Interested in bringing The After Party to your church? We’re so glad to hear it! Here are some additional resources to help you present the course and its benefits to your pastor. In addition, we’ve put together a few suggested conversation starters, a list of resources you could share to describe the course, and a sample email to help you get started.

A starting point to consider

It’s pretty common for the church and Christian resources like books, blogs, and podcasts to speak into how we, as believers, spend our money, raise our children, fortify our marriages, and so on. This happens because, in some cases, the Bible offers specific instructions for these areas and, in other cases, offers clear & universal guidelines for how we engage in these areas of our lives.

However, when it comes to politics and how Christians engage in the political arena, you might say it’s crickets. Rather, a handful of things tend to happen:

1. Pastors overreach in declaring one candidate, policy, or political party to be the “most Christian,” the “only one who can save America,” the only perspective a “good Christian” can have and so on. This misses the mark and indicates a worldly hope anchored in ourselves and the kingdoms we’ve created.
2. Pastors, who often talk about money/parenting/finances and even extremely difficult topics like hell, say nothing. This leaves congregants turning to voices outside of the church for their formation, which can be easily found on social media, your cable network of choice, talk radio, and so on. This misses the mark and leaves people vulnerable to inaccurate, unbiblical, and incomplete information.
3. People & pastors alike clamor to “keep politics out of the church.” While we wholeheartedly agree that the church is not the place to discuss the “what” of politics – “What policy, party, or candidate is most Christian?,” it’s absolutely the place to form and be formed when it comes to the “how” of politics, which asks, “How do I relate to others — including those I might disagree with — so that I better reflect Jesus?”

Much like we, as imperfect people engaged in the process of being sanctified, need to be spiritually formed when it comes to our finances, marriages, work, parenting style, and so on, so, too, do we need to be formed when it comes to how we engage in politics.

Interested? Keep reading!

Three reasons why your church might benefit from The After Party

1. HEALING RELATIONSHIPS: It’s no secret that today’s political climate has wounded or even damaged our relationships. Across families, neighborhoods, and workplaces, it’s become increasingly difficult to stay friends, speak kindly, and agree to disagree when we find out someone does not share our opinions on policies, candidates, or parties. The After Party guides participants through reflective exercises and prayer that can begin to heal relationships that have been fractured as a result of political differences.
2. FAITH & POLITICS: Politics in the church is extremely messy right now (although, believe it or not, it doesn’t hold a candle to the politics in Jesus’ day!) and Christians are confused and troubled about how to navigate these turbulent times. The After Party helps participants approach politics from a place of hope and humility and begins first by asking “How should the clear commands of Jesus influence how I am talking about politics, evaluating policy options, and casting my vote?”
3. FEAR & PARTISANSHIP: Anxiety and fear over the future has a tendency to dial up the political temperature. The After Party responds to these very real emotions by providing Christians with a framework that is solidly grounded in Scripture and aims to move us towards the “mind of Christ” as we grow as disciples of Christ in our politics as we do in all things.

Want to read more about the course?

• Frequently Asked Questions about The After Party
• “The After Party’ offers an escape from the lure of partisanship” by Steve Rabey, Baptist News Global, May 7, 2024
• “The After Party” by Brian Frantz, Dear Partisan Substack, April 6, 2024
• “Your flock needs a shepherd, especially in an election year” by Curtis Chang, Church Source
• Sample chapters from The After Party: Towards Better Christian Politics

Here’s a sample email to consider sending to your pastor:

Dear [name],

I recently came across a small group resource for churches called The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics and I’m wondering if we could bring it to our church. It is a free, six-session video based course that aims to heal political divisiveness in churches, communities, and families.

The course does not advocate for any political position or party affiliation but instead directs Christians to anchor their highest identity in Jesus and to align their political behavior with His call to love neighbor, family, and friends. In addition to the free video course, they are also offering a book and a worship album (to come this summer) to local churches and communities.

Would you be open to having a conversation about offering this course as a small group or workshop this fall? You can watch their trailer at this link or read through their frequently asked questions at this link.

Sincerely,
[name]