Bishop Barber’s Sermon in Berlin
Speaks out against political leaders who abuse power.
Bishop Barber preached during a Politisches Nachtgebet (political night prayer) in Berlin on June 28, 2026.
He preached on Jeremiah 22:13-14 and the calling of the church today.
At the heart of his sermon is resistance to authoritarian rule and systemic violence. He traces a line from the Kingdom of Judah around 600 BCE, through the abolitionist movement in the United States, the failures and acts of resistance of the churches under Nazi Germany, to today’s growing forms of authoritarianism.
Barber shares how, week after week, clergy preach from a public pulpit directly outside the White House, speaking out against political leaders who abuse power. He also explains that he has come to Germany to learn from its history.
At the same time, Bishop Barber calls on the church not merely to engage in charitable work, but to become a public witness that organizes a clear counter-agenda for justice. He concludes with a direct question to all of us: At this moment in history, will you be a witness? Will you stand up for it?
