A day before University of Chicago Professor Rachel Fulton Brown planned to hold her first prayer circle for the unvaccinated, the university unexpectedly lifted its requirement that unvaccinated faculty and students be tested weekly. As an unvaccinated individual and as the victim of constant university punishment, I was overjoyed and doubly ready to offer thanksgiving to God.
The university had, over the past year, denied my initial vaccine exemption, unceremoniously deported me to International House—the dorm universally regarded as the worst—and nearly revoked my dining hall privileges. And the school treated some of my peers worse. By ending the mandate that unvaccinated people get tested, the school tacitly acknowledged that vaccine mandates were a farce and that they tyrannized my classmates, professors, and me for no reason.
Onward with Prayer
In the wake of the university’s cancelation of the test mandate, Fulton Brown continues to hold weekly prayer circles. Instead of gathering in opposition to now-defeated mandates, we amalgamate to thank God for the rescission of the mandate and to stand in mutual solidarity as members of the vaccine control group.
Our mission, which takes center stage on the back of our prayer booklet, is:
- To pray for wisdom in the study of physical, psychological, and social infections.
- To offer ourselves as a group (unvaccinated) in the study of the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.
- To encourage our colleagues and peers to re-examine their assumptions about the role of vaccines in modern social engineering and in public and private healthcare.
- To bring an end to coercive mandates in public and private healthcare, including on university and college campuses.
Alongside our mission statement, Fulton Brown’s prayer booklet offers resources about vaccine science.
We have had two sessions so far, and both have been wonderful. Our first session was with a larger group and can be seen here. Our second session gathered in the rain, which was even more powerful given our resolve to pray despite the inclement weather.
Being able to gather in thanksgiving to God, as well as being a witness to the public outcry against COVID-19 mandates, has been one of the most meaningful experiences that I have had on campus.
Our prayer group will continue to meet on the Quad in the coming weeks on Fridays at noon. Please join us if you can.
