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I write this on the morning of November 6th following the results of our national election. I write it to the people of the Pacifica Synod and the wider Church of Jesus. Grace and peace to you! What the election results tell us is that we are a purple country. Furthermore, our denomination is a purple church. Our information silos and the algorithms that feed them made us believe that most people think like we do. Progressives think that the church or nation is progressive, and conservatives do the same. We have greatly underestimated the political diversity of our neighbors. Both conservative and liberal subgroups have been led to believe that the country overwhelmingly holds the same values dear. That is not the case. The emotions that we are feeling are also diverse. Some of us are deeply saddened. Others are angry. Still others are excited and joyful. While many are confused and fearful. I offer us two important things to do in these coming days. First, feel your feelings. Whatever you are feeling needs to be experienced and not dismissed. Before we rush off to decide what we are going to do next, please take time to feel what you are actually feeling. Where is it in your body? Can you locate it? Invite the Spirit to attend to it. If you are grieving this is especially true as grief has its own timeline and wont be hurried. The second thing I invite us to do will reveal the character of our faith communities. Go to church this coming Sunday and share communion with your siblings in Christ. Know that we dont all hold the same opinions or feel the same emotions, but we share in one bread, one cup, one God. Isolating, blaming, expelling or shaming are not part of the welcome to the table that Jesus offers us all. It may not yet be time for healing words between people who have opposing political views, but there is an opportunity to lean into the inclusive universal love of God when we come to the Lord's table. Touch the baptismal water as you enter the sanctuary. Remember the promise of God's steadfast love and know that it is for you. This is exactly the time when the church needs to show up as the church. We proclaim Gods unconditional love, and we take care of one another in spite of all that divides us. Know that I am praying for all of us. May God give us strength, love, and grace. Peace, Bp. Dave |
Response from Pastor Kurt:
Last night, I stayed away from the election news. I needed a good night's sleep and hoped that I could rest by keeping the noise down. Sleep, however, did not come quickly, yet in my tossing and turning, a truth bubbled up that regardless of the election results, "when morning comes, a little less than half of the population of these United States will wake up in various stages of anger and grief and a little more than half will wake up relieved, delighted and happy." I also knew that whoever the other half might be, Jesus considers them my neighbors. I also knew I could have written that exact sentence a month ago or even a year ago, and its relevance wouldn't have changed. Winning or losing is built into the nature of elections. It's how our system works, and there is no middle ground; it's a win-or-lose proposition. Either I win, or my neighbor does. I lose, or my neighbor does. My neighbor could have easily been in my shoes today, or I in theirs.
I'm so glad to be a person of faith. I'm happy to have a Bishop who is wise, understanding, compassionate, and deeply committed to the faith. You can read Bishop Dave's response to the election below. His invitation is to remember our neighbor. As Jesus people, neighbors are half of our equation. Jesus says, "Love God, Love Neighbor." I say, "Let me do my best." To do my best, as best I can, I must turn to scripture for guidance, comfort and strength. This morning, I turned to last Sunday's lesson for the Feast of All Saints; Wisdom 3:1-9 verse one reads, "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. "No matter what comes, my soul, yours, and our neighbor's are all in God's hand. I shall not fear torment, for torment cannot reach me.
In all circumstances, may you know that you are held in God's hand and that that holding extends all the way from the very beginning of time forward to all the days to come.
In the peace of Christ which passes all understanding,
Pastor Kurt