Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion & Democracy, 202-682-4131; 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Not all conservative Evangelical women speak with sweet Southern accents and Instagram their coffee. Some prefer to make noise.

The Institute on Religion & Democracy's Faith McDonnell and Chelsen Vicari are offering a new blog, hosted on the Patheos Evangelical portal, seeking to rattle readers' consciences and challenge the status quo.

Impatient with women's ministries focused upon improving self-image and building self-esteem, Vicari and McDonnell aim to tackle issues centered upon the justice and welfare of others and the furtherance of God's kingdom.

The blog can be viewed at: www.patheos.com/blogs/faithchelsen.

IRD Evangelical Action Director Chelsen Vicari commented:

"We are the women who cause trouble in our ladies' Bible studies. During discussion time, instead of moaning about our own doubts and questioning, we bring up the mutilation of 58 million unborn babies in America, the slaughter and torture of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East and Africa, and the unorthodox choices leaders within the Church continue to make."

IRD Religious Liberty Director Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:

"Christian women can find fulfillment in following the Isaiah 58 advice to 'loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,' to 'set the oppressed free,' and 'to share your food with the hungry.'

"We may never face an executioner's sword, like Paul, but we Christians in the West can share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings too, when we share the suffering of those in Christ's Body who are part of the Fellowship of The Suffering."

www.TheIRD.org