Full Inclusion, True Equality, Greater Justice
Policy brief on the equal rights Amendment
In a newly released policy brief, Justice Revival makes a moral and legal case for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), explaining how the reform aligns with central Christian teachings and basic human rights principles. The robustly sourced brief charts the ERA’s promise in stemming widespread abuses against U.S. women and girls – including sexual and domestic violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, pregnancy and pay discrimination, and human trafficking.
For Faith Leaders
Sign the Interfaith Statement of Support for the ERA
For All of Us
Tell Your Members of Congress, No Time Limit on Equality
What Is the ERA?
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a constitutional amendment, passed by Congress in 1972 and ratified by 38 states or ¾ of states, which provides:
“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
It ensures equality under the law, which is a foundational principle of human rights. It would rectify the intentional exclusion of women from our nation’s founding document. The vast majority of Americans support the ERA, and most believe we’ve already adopted it. The U.S. is one of only 18 nations worldwide that still lacks this type of provision.
Inclusion, Equality, & Justice Are Christian Values Reflected in the ERA
Scripture reveals that all human beings are created in God’s image and loved by God, endowing them with sacred dignity and worth.
God calls us, therefore, to treat our neighbor justly and fairly, to love our neighbor as ourselves. In Christ we learn the definition of neighbor has no bounds.
Throughout history, women have been judges, apostles, and witnesses to the resurrected Christ. They have been preachers and mystics, defenders and reformers of the Christian faith. God’s special concern for the widow reminds us that justice must extend to women, too.
Women and all people, regardless of gender, deserve respect for their basic, inherent human rights, including equality under the law. We worship a Christ who welcomed women and took their concerns seriously; we cannot accept a constitution that excludes women or a system that denies anyone full equality.
U.S. Women Suffer Grave Injustice—And Our Current System Is Unable to Stop It
The ERA Will Benefit Women, Parents, and Families
The ERA will enable Congress to pass laws addressing pervasive problems like intimate partner violence, workplace sexual harassment, and pregnancy and pay discrimination. It will provide a mandate for laws and policies that support mothers and all parents in combining paid work with family caregiving.
The ERA will also make it harder for the government to discriminate based on gender, applying the same standard that prohibits discrimination based on race or religion. The ERA will guard against discrimination based on pregnancy, childbearing, and parenthood, as well as gender.
In the U.S. and around the world, history has shown that when women’s rights are protected, their children, their families, and all of society benefits.
The Interfaith Statement of Support
Justice Revival is working in partnership with faith leaders from diverse religious traditions across the country to call for adoption of the ERA. On February 25, 2021, we released the Interfaith Statement of Support for the ERA, signed by dozens of Protestant, Catholic, and Evangelical leaders, as well as many from other faith traditions.
We invite all fellow faith leaders–of any tradition or leadership role, whether or not formally recognized–to sign on in support. Let’s insist that our lawmakers ensure the ERA is fully integrated into the U.S. Constitution.
Other Ways To Champion the ERA
We believe 2021 is a year of great opportunity for lasting and meaningful change. Champion the ERA today by taking action:
Find out if your legislators support ratification. Encourage your senators to vote in favor of SJ Res 1, which removes the deadline for ratification of the ERA. Learn where your Members of Congress stand here.
Join fellow Christians and the growing interfaith movement for the Equal Rights Amendment, a basic human rights reform that ensures full equality for women—and for all people—under the U.S. Constitution.
Learn more about the ERA
Articles
In the Name of Liberty For All, Basic Human Rights for Women Must Be Protected
The Columbus Dispatch
By Tarunjit Singh Butalia, Allyson McKinney Timm and Rev. Jack Sullivan, Jr.
July 6, 2021
Will the Equal Rights Amendment Threaten Religious Liberty?
Sojourners
By Rose Marie Berger, by Allyson McKinney Timm Paola Fuentes Gleghorn
June 28, 2021
This Mother’s Day, Let’s Work to Change the Constitution
Sojourners
By Paola Fuentes Gleghorn
May 6, 2021
If We are Equal Before God, We Must be Equal Before the State
Sojourners
By Allyson McKinney Timm
March 18, 2021
Will the U.S. Finally Approve the ERA?
Sojourners
By Paola Fuentes Gleghorn and Jeff Fuentes Gleghorn
January 2021
Justice Revival and Union Theological Seminary Stand with Coalition Pressing Case for Equal Rights
By Kimberley Gordy
July 7, 2020
From Tragedy to Triumph: Courageous Survivors and the Quest for Justice
By Allyson McKinney Timm
October 30, 2019
Podcast Interviews
Kitchen Table Convo: The Equal Rights Amendment
With Lisa Sharon Harper on Instagram Live
May 7, 2021
The Equal Rights Amendment
Freedom Road Podcast
May 7, 2021
It’s 2020 and the Equal Rights Amendment Still Hasn’t Passed
Faith and Feminism
October 13, 2020
It’s 2019: Why Are Women Still Not Protected by the U.S. Constitution?
Faith and Feminism
October 29, 2019
In Acknowledgement
Justice Revival would like to express our sincere gratitude to Debbie McLeod and the Grant Me The Wisdom Foundation of Houston, Texas for generously supporting our work to advance the ERA. We’re also deeply grateful for our outstanding partners, Freedom Road, Religions for Peace USA, Sojourners, Muslims for Progressive Values, WATER (Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual), Loretto Community, The Revolutionary Love Project, Unitarian Universalist Association, Ohio Council of Churches, and Faith in Public Life Ohio in this interfaith campaign for the ERA!
