Did the mainline church pave the way for Christian nationalism?

The 2025 inaugural prayer service sparked controversy, particularly around the remarks by Mariann Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Speaking directly to the president, Budde implored, “I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” emphasizing the fears of the LGBTQ community and immigrants. This prophetic utterance delighted some Christian progressives, while conservative Christians condemned her words as disrespectful and inappropriate.

Amid the debate over Budde’s remarks, it was easy to overlook the profound religiosity on display at the inauguration. Leaders from various faiths—Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian—offered prayers and reflections. Most avoided outright political statements, but some invoked divine intervention in the election. Some secularists reported feeling marginalized by these religious overtones.

Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood’s 2024 book Baptizing America provides valuable insights into this contested landscape. Subtitled How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism, the book shows how clergy participation in events like the inauguration have fostered a culture of nation worship. Christian nationalism, a “heresy that distorts the gospel and leads Christians away from hearing and following the teachings of Jesus,” builds on the long-standing practices of mainline Protestants.