence problem, and that is through the process of civility. We accept violence as a normal behavior. It’s an abnormal behavior. So what do we tell our children? And then you have a president who was a violator. We have a violent person in office. So, you know, this issue of violence is extremely important.”

Williams is still collecting the signatures he needs to get on the ballot. “This is an extension of my ministry,” he said. “I am seeing the light in people’s eyes when I share my experience. I’m running a grassroots campaign, and my platform is power to the people. Romans 12 tells us our job is not to conform, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. And my sermon yesterday was, Are you ready?” Williams said he is ready, and has the support of many volunteers.

Support of family important in candidacy

Support of family on the political stage is important to Bradner, especially in these times when security becomes an issue. “My wife Molly is very supportive. We had to have a conversation about getting a security system, because now our address is part of the public record, and I’ve already received threats for being an inclusive pastor.”

But those threats don’t deter Bradner. “There is a lot of work to do,” he continued. “We’re still shaping a true platform in terms of issues and and that sort of thing. But really my platform is everything is too expensive, too inaccessible and too damn hard for Ohioans right now.”

Familial support is important to Goodwin in his campaign as well. “I would say one of the beautiful parts of this is my husband has gone canvassing with me, he went door knocking with me, globally introducing ourselves.”

But it’s his 89-year-old grandmother’s support that especially means a lot to Goodwin. “She lives with us and I got to take her to early voting where she got to say how important voting is and what she hopes for. I’m running to be her town councilor. I told her, you get to have everything. I get to be your conference minister, I get to be your town councilor and your grandson. You have it all.”

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