Justice
Pres House wishes to acknowledge its buildings sit on the traditional, ancestral homelands of the Ho-Chunk people and honor the long heritage and living legacy of Native Americans here in the Madison (Four Lakes) area.
This page compiles some of our writing, preaching, and other resources related to justice. Our commitment to justice at Pres House is not compartmentalized as you’ll see below; rather, we strive to integrate it into every aspect of our life together.
As you explore, know that we invite you to join us in doing what God requires of us: “to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”
Pres House is an open and affirming community. This means LGBTQ+ folks are fully embraced as part of our community. We celebrate queer identities and experiences, draw on the richness of queer theology in our preaching, and welcome queer folks to lead in worship, serve on our Council, and otherwise shape our life together.
We strive to make Pres House a space where folks can heal from trauma connected to their gender or sexuality. We want our home to be one where you are free to question, explore, and ultimately flourish.
Queer Resources at Pres House
Queerly Beloved is our weekly gathering for queer, questioning, and curious students. QB meets biweekly on Sundays from 1:30-3:00 pm. For more details, contact Manato!
*** Becca Bedell left the Pres House team in May 2022 for a new adventure in Corvallis, OR. We have since welcomed Manato Jansen (he/him) as the Associate Director of Residential Community at Pres House Apartments. Manato identifies as queer and facilitates both Queerly Beloved and FACETS.
Listen
The Queer Sunrise of God (Genesis 1:1-10) ~ Becca Bedell
Coming Out … As Christian (Matthew 16:21-26) ~ Jeremy Morris
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139) ~ Manato Jansen
Queer Love, pt. 1 (Matthew 16:24-26; 11:28-30) ~ Manato Jansen
Queer Love, pt. 2 (John 13:1-9, 12-17 ) ~ Nii Addo Abrahams | Listen
Sex: Good Bodies, God Bodies (Song of Songs 7:1-13) ~ Rev. Erica Liu
Is God a Man? (Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 42:14-16; Matthew 23:36-39) ~ Rev. Mark Elsdon
Read
“Queer Theology: Learning from LGBTQ+ Christians” ~ Becca Bedell & Benjamin Coakley
“Reimagining Queer Affirmation in an Evangelical Identity: Narratives, History, Wonder, and a Journey to Heal and be Seen” ~ Manato Jansen
“No Perfect People Allowed: An Ally’s Re-Reading of Ephesians 2:1-11” ~ Nii Addo Abrahams
White supremacy is an insidious form of evil, woven into our nation’s history from the very beginning. It is killing BIPOC, and it will eventually kill all of us. As Christians living in America, we inherit and participate in this legacy, and we must commit ourselves to dismantling it.
Watch & Listen
Whitewashing Jesus (Matthew 21:1-11) ~ Nii Addo Abrahams | Listen
This sermon is part of our 2021 Lenten series, “Decolonizing Christianity, Encountering Jesus.”
“What About Buddha, Gandhi, and that Wiccan Priest?” (Luke 10:25-37) ~ Rev. Erica Liu | Listen
This sermon is part of our 2021 Lenten series, “Decolonizing Christianity, Encountering Jesus.”
Can We All Be One? (Galatians 3:23-29) ~ Nii Addo Abrahams | Listen
Reflections on James Cone ~ Nii Addo Abrahams
The late James Cone was a Black American theologian who is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of Black liberation theology.
Read
Practicing Holy Friction ~ Rev. Erica Liu
Compiled in 2020, this playlist of ten resources is an invitation to sustained antiracist activism. We plan to release a new Pres House Ten in 2023.
Reflections from Break With a Purpose 2022: The Setting | The Mess | Come, Lord Jesus (A Scriptural Collage) | Presence | Untitled Poem | Moments of Grace
Our 2022 Break With a Purpose trip was to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, where we spent a week offering hospitality to Afghan refugees waiting to be resettled around the country.
Stop AAPI Hate ~ Rev. Erica Liu
“An Anti-Racist Theology of Baptism” ~ Nii Addo Abrahams
A Litany for George Floyd ~ Nii Addo Abrahams
We address a lot of topics at Pres House, and not everything fits neatly into a category. Here are some additional resources on topics like gun rights, bodily autonomy, climate change, and more.
Watch & Listen
The Long Arc of Hope (Esther 1:1-2:4) ~ Rev. Erica Liu
a sermon on sexual assault
Resurrection Imagination (Revelation 6:12-17) ~ Nii Addo Abrahams | Listen
a sermon on climate change and creation care
Repentance and Lavish Love (Mark 1:4-11) ~ Rev. Erica Liu | Listen
a sermon responding to the January 6 insurrection
Remember Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16) ~ Nii Addo Abrahams | Listen
a sermon on patriarchy and privilege
Walking in the Path of Jesus (Isaiah 2:2-4, Luke 6:27-31) ~ Rev. Deanna Hollas, National Presbyterian Minister of Gun Violence Prevention
a sermon on gun violence
Read
We’re not experts on everything. But we’re happy to provide some of our favorite external resources on topics we think are too important to overlook.
Abortion Access in Wisconsin Post Roe ~ Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health
Police Abolition ~ The Marshall Project
gun violence prevention, accompaniment in Colombia & at U.S.-Mexico border, Palestinian rights, climate justice & fossil fuel divestment
A Room of One’s Own: Bookish Flow Charts
viral curated reading lists on topics like abortion and abolition from an iconic downtown Madison bookstore
If you have experienced racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or any form of discrimination and are looking for someone to talk to, Pres House staff and student leaders are available. CONTACT US >>
UW-Madison Resources for Students
100% of the electricity used in the Pres House chapel building comes from renewable energy sources through the MG&E Green Power program.