The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted overwhelmingly on June 30 to declare white Christian nationalism “a theological error” incompatible with Jesus Christ’s teachings, advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that would add that language to the denomination’s Book of Order.
Commissioners to the 227th General Assembly in Milwaukee approved the constitutional amendment by a vote of 458-15, asking the denomination’s 164 presbyteries to ratify the new language by mid-2027. The amendment would explicitly reject “any ideology that seeks to establish Christianity as a privileged or dominant force through the power of the state, or that conflates religious identity with national, racial, or ethnic supremacy.”
The Assembly also approved a separate policy statement condemning white Christian nationalism by a vote of 459-25. According to the policy, Christian nationalism is “a political ideology that seeks to merge Christian identity with U.S. civic life and national identity.” The church directed its leadership to expand public opposition to the movement through partnerships with other faith traditions and to issue joint statements calling attention to “the dangers and distortions of Christian Nationalism as an urgent theological and social concern.”
Christian nationalism has become an increasingly visible ideology in American public life. According to research from the Public Religion Research Institute, majorities of white evangelical Protestants (66%) and Hispanic Protestants (55%) hold Christian nationalist beliefs, though support varies significantly by region and political affiliation. The ideology asserts that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and should be governed according to what its adherents see as Christian values or biblical principles.
The Presbyterian Church’s action reflects a broader movement among American denominations to address the ideology. The Reformed Church in America voted on June 12, 2026, to condemn Christian nationalism as representing “a false church, fundamentally distorting the gospel,” with the statement passing at 96% approval. Other denominations that have issued statements against Christian nationalism include the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2024), the Episcopal Church (2024), the United Methodist Church (2024), and the Baptist World Alliance (2024).
The policy approved by the Presbyterian Assembly also highlighted concerns about how Christian nationalism targets specific communities. It notes that “this ideology has made LGBTQIA+ persons specific and repeated targets. By characterizing diverse sexual orientation and gender identities as existential threats to the homeland or national identity, this ideology utilizes dehumanizing language to justify the exclusion of these communities and other marginalized groups from public life.”
In related action, the Assembly voted 361-108 to decline a commemoration of Presbyterians’ role in the American Revolution, citing concerns that such a celebration could elevate nationalism over the church’s gospel witness. The committee noted that the overture “risks sanctifying a narrative that binds the Church’s witness to a national origin story rooted in conquest, exclusion, and the erasure of Indigenous peoples.”
The constitutional amendment, if ratified by the required majority of presbyteries, would be added to the opening section of the Book of Order, Part II of the denomination’s constitution. This placement underscores the church’s view that rejecting Christian nationalism is fundamental to Presbyterian identity and practice.
Sources
- Presbyterian Outlook — Detailed reporting on the 227th General Assembly vote declaring white Christian nationalism a theological error, including the vote count (458-15) and the text of the proposed constitutional amendment.
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Official News — Official assembly coverage describing the votes on RUS-01 and RUS-07, definitions of Christian nationalism from the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, and the decision to decline commemoration of the American Revolution.
- Word&Way / A Public Witness — Reporting on denominational statements across multiple churches addressing Christian nationalism, including the Reformed Church in America (June 2026), ELCA (2024), Episcopal Church (2024), United Methodist Church (2024), and Baptist World Alliance (2024).
- Public Religion Research Institute — Survey data on support for Christian nationalist beliefs among white evangelical Protestants (66%) and Hispanic Protestants (55%).
