By Debbie Kelley debbie.kelley@gazette.com
First Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Colorado Springs
will host a four-part series of presentations on "Project 2025," starting
this week, featuring presenters who oppose the Trump administration's plans
for the nation.
Courtesy First Congregational Church
Critics of the Trump administration's strategy for structural reorganization
and downsizing the federal government, as well as broadening conservative
views and religious rights, will scrutinize what's referred to as "Project
2025" in a four-part weekly series that starts July 9 in Colorado Springs.
Speakers and panelists will examine what Project 2025 is, where it came
from, its potential impacts and what people who object can do about it,
according to organizer Jeffrey Scholes, professor and chair of the
philosophy department at the University of Colorado's local campus. He also
directs the UCCS Center for the Study of Evangelicalism and its Center for
Religious Diversity and Public Life.
The sessions will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, July
9, and continuing on July 16, July 23 and July 30 at First Congregational
United Church of Christ, 20 E. St. Vrain St.
"It will be primarily educational, but we're drawing momentum from many in
our community who are very concerned about it and its very fast
implementation by the Trump administration," Scholes said. "It's not this
underlying blueprint that's just lying around."
Project 2025 refers to a nearly 1,000-page conservative-policy document
released in 2023 by The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based
research and education organization.
When he was campaigning for the 2024 race, President Donald Trump
encountered flak over what some saw as extremist plans outlined in the
document, which has been published as a book, and he distanced himself from
it.
But some believe some of the ideas presented are playing out during the
president's second administration, including through Trump's executive
orders.
"There's a concern, looking at religious ideological underpinnings, which is
one of the things we'll explore," Scholes said.
The final night of the series will feature David A. Graham, staff writer for
The Atlantic magazine and author of the commentary book, "The Project: How
Project 2025 is Reshaping America," released in April. He'll join the
discussion online from his home in Maryland, Scholes said.
Graham argues that Trump seems to be enacting portions of the document in
his policies on illegal immigration, gender issues, labor unions, civil
service, abortion and others.
"Many people have heard the name 'Project 2025' but don't really know what
it is or how it could reshape American life," said the Rev. Lee Ann Bryce,
pastor of First Congregational Church.
Bryce views the document as "a sweeping political agenda that proposes major
changes to how our government functions, with implications for civil rights,
the environment, reproductive freedom, LGTBQ+ protections and religious
liberty."
The idea for such a series came from First Congregational Church member
Steve Fehl.
"We are a faith community focused on demonstrating kindness towards and
acceptance of all people, ensuring that individuals are treated in a just
and rightful manner, and we do so with humility as people of God," he said.
"Many aspects of Project 2025 are in opposition to these directives."
Bryce said the series "isn't about fear or partisanship" but about
"equipping people of faith to think critically, to ask questions and to
consider how our values call us to respond."
No presenters favor Project 2025, Scholes said, though some positive effects
of the direction the government is taking might arise during the
presentations.
"We're not necessarily railing against it; we're stating what it is and how
it impacts you, and you make the decision on whether it's good or bad," he
said. "As a scholarly center, our primary aim is to educate, and in that
vein, while many are concerned about this administration and its underlying
motives, attendees can make up their own minds about what Project 2025 means
for their community and their country."
The talks, which will include audience questions and answers from panelists,
are free and open to the public.
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