Mara Richards Bim on What Chicago Is Teaching Us

As immigration enforcement intensifies in cities like Chicago, people of faith are grappling with how to respond. In this episode, George Mason speaks with Rev. Mara Richards Bim—Justice & Advocacy Fellow at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas—about what she witnessed during a recent visit, where clergy and community members are confronting tear gas, chemical agents, and tactics that feel more like military operations than targeted law enforcement. Together they explore the theological stakes: What does it mean to love our neighbors—including ICE agents—while rejecting violence and mission creep? How do Christians read Scripture faithfully in a politicized moment? Mara also shares her call story, the need for public theology, and why clergy voices matter when “keeping the peace” isn’t the same as making peace.Rev. Mara Richards Bim is an ordained minister, theater artist, and longtime advocate for justice and inclusion whose work bridges faith, art, and public engagement.