Anti war Quote by Ian MacKaye
![“First of all, [St. Stephen's] is a radical church. It was one of the first DC churches to have gay ceremonies. A woman said mass there, which almost got a priest excommunicated there; Black Panthers spoke at the church; it was a sanctuary for civil rights protesters and anti-war protesters.” quote by Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/630/ian-mackaye-3369_anti-war_first-of-all-st-stephen-s-is-a-radical-c_394483.jpg)
“First of all, [St. Stephen's] is a radical church. It was one of the first DC churches to have gay ceremonies. A woman said mass there, which almost got a priest excommunicated there; Black Panthers spoke at the church; it was a sanctuary for civil rights protesters and anti-war protesters.”
About This Quote
Source Article: 2020 piece on Washington City Paper, 2020
St. Stephen's Church has historically served as a radical, inclusive space for diverse activist movements and unconventional worship practices.
In simple terms: A church that embraces radical inclusion and activism.
Key Takeaway
Support inclusive spaces that challenge norms.
Themes
inclusion
activism
religion
Mood
inspirational
provocative
Type
historical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- civil rights protests
- L ceremonies
- anti‑war gatherings
Key Concepts
social justice
community building
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions maintain tradition while fostering radical inclusion?
- What challenges arise when activism meets worship?
A Different Perspective
Balancing religious tradition with radical activism can cause internal conflict.
![“I remember when Martin Luther King was assassinated and riots broke out in the city. We celebrated Palm Sunday on 14th Street. I have a memory of walking down the street with buildings smoldering, and soldiers and cops everywhere. Anyways, it [St. Stephen’s] was a church that really taught me the…” quote by Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0da/ian-mackaye-3369_broke_i-remember-when-martin-luther-king-was-a_618977.jpg)
![“[T]he Black Church's inflexibility on same-sex marriage and homophobia continues to imperil the moral health and social capital of communities of color. It is for this reason that the Black Church has become largely irrelevant as a social justice organizer in the post-Jim Crow era. Consequently…” quote by Sikivu Hutchinson in Moral Combat Black Atheists Gender Politics and the Values Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/019/sikivu-hutchinson-in-moral-com_black-church_t-he-black-church-s-inflexibility-on-sam_2619301.jpg)
![“I'd much rather talk to a 30-year old that survived rough times in their lives [practicing Straight Edge] rather than someone that was harmed by a culture of violence.” quote by Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a35/ian-mackaye-3369_culture_i-d-much-rather-talk-to-a-30-year-old-th_76450.jpg)
![“For most people who have or who do identify as or with [song] Straight Edge, I feel like for most people, they're just trying to do the right thing.” quote by Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/243/ian-mackaye-3369_edges_for-most-people-who-have-or-who-do-ident_137475.jpg)
