My congregation isn’t very large, but it is known in our part of the world as a place of inclusion and justice. I have a loud voice and am not afraid to use it, and my members – God bless them – give me room to be an advocate for those who are in need of a friend. Because of that, I often get requests from politicians who want to come and say a few words in worship. My answer is always the same – No. Anyone is free to worship with us, but nobody is allowed to campaign in our space. It isn’t that we are opposed to people who serve the public good; far from it! In fact, we often thank some of our amazing local politicians (you know who you are) for the good work they do. Even if we wanted to be partisan, we cannot legally do that. This doesn’t keep other churches from doing it, but we have a clear conscience.
It doesn’t matter who the politician is or what position they hold, they are welcome in worship, but not in the pulpit. I have told this story, so I will be brief. Back in 2007 I was a delegate to our General Synod, and it was the 50th anniversary of the merging of 4 denominations into one. It was a star-studded event, and one of the speakers was the future president, Barak Obama. Mr. Obama was a member of a UCC congregation in Chicago and a Senator when he had been asked, but since that time had jumped into the presidential race. The first part of his speech was about his spiritual journey from no religion to progressive Christianity, which we all appreciated. The second part, however, was about what he would do once elected president. The crowd was overjoyed – I was not. It went against everything I believe about the wall of separation between church and state. When I expressed my disappointment, few present understood or agreed. Which is part of the problem.
If a conservative running for president went to a big box megachurch, most progressives would be appalled. We would shout our disapproval in the streets, decrying the beginning of a theocracy. And our hypocrisy would shine like a beacon, telling the world that our version is acceptable while others are not. We should advocate for moral issues, and I believe that all politicians – and people – should base their decisions on ethics, the common good, and deep thought. I want politicians to have the kind of values to keeps them from playing favorites. I want politicians to understand that they serve all Americans, not just people who are like them. If they claim to follow Jesus, they should read about His inclusive outreach. He cared for people of all genders, faiths, and walks of life.
If you are running for office and want to be part of a church that is inclusive and caring and open to all, come on down to Calvary UCC in Reading, PA. We won’t treat you any differently from anyone else, and I won’t hold back if I disagree with a moral point of view that you might not like. I will also make sure my comments are based on principles, not politics. Which is all I expect from those who have been elected to represent all of us. And thank you for your service – I can only imagine how hard it must be to govern. You are in our prayers.
Prayer – God, You call us to serve You and the community -You call us to treat our neighbors with respect and equality. Teach us to do more in Your name. Amen.
Today’s art is a mural from the Oliver LaGrone Cultural Center at Penn State, Harrisburg.