What can you say in church?
Whether ordained clergy, ordinands, or lay leaders, the priesthood of all believers is called to preach and teach the Gospel. To do this, we must relate the Gospel to our lived experiences, including the political and legislative issues that impact our individual and communal life, and the character and behaviors of public leaders that influence our culture.
It matters that we very clearly articulate the dangers and violence that the current administration has waged in targeting people on the margins, which is a clear violation of our faith and the Gospel teachings, preaching, and life of Jesus.
Maintaining our current leadership and path will continue to bear pain, injustice, violence, and death. As Christians, we are called to be healers, to seek justice and peace, to love one another, and to new life in Christ. This requires us to vote for significant change in the leadership fo the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our government.
So what can you do?
You can get out the vote, by registering, educating, encouraging, and resourcing people on how to vote. Supporting those who are having to wait in long lines to vote by providing them with food and drink, and advocating for change. Ask your neighbors if they've voted, write encouraging letters to irregular voters, help people make a plan to vote.
You can protect everyone's right to a safe voting environment free of intimidation and suppression. This includes advocating for safe and effective voting options like mail-in ballots during a pandemic.
You can talk about candidates running for office and you can host voter education sessions and discuss candidates, policies, and ballot initiatives.
As an individual, you have a right to campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office.
According to the IRS, as a church (or any 501c3 nonprofit), you can't campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office. If you want to know more, here is what the IRS has to say about it.
And also, as a community of faith, we might consider what is at stake besides our nonprofit 501(c)3 status in pivotal moments like this election. And instead of shying away from politics, engage further, because the Gospel is radically political, if you read it, and peoples lives are on the line.
So worship like Christ did, preaching and teaching, gathering disciples, practicing what you preach, strategically challenging oppressive powers of the State, and emboldening those on the margins of society.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-29
There is far more that you can and should say and do, than there are meaningful limitations.
Live into the freedom and power of your voice, your Call, and the imperative “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly together with our God.” - Micah 6:8
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher, Ph.D.
Minister of Prophetic Formation
A prayer for Electoral Discernment
Psalm 15: Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?
1 O God, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who live unoffending, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor find fault with their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who respect God;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved. Amen.
