UCC offers resources in the battle against book banning

Banned Books Week is underway, Sept. 22 through 28, and the United Church of Christ has resources uplifing the belief that banned books have a special vocation, a particular calling in our faith communities: to help expand and enliven the image of God and empower us to reckon with truths that demand our loving accountability. These include a Banned Books reflection and liturgy, a new t-shirt, and a glimpse at one Florida church’s Banned Books Library. 

The UCC’s Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice campaign offers a Banned Books Blessing and resources to help in this ongoing battle. In this time of intense political polarization, there are an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books. This includes books by authors of color, by LGBTQ+ authors, by women, and books about racism, sexuality, gender, and history. These are the books most often targeted by bans.

Power of stories

Sharon Fennema, curator of Join the Movement toward Racial Justice, has written “A reflection for Banned Books Week.”

“I wonder if people who seek to ban books likewise understand this power of stories as movement-makers, and are deeply afraid of and unsettled by it,” she posed. “How tempting it can be to create a protective bubble around ourselves that keeps us comfortable and confirms all we know to be true, beautiful and good, especially for those of us who society is set up to privilege and whose stories dominate our collective imagination.” 

The Rev. Rachel Hackenberg, publisher of The Pilgrim Press, said we must resist these bans that can align with Christian nationalism.

“Efforts across the U.S. to ban books often have a religious undercurrent, as conservative Christian parents and politicians strive to purge libraries of any material they would not teach in their own homes or affirm in their own churches: predominantly, books by/about people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. These efforts are a longtime tool of white Christian nationalism and its pursuit of dominance and deference in American culture,” she said. “For The Pilgrim Press, it is important to demonstrate a Christian voice that opposes book bans — and not only opposes bans but wholeheartedly affirms the freedom to read. Our spiritual formation, regardless of creed, is enriched by a diversity of stories. Our social wellbeing, regardless of religious stripe, benefits from the wisdom of history.”

Banned books library in Florida

This resistance to ongoing bans is being carried out across the country, and in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in particular by Cocoa Beach Community Church, a UCC congregation. Back in February, they opened the doors to their Banned Book Library. The reception to this literary space has been very good, according to the church’s pastor, Rev. Geoff Gross.

“When we ban books, we are making decisions for others who may not hold the same beliefs we do. We have the ability to refuse to read books we think are inappropriate to our faith or our children’s age. However, we are not called to make that decision for everyone,” Gross said.

The congregation even has a Banned Book Club. They started with reading The Color Purple by Alice Walker, one of the most banned and challenged books since its debut in 1982.

The Cocoa Beach congregation members are active voices in their community against book banning. Congregant Logan Kearney and his siblings attended a school board meeting, speaking out against book bans — and Logan himself took to the microphone.

For the Love of God

The Pilgrim Press has t-shirts available for those who would like to show their resistance to banning books for all to see. With the pronouncement, “For the love of God, stop banning books,” these shirts are available for $20.

Hackenberg said there are a number of banned books available from The Pilgrim Press.

“How can Christians confess our sins against others if we do not learn about slavery or the Holocaust? How can Christians form mature, healthy relationships if the only books we read about sexuality are shame-based?” she said. “The Pilgrim Press publishes books that nurture the whole person — affirming the body, being honest about racism and sexual violence and mental illness, and envisioning communities in which justice is abundant. We would be quite proud to see Hollywatts or Who Told You that You Were Naked? or Fat Church on a Moms for Liberty target list!”

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